How Does Flax Seed Oil Help With Diet?

Introduction

You've been trying to lose weight, but it just seems like an uphill battle. Restricting calories and cutting out fats just doesn't seem to help. Flax seed oil could be the one things your diet is missing. It could give you that extra push to lose those last few pounds.

What Is Flax Seed Oil?

Flax seed or linseed oil comes from a blue flowering plant that is native to the Mediterranean region and India. The plant produces many small, smooth, shiny seeds that are rich in oil. These seeds come in two varieties. There are brown flax seeds and golden flax seeds. Both contain the same beneficial properties. These seeds are pressed to extract the oil.

Benefits

Flax seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fats. These are good fats required for building cells. Your body can't produce these fats on its own, so it depends on food to get them. The average person gets less than 0.1 percent of the essential fatty acids she needs in a day. Your body craves these good fats. When you eat something that doesn't contain these necessary fats, your body is left feeling unsatisfied and continues to crave fat. This causes you to overeat.

Feeling Full Longer

Flax seed oil can be added to foods to help you get the essential fatty acids your body is craving. Once you get these good fats into your system, your body will feel satisfied and your cravings for fats and sweets will weaken. Flax seed oil slows down the digestive process. This helps you feel full longer.

Stabilizing Blood Sugar

Besides helping you feel full, flax seed oil helps stabilize your blood sugar and is converted by the body to a compound that speeds up the metabolism.

Use

Flax seed oil goes rancid easily. Make sure it's stored in a dark glass bottle in your refrigerator. You can drizzle it on food before eating or even make a salad dressing with it. Never cook with flax seed oil. If you don't like the oil's nutty flavor, try taking it in capsule form.