It started out more as a nutritional supplement you would only see in the health stores, but now we're starting to see flax seed and flaxseed oil in more average consumer products, such as breads, buns, and cookies, as well as in more and more retail food products such as power bars, cereal and even dog food. Why? Because flaxseed oil is proving its mettle in regards to its positive health benefits.

15 years ago, flaxseed was being touted just as a food supplement, with suggestions that it had some positive influences on overall health, but there was no supporting evidence. But then flaxseed started to be studied more and more, and many of the results began to reveal that flaxseed oil contributed to the reduction of coronary heart disease, as well as helping prevent clogged arteries.

One of the key elements and benefits of flax seed oil comes from the presence of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered as "good fat" that helps the body build and maintain cell membranes that can act as the body's guardians, letting in the good elements and denying the bad elements, like a bouncer at a nightclub.

Now we can't deny that flaxseed oil is good for us for many reasons, but be careful how much flaxseed oil you consume, for there can be some flax seed oil side effects, the most noticeably being weight gain, for flaxseed oil is high in calories, and we all know what too many calories can do to us. Like anything else though, taken in moderation, we will likely see the positive benefits of this friendly supplement.