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List Price: $39.95
Sale Price: $32.59
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Barlean's flax oil is the best value for the money, and REFRIGERATED liquid flax oil is the best way to take flax. I mix this with cottage cheese, following Dr. Johanna Budwig's advice, along with fruit juice or protein powder/milk for flavor, and it turns out great.
Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids are so beneficial to health. But you probably know that already or you would not be here on this page.
I've only bought this from my local health food store, which has it in a refrigerated section. This is necessary because flax oil very quickly breaks down and loses its potency when exposed to heat, air and/or light. So my question for Amazon is, how is this shipped? Hopefully it is kept cold; either that or shipped VERY quickly.
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So this is a 1-star rating of Barlean's Flax Oil relative to other brands of flax oil, NOT flax oil itself. Flax oil is great for you and 5-stars and what some people seem to be reviewing. As an aside it has a ratio of 4:1 (omega 3 to omega 6). The reason we're hearing so much about it is the average American / European diet is generally around 1:20 (omega 3 to omega 6) which leads to a variety of health consequences. The ratio was estimated to have been around 1:1 in the early human diet and is considered to be be optimal somewhere around 1:1 to 1:4 when you add up all your daily dietary fats (you can google or wikipedia this). So... if your diet is largely omega 6 fats like most people's is, you cut back on your total fat intake, and then replace some of those fats with a source that is high in omega 3 vs omega 6 fats (i.e. flax oil) and hence you improve your total fat ratio by making it closer to the optimal.
HOWEVER, this Barlean's Flax Oil is the painfully wrong choice for doing this and it pains me to see it so popular and so many people using this to try flax. I've been taking flax oil for half a decade and understand the taste and differences extremely well. IF IT IS GIVING YOU INDIGESTION, IT IS BECAUSE THE OIL HAS GONE RANCID. If it tastes bad, it is because the oil has gone rancid. Flax oil is highly reactive with oxygen and with light and goes bad EXTREMELY EXTREMELY fast. This Barlean's bottle has a 6-month expiration date on it from production to consumption (which in the summer isn't sufficient). Unless you are lucky, your oil will go bad before you finish using it or even before you even get it in the mail, i guarantee it. I've tried 5 different brands over the years (Barlean's, Spectrum (Naturals / Essentials), Vitaminshoppe, Swanson, and Nature's Way). The best by far has been the Spectrum Naturals (also known as Spectrum Essentials some places, I'm not sure why) and in fact I didn't realize this problem until my normal website ran out of Spectrum Flax and I switched over to Barlean's and had to send 14 bottles back cause all 14 were rancid when I got them. I've since ordered from Amazon and got 2 bottles of Barlean's, 1 which I almost made it through entirely before it went bad and the second 8 oz was bad by the time I got to it.
The Spectrum Oil which had been lasting me I found out is filtered to remove the stuff that makes it go rancid, Barlean's is unfiltered. In addition it is packed w/ an inert gas to avoid oxidation, to my knowledge Barlean's is not. It is also shipped in refrigerated trucks, I'm not sure about Barlean's (although honestly I don't think this matters much, your oil is going to be sitting in a warehouse somewhere and then shipped and that is the biggest worry and the majority of oxidation risk and why you want the filtering and the inert gas). If you hadn't thought of this issue, I agree unfiltered may or may not be better and if you have a way that you can happen to get fresh, unfiltered Barlean's it will taste good and be fine (but will need to be used extremely extremely quickly after opening. I just found that too hard to impossible so switched back to Spectrum which I've found Swanson Vitamins has at reasonable prices (under "Spectrum Essentials" and actually cheaper than this Barlean's). Finally one small pet peeve is the cap system is the best on the Spectrum Oils. IT DOES NOT LEAK. I think the Barlean's is OK and will be fine if you only use it to squirt, but if you remove the cap to pour out a tablespoon / teaspoon sized amount it will be leaking when you put the cap back on from the oil that was under the cap when you took it off (especially if you shake before use as directed). It may not seem like much now, but it is a big deal if you are doing that several times a day and you find your hands and freezer now getting all oily with an oil that turns out to be going rancid on you anyway.
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I started taking Flax Oil for a number of reasons. A chiropractor friend suggested I take it for joint inflammation, and in researching the product, I found out it has other benefits as well. Since starting Flax, my joint pain is no longer significant, I have dropped 3-5 points in my diastolic blood pressure, and my total cholesterol and LDL are significantly lower. I surely cannot attribute all these positive benefits to flax oil alone, as I have instituted other dietary and exercise protocols as well. However, my research indicates that flax oil benefits all the conditions I mentioned. After several bottles of Barlean's Flax Oil, I switched to Swanson's brand of Flax Oil due to the lower cost. I did not notice any difference in efficacy between the two brands. Some claim that Swanson's has a bitter taste to it. Since I mix mine in with salad oil dressing, any flax taste is masked by the dressing.
Flax is a plant. The seeds in the flax plant are filled with flaxseed oil, (sometimes called linseed oil). The seeds contain fatty oils called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid. ALA is the omega-3 oil in flaxseed. Flaxseed contains both omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. Flaxseed is nature's richest storehouse of omega-3 fatty acids, and contains more than twice as much omega-3 oil as fish oils, and it costs less , ounce for ounce. Flax also contains other important substances like lignans, which may protect against some types of cancer. The husks of the seeds are rich in mucilage. Both the seed oil and mucilage have many nutritional and therapeutic properties.
There are many potential benefits from taking Flax seed oil:
Flaxseed Oil lowers cholesterol levels, thereby improving cardiovascular health and lessening the risk of arteriosclerosis.
Flaxseed also contains plant nutrients like phytoestrogens. These are natural estrogen-like substances that can lessen the discomfort of menopause.
Flaxseed oil may lower high blood pressure.
Flaxseed oil helps some people improve their psoriasis and eczema, as it has anti-inflammatory properties. Flaxseed may also reduce the itching, swelling, and redness associated with certain skin disorders such as acne.
Flaxseed oil has a positive effect on rheumatoid arthritis due to its ability to calm inflammation.
Flaxseed reduces LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol (the body's "bad cholesterol") and lowers triglyceride levels. Research shows that flaxseed oil gives much better protection against heart attacks than canola oil or olive oil.
Taking flaxseed may reduce cancer risk. This is because flaxseed contains the richest sources of lignan building blocks, which play a major role in preventing cardiovascular diseases and cancer. New research indicates that the lignans in flaxseed have both short-term and long-term protective effects against colon cancer.
It is always important to purchase you Flaxseed Oil from a well-known reputable company. One tip: keep your flaxseed oil away from light and heat, as both degrade the oil. If you purchase a bottle of flaxseed oil, make sure to refridgerate it after opening.
The usual beneficial dose of Flaxseed Oil is 2-3 grams once per day taken with a meal. Barlean's is pure Flax oil. Measure out the dose you wish to take and drink it or put it on a salad (or whatever).
The benefits of Flaxseed Oil are cumulative. Commit to taking it every day without fail. Like any herbal supplement, don't expect dramatic quick results. The results you get will be subtle at first and then build over time. For specific conditions such as Rhematoid arthritis, exzema, psoriasis, acne, etc,. the results should be apparent in 4-8 weeks. Be patient! Know that even if you don't "feel" different, you are sill protecting your body from the harmfull effects of many disease conditions.
konedog
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This packaging can't be beat. The flip top cap has a NO SPILL spout and it really works! You can hold the bottle upside down with out the cap on, and it won't spill a drop!
Barlean's has a lot of other things going for its Flaxseed Oil WITH Lignans, such as: it's really great for Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia sufferers. SHAKE BOTTLE HARD BEFORE EACH USE, so that your oil comes out in a "bronze" color. That way you'll be getting a perfect balance of lignans.
A lot of my customer's use it mixed in equal portions for their dog's and cat's that have tumors and cancers. Great Stuff and it's even cheaper to buy it here than for me to buy it locally...go figure!
Jim wrote a wonderfully informative review, and I want to add that because I'm on a health & wellness educating mission...I choose this product for myself, my family and my customers!
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This is the review for the 12 oz product (it looks like Amazon again jams all flaxseed-oil reviews together, regardless of packaging and seller).
I was a bit alarmed by this review below about how this brand is terribly bad because it gave the reviewer indigestion. Maybe something else was at fault? First time I ordered that thing, and it came pretty quick, and it seems to be of a very good quality... I've already used almost all the bottle and it's been just fine, nothing went rancid on me. The bottle has a date of pressing (end of Sept.), expiration date, and advice on storage. It's very protective too: it's black nontransparent, and is totally closed, even if you flip the cap open: you gotta squeeze the bottle to get to the oil -there's like a pressure valve inside the spout there that's always closed, I guess protecting the oil from the air. I can say nothing critical about this product. I just reordered, in fact.
Now, on a more subjective note, I don't particularly like the taste of flaxseed oil -it's kind of like peas taken directly from a pod... not what you'd expect from an oil; not like olive oil at all (I love olive oil). Nevertheless, if you mix it with cottage cheese or greek yogurt, it's fine: it loses its woodsy flavour and retains only the oiliness, which goes very nicely with the rather bland cottage cheese. So while this oil isn't really pleasant-tasting, in comibination with other foods it can be OK. It's supposed to be very healthful, so I'll give it a shot.
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Added on 11/22/2010: like I said above, I reordered -a larger bottle (16 oz). It came quick but was spoiled. So, I guess I was too quick to question the critical reviewer whom this oil gave indigestion: luckily, I started from a single tablespoon of it, spitting out the most of it immediately upon feeling the strong bitterness of it (normally it's sweet), and even though what I ended up swallowing must have been a tiny amount, it did give me a "funny" feeling in my gut for a couple of hours. So, I guess, it _is_ kinda dangerous buying this stuff online. Since I'm unable to post a separate review to each specific product, I will have to lower the rating here, even though the 12 oz bottle (this review was intended for) was absolutely fine. The oil in the 16 oz bottle I ordered later came spoiled though (it's fulfilled by another company, btw. 12 oz bottles came from Amazon LLC, 16 oz from something called "Potential Dynamix LLC." on the order page, and "Direct Super Center" on the vendor summary page. I emailed them, so we'll see what happens next. I'll post an update, naturally. Oh yeah: I emailed them because apparently you can't simply return food as you can books. Well. Come to think of it, it makes perfect sense, who needs spoiled food?
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Added on 11/23/2010: Amazon quickly issued a refund: gotta love this total lack of hassle. So... the lesson is, do not assume the stuff is good when you pull it out of the box. First, check the "press date": if it's about a month, you're probably OK; if it's several months, you're probably out of luck. Second, whatever else, do not use it w/o trying first, and to try make sure to put literally a tiniest drop of it on your tongue -and, if there's any trace of bitterness, wash it off, do not swallow: when rancid, it has a fantastic poisoning effect: it _will_ give you stomach trouble even in tiny amounts. Third, buy the 12 oz bottles from Amazon LLC, not larger packagings from third-party vendors. I will reorder again, and post an update here.
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12/08/2010: Got a new bottle (12-oz, fulfilled by "Amazon LLC"). Seems of good quality. Press date is a month and a day ago.
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02/28/2011: Actually, I switched to seeds and no longer buy oil. The seeds are superior because: (1) they are far cheaper, (2) they do not spoil (sit in the fridge for months w/ no problem), and (3) more nutritious (in addition to the same oil and lignan, they contain a lot of fiber and even protein). On the downside, you need to grind them (I do it in the coffee grinder; takes a minute, not much but more work than oil), and you'll need two servings of ground seeds to achieve the same amount of Omega-3s as one serving of oil. So what? Mix it with yogurt, same thing. Works fine.
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08/13/2011: I gave up flax altogether, both oil and seeds, in favour of fatty fish (mackerel, salmon, sardines). Fish contains the kind of omega-3's that you directly need (DHA and EPA, rather than ALA which is a precursor with an uncertain conversion rate of not more than 20%). Tastes better too, far richer in nutrients, requires no preparation, and costs a comparable amount. Other than ALA, flax contains fiber and some protein, but there's five times more protein in a serving of fish (with a better amino profile), and fiber can come from other sources, oatmeal/veggies/fruits for example.
