Omega 3 has become a popular substance for heart health. The American Heart Association has done studies which evidence that foods rich in Omega 3 can help your heart- from problems such as high blood pressure, decreased risk of arrhythmias, and lowering blood plaque. Foods rich in Omega 3 also are generally high in protein, which is important for good health.

Flax seeds contain Omega 3 oil, but don't contain the mercury which many fish have. Many of the benefits, without the problem. It is easy to include flax in your daily diet- try sprinkling some on your cereal, or mixing it with yogurt!

I found a couple of papers summing up the effects of omega 3 fatty acids pretty well. http://atvb.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/23/2/e20 and http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/3/438
So apparently it:
decreases trigyceride concentration
increases cholesterol concentration (both HDL and LDL, so not just the good kind)
reduces blood pressure
reduces risk of sudden cardiac death
and decreases size of tumours and increases time between the appearance of tumours.

As for flax seed, a rudimentary search brings up a lot of articles on its effects on the menstrual cycle, breast cancer, atherosclerosis, caridovascular disease, etc.

It should be noted that the omega-# fatty acids are chains of unsaturated fat (meaning double bonds in the carbon chain), and the number indicates different placements for the double bonds. So these are very similar molecules, but they can sometimes behave differently. This study (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11398173) associates omega-6 fatty acids with increased risk of prostate cancer in humans

a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids may help lower triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). Omega 3 fatty acids may also act as an anticoagulant to prevent blood from clotting. Several other studies also suggest that these fatty acids may help lower high blood pressure.

That is only the beginning for Omega 3's!!!

Flax Fights Diabetes
Flax Fights Cancer
Flax Fights Constipation
Flax Fights Inflammation

AND MORE!!!!

Omega 3 is absolutely good for the heart. Here's an article about the benefits of Omega 3:
http://www.healthcastle.com/omega3.shtml

Like Omega 3, flax seed is also good for your heart. Here's the article:
http://www.healthcastle.com/flax.shtml

As you can see, both benefits are pointing to http://www.healthcastle.com I consult this website everytime I have questions about the benefits of certain food.

Why eat omega-3 fatty acids from flax seed?
Dietary deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids can cause long term damage to human health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized the importance of omega-3 to public health and their importance to coronary health.
Here is a problem:
The omega-3 in American diet has decreased gradually over time with the increased consumption of processed foods. On the other hand dietary levels of Omega-6 fatty acids have increased due to consumption of oils that are rich in omega-6 fatty acids. This dietary imbalance of omega fatty acids has created unfavorable ratio of omega 3:omega 6 in our body.
It is not just the amount of omega-3 consumed but the amount of omega-3 in relation to the amount of omega-6 oils consumed that is important to keep the ratio to a favorable level of 1:4 (omega 3:omega 6).
Solution:
Flaxseed provides one of the only non-animal sources of omega-3 that contains significantly more omega-3 than omega-6. About 57% of total oil in flaxseed is in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an Omega-3 fatty acid that is essential for human health. To improve omega-3 levels and ratio between omega 3 and Omega 6, it is important to consume foods that contain significantly higher levels of omega-3 than omega-6. There are very few foods that do that – Flaxseed is one of them.
The ALA is converted by the body into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3s that are found in fish oils. The EPA and DHA are also essential omega-3 fatty acids for human health. The conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA is not a very efficient process in body but remember a diet rich in flax seed, will provide all three omega-3 fatty acids that are essential to healthy human health.

In order to keep fit, we have to balance our intake of essential fatty acids.

The main types of essential fatty acids that we need on a daily basis are omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Very few foods in our modern diet have omega-3s. The ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids is now twenty-to-one. This unnatural imbalance causes inflammation, which makes us constantly hungry.

Other studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids are effective in treating all sorts of conditions, such as depression, bipolar disease, heart disease, type-2 diabetes, inflammation, aches and pains, arthritis.

The reason that we are lacking in omega-3s is that they're very easily corrupted. Too much exposure to heat, sunlight and oxygen will destroy processed or packaged foods no longer contain viable omega-3 fatty acids. Most vegetables oils are mainly composed of processed, corrupted, unusable omega-6 fatty acids and contain an extremely detrimental form of fat called transfats. Meat and dairy products used to contain omega-3 fats but now they are mostly saturated fats - the result of feeding cows grain rather than grass.

We are so severely starving for omega-3 fatty acids that this is possibly the number one type of physical stress that triggers our hunger mechanism.

Flaxseed oil which can be used in salads and salad dressings is a very rich source of omega-3s. So is are cold-water fish, organic meat and organic dairy foods from grass-fed animals and omega-3-enriched eggs.

Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids can have a positive impact on or prevent serious degenerative illnesses like heart disease, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and more. The anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3’s are especially beneficial to menopausal women in preserving heart, breast and bone health, and even help keep our moods on an even keel.
We can obtain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from a range of food sources. Here are some good sources for these special fats. (Many foods have both omega-3’s and 6’s, so you’ll see them on both lists below.)
Omega-3 sources Omega-6 sources

* Seafood (sources both high in omega-3’s and low in environmental contaminants include anchovies, herring, mackerel, oysters, wild salmon, and sardines)
* Flaxseed
* Hempseed oil
* Walnuts
* Canola oil
* Eggs
* Pumpkin seeds
* Marine microalgae (Most algae-based supplements contain docosahexaenoic acid [DHA], but no eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] — see our article on vegan sources for more info.)
As I know,flax seeds contains a lot Omega3，it is supposed to be much better for us because the water pollution of the sea makes those deep sea fish oil or Herbalifeline.Omega6 and Omega9 is OK too,but they are not so popular as Omega3.You can benefit a lot by taking food from flax seed oil.

I am a physician who specializes in Internal Medicine. I am board certified and have no relation to any pharmaceutical companies--meaning that I can give you an unbiased opinion because I don't invest in any companies that make fish oil or Omega 3 Fatty acid supplements.

Short answer is that yes, Omega-3 Fatty Acids are "good for you". I eat them via fish (see below).

They are beneficial and have been shown in randomized controlled studies (these are the types of research studies that you should always look for) to reduce the chance of death in people with heart failure, high cholesterol, and coronary artery disease.

The people who will benefit from eating Omega-3's are the people in whom these have been studied by researchers, with a proven benefit. Who are these people? They are the people who were in the research studies--in other words, they met the "inclusion criteria". So as you sift through studies, you always want to see if you are similar to the people who were in the studies.

Be careful of claims that seem to come from people's own experiences. While they I am sure are well meaning, structured clinical research is the most reliable source of information.

I have looked at the Wikipedia entry on omega 3's and as a physician, to me it looks quite comprehensive and seems reliable. I'd direct you there for comprehensive information, and recommend that you to speak with your personal physician about the correct dose before starting to take supplemental Omega 3's.

Overall, though there seems to be little downside from Omega 3's, and a lot of possible upside.

Oily fish, such as salmon and mackeral and albacore tuna, have high amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Farm and wild salmon generally have the same amount because the farm raised salmon are raised to contain Omega-3's.

Cooking does NOT affect the Omega-3's in fish. I think if you burn the fish or terribly overcook it, perhaps, but an appropriately cooked fish will have all the Omega-3 as a raw fish.

There is now an FDA approved version of Omega-3's on the market called Lovasa. Just because something is FDA approved doesn't make it better than anything else; so discuss with your doctor as to whether you really need it based on the clinical research evidence.

As for Flax seeds, I don't know enough to answer effectively, so I'd rather not just make something up. As a physician I will always answer "I don't know" or refer a patient to someone who does, rather than give a half-answer or make something up.

A very clear and radiant complextion if taken every single day and night...that's the best benefit I get from taking it.
ArtChick1