Flaxseed and fish oil are beneficial products that offer various health benefits. Both of these products contain omega-3 fat, but they also have some differences.
A healthy supplement and diet will consequently provide better results with a healthier body and brain. Fish oil and Flaxseed contain two different types of omega-3, namely DHA and EPA.
Key Takeaways
- Flaxseed oil is derived from the seeds of the flax plant, while fish oil is derived from the tissues of oily fish.
- Flaxseed oil is a good source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid, while fish oil contains both EPA and DHA, which are more readily absorbed by the body.
- While both flaxseed and fish oil have health benefits, fish oil is considered more effective for reducing inflammation and promoting heart health.
Flaxseed vs Fish Oil
The difference between Flaxseed and fish oil is that Flaxseed is commonly used for a healthy digestive system and also helps in reducing the total cholesterol level of the blood consequently decreasing the risk of various heart diseases. On the contrary, fish oil is composed of tissues of oily fish that contain omega-3, which is beneficial for the development of the eyes and brain.
Flaxseed is a plant-based healthy food that offers a variety of benefits that promotes a healthier body. It is also called functional food because individuals consume it to boost their health.
Flaxseed is available in the market in various forms, including capsules, tablets, flour, seeds, and oils. It is used as a supplement for curing several diseases like heart disease, cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, etc.
Fish oil is made from fish like sardines, salmon, trout, tuna, mackerel, etc., and contains omega-3, vitamins, and fatty acids. Oil is separated by denaturing the proteins.
People consume fish oil on a regular basis for health benefits, and it is a good source of various vitamins and proteins. It can be consumed in the form of tablets and supplements.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Flaxseed | Fish Oil |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Flaxseed is a plant-based healthy food that is also called functional food because it is consumed by individuals to boost health | Fish oil is commonly consumed for health benefits and it is a good source of various vitamins and proteins. |
| Made From | It is made from the flax plant and can be obtained by cold-pressing and drying the seeds. | It is made from fish like sardines, salmon, trout, tuna, mackerel, etc. |
| Omega-3 | Flaxseed contains fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6 | Fish oil contain omega-3 that contain DHA and EPA |
| Consumption | It can be consumed in powder or flour, seeds, tablets, oils, and capsules | It can be consumed in capsule and liquid form |
| Benefits | Flaxseed prevents high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, constipation, cancer, and other medical conditions | Fish oil effectively prevent kidney damage, heart failure, abnormal fat level, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney diseases, and other health conditions. |
What is Flaxseed?
Flaxseed is made from the flax plant, which was first used to make fabric and other textiles in the United States. Flaxseeds are full of nutrition that one will get from the flax plant. They can be obtained by cold-pressing and drying the seeds.
Flaxseed is also called linseed oil.
Flaxseed can be used in various forms and is also available in liquid, tablet, flour, and capsule form. It is used to prevent heart diseases, diabetes, cholesterol, constipation, cancer, and other medical conditions as well.
Flaxseed contains nutrients like fibre, lignans, polyunsaturated, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, etc., that directly contribute to lowering the risk of various conditions and help in providing a healthier body and brain.
What is Fish Oil?
As the name suggests, fish oil is made from various types of fish like sardines, salmon, trout, tuna, mackerel, etc. This oil contains fatty acids like docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid.
Several omega-3 cannot be produced sufficiently on their own. Hence a supplement is required. The omega-3 fatty acid offers various health benefits that prevent blood clotting, reduce pain, and offer other health conditions.
Fish oil supplements are commonly used for treating various heart, health, and mental conditions. It is effective for high-fat levels. Various prescription fish oil drugs, like Stepanova, Lovaza, etc., are consumed to decrease triglyceride in the blood.
Fish oil is effectively used to better the following health conditions: kidney damage, heart failure, abnormal fat level, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney diseases, and other health conditions.
Main Differences Between Flaxseed and Fish Oil
- Flaxseed and fish oil are consumed for a healthier body and brain. However, they are quite different from each other in a few aspects. Flaxseed is a plant-based healthy food that is also called functional food because individuals consume it to boost health. On the contrary, Fish oil is made from various types of fish and consider an as good source of proteins and vitamins.
- When it comes to production or manufacturing, Flaxseed and fish oil are made differently. Flaxseed is obtained from the flax plant by a process that includes cold-pressing and drying the seeds. Fish oil, on the other side, is made from oily fish like sardines, salmon, trout, tuna, mackerel, etc.
- Flaxseed and fish oil both contain omega-3 fatty acids and other beneficial nutrients. Flaxseed contains omega-3 and omega-6. It contains alpha-linolenic acid that consequently gets fragmented or converted into docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, commonly called DHA and EPA, which is already present in fish oil.
- Flaxseed and fish oil are commercially available in various forms. Flaxseed can be consumed in powder or flour, seeds, tablets, oils, and capsules. On the contrary, fish oil can be consumed in capsule and liquid form.
- Various benefits are integrated with Flaxseed and fish oil. Supplement of these two is prescribed by doctors as well. Flaxseed effectively prevents high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, constipation, cancer, and other medical conditions. On the other side, Fish oil is effectively used in preventing health conditions including kidney damage, heart failure, abnormal fat level, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney diseases, and other health conditions.
- https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article-abstract/88/3/801/4649282
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07315724.2008.10719674
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
This article does an excellent job of presenting the comparison between flaxseed and fish oil in a clear and concise manner.
I thought this article was informative until I realized that a lot of the information is already common knowledge.
This article provides insightful information to help me decide on which supplement to incorporate into my diet.
The difference between Flaxseed and fish oil is well explained. But would have preferred a more detailed analysis.
This article has clearly explained the beneficial aspects of both flaxseed and fish oil, making it easier for readers to make informed decisions.
This article is comprehensive and highlights the key differences between flaxseed and fish oil.