Yes! While there are not many side effects of flaxseed oil you should become aware of the few that do exist. Flaxseed in and of itself is not a dangerous supplement to take by far, and the side effects of taking flaxseed oil are minimal when comparing it to the benefits of flaxseed oil. A few of the most reported and documented side effects are loose stools, flatulence, diarrhea and certain allergic reactions such as rashes and other symptoms such as increasing the effects of those who experience bleeding disorders. The alpha-linolenic acid from flaxseed oil supplements has proved to be safer then its counter part found in meats and other dairy sources in regards to its effects on cancer.

You can get a better understanding of flaxseed oil side effects by checking out WebMD and seeing what they have to say.

There are people claiming that some of the flaxseed oil benefits are negated unless taken with appropriate amounts of omega-6. If you should ever experience worsening of the symptoms you have begun taking flaxseed oil for you should immediately discontinue the use of the product and consult your health care specialist; there are other forms of omega-3 such as fish oil that might work better for you and the only way to find out what your body tolerates the best is by trying different supplements.

Always remember the follow the correct flaxseed dosage instructions. It is accepted that consuming anymore then 30 grams of flax per day will lead to diarrhea.

If you decide to branch out into ingesting whole flaxseed products you should be aware of the fact they are able to cause intestinal blockage and upset stomachs

For those of you who are pregnant or breast feeding you are not advised to take flaxseed in any of it forms, be it flaxseed oil pills, liquids or seeds.

Another one of the major flaxseed oil side effects to be aware of is for those of you who take blood clotting medication. Flaxseed has shown that it interacts with the blood’s ability to clot and should not be consumed by those individuals either on medication to resolve this issue or those with other blood clotting disorders.

After talking to many people and hearing so many stories and comments about this supplement, it is my personal opinion that all of what I hear is not really specific to the supplement itself; that is to say, in what I hear there are always two sides to the camp – it either changes lives for the better in about 85-90% of those I speak with, or it causes some nasty side effects in about the remaining 10-15% I speak with – these side effects seem to make the symptoms they were intending to treat amplified, however, once they seek another source of omega-3 such as fish oil they tend to do remarkably well with it, so perhaps the final verdict should rest that it depends on your body and only you will know how this supplement effects you. Keep vigilant and if something starts to not feel right, act fast to fix it. I would say that if you are a women you should especially keep extra mindful of how this supplement effects you. While it is hugely successful in helping treat women with menopause and PMS symptoms, the plant-based estrogen found in this supplement does not do well with most people and can lead to mood swings and depression in some, or even help treat it in others by acting to re-balance hormones in the body. Just be sure to pay attention to these flaxseed oil side effects and react quickly when necessary and you will be fine!

By now the benefits of flaxseed oil are no longer a secret. Flaxseed was first harvested and cultivated thousands of years ago and used as a fabric before it was discovered that using the oils of the seeds worked wonders for paints, textiles and even as a health remedy for many common ailments of the time. Flaxseed has stood the text of time and has since increased in popularity since its more primitive use as balms, elixirs and other home-based forms and evolved into the more common forms we use today such as flaxseed oil pills and flaxseed oil capsules that can be taken orally even as a liquid form for maximum benefit.

The magic behind flax oil is its relatively high amount of omega 3, with one dose of flaxseed oil in oral form enough to satisfy your dietary needs and then some. Aside from the omega 3 benefits of this wonderful healing oil, it is also complemented by rich proteins, vitamins and minerals that supply your body with what it needs to keep you feeling at your best and nothing less.

What is Flaxseed Used to Treat?

The following are known list of flaxseed oil benefits:

Acne – The main reason that flaxseed oils work so well on acne is because of the anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3. Taken orally or by breaking open a capsule or by applying liquid flaxseed oil onto the skin directly, the oil will work to reduce the swelling caused by acne on the skin and rapidly reduce it.

Skin and Hair – Just like with acne, the oil of flaxseed works by reducing any inflammation on your skin and by supplying it with the omega-3 essential fatty acids it needs to shine and glow signaling a healthy looking complexion. Here’s the tip of the day: you can give your dog or cat omega-3 supplements such as flaxseed oil to make his coat SHINE (and boy, do I mean SHINE!) while reducing shedding, improving allergy symptoms and itchiness all in one, but I do recommend talking to your vet before starting your pet on. While there is no specific type of flaxseed oil for dogs, I always give mine a capsule of mine every day so they too can enjoy the benefits of flaxseed. What occurs here is that low levels of these oils, in both humans and animals, causes dry, brittle and dull hair, skin and coats; adding additional amounts of flax into the diet acts to restore the sheen and brilliance that is suppose to inherently be present.

Heart – Flax helps improve the heart by lowering cholesterol and thereby decreasing the chance of other heart related problems. It also helps with blood circulation and helps to reduce blood pressure.

Constipation, Irritable-Bowel Syndrome and Hemorrhoids – Since flax is loaded with fiber, anti-oxidants and other vitamins and nutrients, it helps to promote intestinal tract health by removing toxins, helping to regulate us by softening our stools and promoting a favorable environment for the absorption of nutrients in the intestines. Additional flaxseed oil benefits come in the form, again, of the seemingly miraculous ability of the anti-inflammatory properties of the plant-based oil to reduce intestinal inflammation and even prevent and help preexisting conditions of gallbladder stones. Since the inflammation in the intestinal tract is reduced, repair to any damages caused over a long period of time are made possible under these ideal circumstances.

Arthritis, Joint Pain, Lupus and Gout – Again, because of the superior anti-inflammatory powers of flax, it helps to eliminate the debilitating chronic pain that builds up in these diseases. It also helps to eliminate the more acute symptoms of these diseases and strides to help alleviate the pain across the board. The anti-inflammatory properties are not limited to one location (e.g the skin, bowels or any other location) but work effectively in any part of the body where inflammation may occur either acutely or with chronic persistence.

Cancer – The lecithins and lignans are anti-cancer and act as broad spectrum cancer preventatives. In regards to the lecithins, the anti-oxidant capacity helps reduce the signs of aging by removing free radicals from the body. Free radicals damage cells and are believed to be a leading cause of cell weakening and damage that leads to cancer and is also believed to be one of the leading causes of an all around sense of tiredness and lethargy.

Menopause and PMS

The benefits of flaxseed oil even apply to those women who suffer from painful cycles and flashes. Since flaxseed contains phytoestrogens (the plant version of estrogen) it is able to help bring women’s estrogen levels in order and keep them proportioned.

Prostrate health and male fertility

Even the men can benefit from flaxseed oil too as it can help treat conditions of inflamed and over-active prostrates. Sperm need their essential fatty acids to properly develop and stay strong and mobile. There is good evidence to suggest that the cardiovascular flaxseed oil benefits can help keep a healthy flow and blood circulation to the penis, assisting those with such conditions as erectile dysfunction.

Flaxseed oils are derived from the seeds of the flaxseed plant and are turned into a liquid form by a method known as cold-pressing as to preserve a high amount of the nutritional value of the plant before either being bottled as a liquid or put into a gel or soft cap form.

Why Do I Need Flaxseed Oil?

Flaxseed oil supplements are of vital essence to our general well-being since studies show the average American is deficient in omega-3 by a large margin; being that flaxseed oil contains the highest amount of omega-3 fatty acids from a plant-based source it is highly esteemed as the supplement of choice as a premium source of omega-3s. Flaxseed oil benefits more then speak for themselves, and many people have already made the leap to seeing how much this supplement can help them increase their health by adding such a simple component to their diets.

Remember how we said flaxseed oil was called an Essential Fatty Acid? The reason why they are so essential is because your body cannot produce these on its own, hence why so many people are deficient in them as the only real main sources of EFAs outside of flaxseed and a few other oils are mainly found in fish and soy products that a lot of people tend to shy away from or just not eat enough of.

For you vegetarians out there, this is the only reason source of vegetarian essential fatty acids and omega-3. While soybean does contain them, it pales in comparison to flaxseed and should be included in every vegan diet.

Health Benefits of Flaxseed Oil

Since flaxseed oil is a premium source of omega-3 the due focus should be given there. Omega-3s are excellent anti-inflammatory agents that allow flaxseed to help with acne, skin, irreitable-bowel syndrome (IBS), lupus, joint pain and arthritis. Because flaxseed oil also contains lignans, an anti-oxidant, it is believed that this has a very positive and beneficial effect on the heart and looks to have anti-cancer and anti-aging fighting properties as well. One other thing unique to flaxseed oil is that it is high in fiber which helps to promote bowel regularity and overall health; this means additionally that good flaxseed oil weight loss regime or any diet plan focused around using flaxseed derived products will help to reduce weight not acting as miracle supplement, but as one that can help gradually regulate your digestive tract and bowels in order to regular it and reduce inflammation that will lead to better absorption of nutrients leading to a better feeling of health.

One of the most compelling reasons to start taking flaxseed oils is for the effect omega-3 have on the heart. Studies have shown that it can help to reduce cholesterol and strengthen the heart as a whole and is one of the most widely used supplements used in heart health today.

Flaxseed oil is also high in protein, containing somewhere in the amount of 20-26g of high quality protein per serving; high quality meaning that flaxseed oil contains almost a complete amino acid profile making it one of the best health choices you can add to your daily life.

Flaxseed Oil Side Effects

There are not many side effects associated with this supplement at all, there are only mainly two real concerns.

- Taking large amounts of flaxseed oil can act similarly to a laxative since it is incredibly rich in fiber.
– When taking flaxseed grounded or consuming the seeds whole can lead to intestinal blockage and not total absorption of the nutrients – these do not really apply to this article since we are more focused on the oil form of flax but they are important enough to mention and bring into awareness for those looking for the other versions of the supplement.

- Not taking your omega-3 supplements in a good ratio with omega-6 based supplements (such as borage oil) can either cause you not to get the full effect of either of the two. I will discuss this more in detail in a bit.

Before You Buy Flaxseed Oil

You need to keep in mind that you need to keep a ratio of 1:2 (omega-3 to omega-6) in order to get the full effects of both oils. Neglecting this ratio can cause your investment into these products to go to waste. The average American ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 is somewhere in the ballpark of about 1:15 or 1:20, some studies say that ratio is even higher. Combining an organic flaxseed oil with another oil such as borage should do the trick and work in perfect harmony for your body and your health.

The recommended dosage of flaxseed oil is either 1000mg or 1200mg either once or twice a day, just remember to keep your 1:2 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6.

In just a bit, a will put up an article with my thoughts on fish oil vs flaxseed oil so you have another great resource to use when shopping for your perfect supplements.