Flaxseed comes from a flowering annual herb known as flax [*]. This plant has been cultivated since the beginning of civilization. It’s Latin name is Linum usitatissimum which translates to “very useful” [*].

Flaxseed can be processed to produce culinary flour and oil, or industrial oil. Flaxseed is typically referred to as linseed oil when utilized for industrial application. Flax stem can also be made into a durable fiber for clothing [*]. 

Flaxseed has been utilized as food and medicine for thousands of years. In the ancient Indian medicinal system known as Ayurveda, flaxseed was used to fight fatigue and promote physical endurance. It is also believed to promote mental and skin health, as well as having anti-aging and wound-healing properties [*].

In the Middle ages, flaxseed was used for a variety of ailments. It was utilized as a diuretic in kidney disorders, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory, and pain and cough reliever [*].

Hipporactes, who is known as the father of medicine, has written about flaxseed as a laxative [*]. There are also other historical books in Asia and Europe that detail flaxseed’s medicinal use. These records indicate that flaxseed was used to support skin, dental, gastrointestinal, brain, and respiratory health [*]. 

Today, flaxseed is considered a functional food for its potential health benefits and disease fighting properties [*]. 

Flaxseed’s potential health benefits are linked to its nutritional composition. It is one of the richest plant sources of the Omega-3 fatty acid known as α-linolenic acid.  It is also rich in dietary fiber, and ligans that have antioxidant effects [*]. 

Antioxidants are known to help prevent many chronic diseases linked to oxidative stress and inflammation [*]. 

Flaxseed shows potential in managing body weight [*], cholesterol [*], blood pressure [*] and blood sugar levels [*]. It also promotes overall brain [*], digestive [*], and cardiovascular health [*]. 

Flaxseed can be purchased whole, ground, or as an oil extract for culinary use. It is also a major ingredient in dietary supplements that claim to promote brain, digestive, and cardiovascular health. 

The popularity of flaxseed has led to hundreds of brands flooding the marketplace; however not all supplements are created equal! Unfortunately, more than 90% of flaxseed supplements in the market simply DON’T WORK!

We understand the challenges in finding the right supplement for your health needs. That’s why we gathered years of research and made this guide to help you find the top-rated formulas that work for you.

Things To Be Cautious About

Has your brand been third-party tested? You should never buy supplements that don’t have Certificate of Analysis. The studies should be conducted in labs that are not affiliated with the manufacturer. These labs verify the product for safety and potency.

Does your flaxseed supplement contain cheap synthetic fillers? Some brands add artificial fillers to cut cost to offer cheap products. Some of these cheap fillers we found were titanium dioxide and artificial coloring. You should never purchase cheap products when it comes to supplements.

No return policy or customer service – A reputable supplement company will offer 100% money-back guarantee policy and provide customer support through phone number and email. We noticed many formulas out there are just copies of the top-rated brands. They don’t offer an easy refund policy or don’t even have a phone number to prove they are real.

Top 3 Flaxseed Supplements

The result: we reviewed over 100+ brands of Flaxseed Supplements in the market and complied a list of top 3 formulas based on effectiveness, safety, pricing, return policy, and overall customer satisfaction.

1. Nature’s Way Flax Oil

  • Shipping & Return Policy 97% 97%
  • Customer Service 98% 98%
  • Essential Ingredients 96% 96%
  • Effectiveness 97% 97%

Note: we test purchased this product. We can confirm on-time delivery, reliability and quality product from this brand.

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

2. Solgar Flaxseed Oil

  • Shipping & Return Policy 97% 97%
  • Customer Service 96% 96%
  • Essential Ingredients 96% 96%
  • Effectiveness 95% 95%

Note: we test purchased this product. We can confirm on-time delivery, reliability and quality product from this brand.

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

3. Nature’s Bounty Flaxseed Oil

  • Shipping & Return Policy 95% 95%
  • Customer Service 96% 96%
  • Essential Ingredients 96% 96%
  • Effectiveness 94% 94%

Note: we test purchased this product. We can confirm on-time delivery, reliability and quality product from this brand.

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

Ranking Factors

Shipping & Return Policy: we check the shipping and return policy of each recommended product to make sure these brands stand behind their products.

Customer Service: we contact the top rated brands through email, chat or phone to make sure they are responsive and can answer potential questions customers might have.

Essential Ingredients: we verify the ingredients in every top rated brands, their safety and dosage amount in comparison with the latest scientific studies.

Overall Effectiveness: we check with real customers through their reviews and testimonials to make sure the top brands are as effective as they claim to be. We recommend the top 5 formulas based on their average score.

We highly recommend our reader to do their own research, read real reviews and contact any brands directly to make sure they can provide the products and services based on their needs.

1. Nature’s Way Flax Oil

  • Shipping & Return Policy 97% 97%
  • Customer Service 98% 98%
  • Essential Ingredients 96% 96%
  • Effectiveness 97% 97%

*This is a subjective assessment based on the strength of the available information and our independent research and customer feedback. Results may vary based on individual.

Disclosure of Material Connection: we only recommend products and services which we believe will add value to the users. However, you should assume the owner of this website and/or blog has an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection, to any suppliers of goods and services that may be discussed here and may be compensated for showing ads or recommending products or services or linking to the supplier’s website.

Sources and Citations

1. Flaxseed—a potential functional food source… https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4375225/
2. Flax and flaxseed oil: an ancient… https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4152533/
3. Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/flaxseed-and-flaxseed-oil
4. Flaxseed mitigates… https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25865679/