There is usually more than a “simple” answer for most questions.  We have listed the most common questions with a short quick answer and another longer more detailed response.

Why Flax oil?
The below chart shows that Flax contains a higher percentage of Omega-3s than any other seed or nut.  Read on below for more information on Omega-3.

Vegetable oils and there EFA Profile

	Omega 3 Omega 6     Omega 9 Borage Oil 23%       37%  15% Canola Oil  10%        24%     60% Coconut Oil      9%      89% Saturated fat Flax 57% 16% 18% Hazelnut Oil   15%    76% Hemp Oil 20%  58%        11% Olive Oil   82%     9% Pumpkin Oil   60%     20% Safflower Oil    79%    13% Sunflower Oil    69%  19% Sesame Oil   41%       46% Walnut Oil  5%  51%     28%

Long Answer: 
Omega-3s are unique types of polyunsaturated fatty acids.  They are essential to health since the human body does not produce them.  Omega-3 EFA’s were discovered in the 1970’s and have been studied in thousands of clinical trials.  There is overwhelming evidence that they are important for good health and protecting against disease.

Omega-3 fatty acids are one of four types of fat that our bodies derive from food.  The other three are monounsaturated fat, saturated fat and cholesterol.  Omega-3, 6 and 9 are part of the group called Essential Fatty Acids, because they have been shown to be essential for good health.  Unfortunately, our bodies cannot manufacture these EFA’s.  They must be obtained from food or supplements.

The optimum ratio of Omega-6 to Omega 3 is about 3:1.  The typical Western diet, over the last couple of decades has been estimated at 20:1 and as high as 50:1.  Omega 6’s are found in many cooking oils.

Many experts and clinical test show that many ailments can be traced to a shortage of Omega 3.

	Cal’s Answer:  I often wonder about all the illnesses and how many are affected by diet.  Then I look at what the EFA’s help with and again wonder how much is related to the health of our bodies.

What Health Benefits are possible with Omega-3?

There is an enormous amount of data and research that shows how Omega-3s help prevent disease and improve the health of individuals.  These benefits are not anecdotal, but rather are sustained by reputable clinical studies over many years of research.

What about Fish Oil?

There are three types of Omega 3 fatty acids.  One type called ALA (Alpha-linolenic acid) is found in flax seed, some other seeds and nuts.  The other Omega 3 fatty acids are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexanoic acid).  These are both found in cold-water fish (such as tuna, mackerel and salmon).

The Omega 3s in flaxseed oil and other plant oils do not contain DHA and EPA.  The body must convert ALA into DHA, but this is not a problem for most healthy bodies.

While it is important to take Omega 3 in our diets, there are significant risks in taking fish oil supplements.  Fish oils have not been molecularly distilled and contain high levels of dangerous contaminants.  This is especially true for fish from farmed stations and the North Atlantic Ocean.  Fish from this region have high levels of heavy metals such as mercury, dioxin and PCBs.

Long Answer: 
In the case of Flax oil, heat above 100 F quickly breaks the oil down.  So a person can not cook with the oil.  Flax Oil starts to break down and go rancid if exposed to Oxygen or light.  This of course prevents it from being used in many applications.

Fish oil is an excellent source of Omega-3, but it has a very strong taste and that makes it difficult to work with.  Flax seeds can be used for some bakery products, but the average person will need 3-6 tables spoons a day to get the needed amount of Omega-3.

	Cal’s Answer: Just a bottle a month is all I ask, (and get one for a friend too).  Freezing is fine for the oil.  It’s cold and dark in the freezer.

Why not just use Flax Seed?

Short Answer: 
Flax seed has a hard shell coat, not all the seed is getting crack open and it will not be digested.  A person gains little benefit from the flax seed.

Long Answer: 
Using flax seed for the Omega-3s is a great start, but most of the seed passes through the digestive system without the Omega-3s being release and therefore not absorbed into the system.  The oil is highly digestible and absorbs easily into the body.  The Omega-3s are readily needed, but tightly locked in the seed.

	Cal’s Answer: You’re flushing the benefits of flax seed away.

Why not grind the Flax seed?

Short Answer: 
Even with grinding, the seed does not release much of the oil into the digestive system.  Sadly most of the benefits of flax seed pass through the digestive tract.

Long Answer: 
Grinding does allow you to keep the seed longer.  The seed can last for years if kept in normal conditions.  To get the same benefits of the oil you will need to consume three times as much seed.  The same seed that is purchased for 100+% mark-up is used in my crushing operation.  You can easily buy fresh pressed seed and have the full benefits of the oil.  It takes roughly 3 pound of seed to get one pound of oil.  But the oil is concentrated with the Omega 3.

	Cal’s Answer:  I will be selling seed (same as I use for crushing for oil). But the oil is so much better for you and just as easy to work with.  Try a bottle today.

Why buy Stengel Oils Flax oil?

Short Answer: 
The seed is the same; the process is the same; and the final product is the same, why pay more?

Long Answer:
Cal’s education and training has been crop production and seed technology.  Starting with the best selected seeds and choice growing areas, all becomes critical in quality oil that comes from the seed.

While the other companies can buy the same seed, they have to transport it much further.  Many of the companies are on the west coast and must transport the seed 2000 miles, before pressing it for oil.  These other operations have larger overhead expenses as well.  All that adds to the cost of the oil

For Stengel Oils, the seed can move as little as 3 miles total from field to the presses.   And I can guarantee that our overhead expenses are less than others.

Quality:  The same seed arrives at our facility, is checked against samples pulled and tested for taste and purities.

	Cal’s Answer: Because you will save some money and keep me in business.

What is Cold-Press?

Short Answer:
Cold pressing of vegetable oils is a special process that uses friction to press the seed from the oil.  It does not allow for the oil to reach high temperatures (300+ F)  In the case for flax oil, the temperature does not go above 100 F (38 C).

Long Answer: 
The other process uses high temperatures (300-400 F) and chemical solvents such as Hexane to extract all the oil from the seed.  While this process is highly efficient, in the case of flax seed it give paint thinner instead of something that is healthy.

	Cal’s Answer:  The seed is cooked to give Linseed Oil (paint thinner)  not very appealing.  I taste the oil straight off the cold- presses and its like butter (sweet and smooth).

One tablespoon per 100 lbs of body weight is about the right amount on a daily basis for flax oil.
This is equal to 8-14 capsules of flax oil.  A person would need over 3-6 tablespoons of ground flax seed to match the amount of Omega-3 found in the oil.

• Stir the oil into a fruit juice or drink
  
• Add to yogurt
  
• Add to a salad
  
• Mix with apple sauce