For promoting bowel regularity, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of whole or ground linseed is taken one or two times per day, accompanied by a full glass of water. When used to treat other health conditions, it is used in amounts of 30 to 35 grams (1 to 2 ounces) per day.

Although it is not suitable for cooking, linseed oil (unlike fish oil) can be used in salads. Some doctors recommend that people use 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of linseed oil per day as a supplement in salads or on vegetables to ensure a supply of essential fatty acids. Some conversion of alpha linolenic acid (ALA) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) does occur,¹ and this conversion can be increased by restricting the intake of other vegetable oils.²

For those who wish to replace fish oil with linseed oil, research suggests taking up to ten times as much ALA as EPA.³ Typically, this means 7.2 grams of linseed oil equals 1 gram of fish oil. However, even if taken in such high amounts, linseed oil may not have the same effects as fish oil. But, linseed oil will not cause a fishy-smelling burp (a possible side effect of fish oil).