Flax falls short as a nutritious source of Omega-3. The Omega-3 ALA found in flax (linseed), as well as hemp, chia and other plants has to be converted to Omega-3 EPA/DHA by your body to use. But the conversion rate is very low - less than one percent. As a result, ALA in these plant sources is not considered a viable Omega-3 EPA/DHA source.

In fact, only Omega-3 EPA/DHA has an FDA Qualified Health Claim that allows producers of many Omega-3 EPA/DHA-enriched foods to claim heart disease risk benefits on their labels.

The best source for Omega-3 is oily marine fish, which contain both EPA and DHA, or fish oil supplements and enriched foods with added Omega-3 EPA/DHA.

Buyer beware! Not all Omega-3 claimed on food labels is EPA and DHA. Some Omega-3 is ALA from flax and other plant sources, which is not the best type of Omega-3. Always look for Omega-3 EPA+DHA from fish oil on the label of Omega-3-enriched food products.