Are all flax seed oils the same?

Not all flax seed oils are the same. One of the biggest differences is whether the oil is organic or not. There are groups and associations that assure the consumer that the products they are purchasing are 100% certified organic. Two certifying associations are; Quality Assurance International and the Organic Crop Improvement Association. They certify that growing, fertilizing and harvesting practices of organic flax seed are done to the organic standards. Trying to confirm that a product is organic after the fact in a laboratory or be some other means is impossible. For this reason documentation inspection of every step in the process is crucial. After this form of certification is completed we as consumers can rest assured that the flax seed that we purchase is the healthiest and most natural product available.

The second difference in flax seed oils is the form in which the oil was extracted from the seed. Omega-3 fatty acids which contain the majority of flax seed health benefits are very susceptible to heat. High heat can cause them to break down and loose all of their nutritional properties. Therefore, the method of heat extraction of the oil is not recommended. The best manner of extracting the oil while maintaining all the health benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids is by cold pressing the seed. In this form of oil extraction the flax seed oil is pressed out of the seed and not exposed to heat.