Eating fat can actually be good for you -- not all fats but some types of fats. Saturated and trans fat are not going to make people healthier but there are types of fat that can. Fats such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) are two that have been shown to have positive benefits when added to the diet. These are both examples of essential fatty acids---the body is not able to synthesize them so they must be included in the diet. Flaxseed oil is a good source of ALA and borage oil is high in GLA.
Improve Heart Health
Flaxseed oil has been shown to improve heart health. The high ALA content in flaxseed oil is responsible for this benefit. A research study published in "The Journal of Nutrition" found that ALA was capable of reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease. Another flaxseed oil benefit is lower cholesterol. According to Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., the high ALA content in flaxseed oil has a positive affect on cholesterol.
Fight Inflammation
Inflammation is related to many health conditions. Borage oil has been found to help improve some of these. Information provided by the Mayo Clinic, on alternative medical treatments, says that borage oil improves the pain and stiffness from rheumatoid arthritis and those suffering from this condition can benefit from borage oil.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Those suffering from diabetic neuropathy may also benefit from borage oil. The University of Maryland Medical Center says studies have shown that those suffering from diabetic neuropathy experienced less nerve pain when supplementing their diet with GLA.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
While the research results are far from conclusive, there is some research support for GLA improving premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms. The University of Maryland Medical Center's research review on GLA concluded that the majority of studies on GLA and PMS found no benefit to its use, but some women did report reduced breast sensitivity, improved mood and less fluid retention.
References
- The Journal of Nutrition: Dietary Alpha Linolenic Acid Reduces Inflammatory and Lipid Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Hypercholesterolemic Men and Women
- Mayo Clinic: Does Ground Flaxseed Have More Health Benefits Than Whole Flaxseed?
- Mayo Clinic: Alternative Medicine
- The University of Maryland Medical Center: Gamma-linolenic acid
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