Flaxseed oil doesn’t get a lot of attention but is a superb source of nutrition for bodybuilders. Discover all the benefits, and how to incorporate flaxseed oil into your bodybuilding regime.
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Why Flaxseed is a Valuable Supplement
Bodybuilders must adhere to a special diet in order to maximize their ability to gain lean mass. One important part of a bodybuilding diet is essential fatty acids. One of the best forms of essential fatty acids is flaxseed oil. Bodybuilders can reap many benefits by adding flaxseed oil to their diet.
Flaxseed oil is made from seeds from the flax plant. This oil contains both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in a ratio of 4:1. This nutrient-rich oil contains alpha linoleic acid (ALA). Once flaxseed oil is consumed, the alpha-linoleic acid is then converted to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). All of these are omega-3 fatty acids and this is what makes flaxseed oil such an important addition to your diet.
Benefits of Flaxseed Oil May Include:
Helps to Build Muscle
In order for the body to produce testosterone, it needs essential fatty acids. The omega-3 acids found in flaxseed oil aid the body in the production of this important bodybuilding hormone. In addition to helping with the production of testosterone, flaxseed oil helps shorten the time it takes to recover after workouts. A faster recovery means more lean mass.
It also means you can get back in the gym sooner so you can build more muscle. Flaxseed oil also helps to stimulate brown fat cells. These cells, in contrast to white fat cells which store fat, burn energy and produce heat. With the stimulation of these cells comes an increase in metabolism and the ability to burn fat faster.
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Prevention of Heart Disease
The omega-3 fatty acids found in flaxseed oil are beneficial for the cardiovascular system. People who consume a diet rich in alpha-linoleic acid have a lower risk of suffering from heart attacks.
Alpha-linoleic acid also helps to reduce inflammation and helps lower the risk of suffering from an irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia. ALA also helps promote healthy blood vessels and has the potential to help lower blood pressure.
Helps Lubricate Joints
If you are serious about bodybuilding, you are constantly putting your joints under strain. Lifting heavy weights week after week is taxing on the muscles but equally taxing on your joints and ligaments. Bodybuilders suffering from joint pain have found relief by adding flaxseed oil to their diet. Bodybuilders received positive results in as little as one week from taking one to two tablespoons of flaxseed oil per day.
Controls Appetite
In addition to imparting the many health benefits listed above, flaxseed oil will give you the added benefit of suppressing your appetite. One tablespoon of flaxseed added to a smoothie or protein shake will provide you with energy that lasts for hours and can eliminate or decrease hunger pangs when you are dieting.
Cancer Prevention
Studies have shown that flaxseed oil may be useful in helping prevent some types of cancer. In one study conducted in Canada, researchers found that taking flaxseed oil prevented the growth of tumors in patients with breast cancer. This ability to prevent the spread of the tumor was attributed to the high content of alpha-linoleic acid present in flaxseed oil.
Improves Mental Health
For people suffering from depression, flaxseed oil can help them manage or eliminate symptoms of depression. One study published in European Neuropharmacology found that flaxseed oil helped to reduce symptoms of people suffering from depression.
Another study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry showed great results for those suffering from bipolar disorder. These people experienced longer periods of remission without the side effects experienced from taking prescription drugs. It was also found to improve the mental condition of people suffering from schizophrenia.
Improved Brain Function
The omega-3 fatty acids found in flaxseed oil has been shown to improve brain function in several ways. The brain, being largely composed of fat, requires essential fatty acids for proper functioning.
Taking flaxseed oil helps improve memory, attention span, focus and concentration. Flaxseed oil, or the omega-3’s contained in the oil, can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. A diet rich in omega-3’s helps lower beta-amyloids, a substance implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s.
Conclusion – Health Benefits of Flaxseed
Flaxseed oil offers too many health benefits to be ignored. It assists in building muscle, helps to control your appetite and lubricates overworked joints and ligaments.
It also provides benefits for your heart, brain, mood and can help prevent certain types of cancer. You an even use flaxseed oil as a treatment for hair loss as per HairLossRevolution. Add flaxseed oil to your diet to improve your body, mood and mind.
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