Omega-3 indices following chia and flax seed comsumption in populations following a low fat, wholefood, plant-based dietary pattern

INTERVENTION: Fla Xand chia seeds (22.5 grams of fla Xseeds and 22.5 grams of chia seeds containing 10.25 grams of ALA) in a population following a whole food plant‐based diet. The fla Xand chia seeds will be incorporated daily (45g/day) into participants existing diets by mixing or adding to meals i.e. sprinkled on oats for 8 weeks. Adherence will be monitored by asking participants to return all seeds which were not consumed during the 8 week intervention. Both groups will be asked to continue eating their existing low fat (<20%) whole food plant‐based diets. Additionally, both groups will also complete a validated online 24 hour diet recall to measure adherence to the intervention. CONDITION: Diet and Nutrition ‐ Other diet and nutrition disorders Omega‐3 deficiency; ; Omega‐3 deficiency PRIMARY OUTCOME: Omega‐3 index[Finger prick blood sample Baseline and at 8 weeks post‐baseline] SECONDARY OUTCOME: alpha‐linolenic acid [Finger prick blood sample Baseline and at 8 weeks post‐baseline] Anthropometry (Weight, height) [Self reported via study‐specific questionnaire Baseline and at 8 weeks post‐baseline] Docosahexaenoic acid [Finger prick blood smaple Baseline and at 8 weeks post‐baseline] Eicosapentaenoic acid [Finger prick blood sample Baseline and at 8 weeks post‐baseline] omega‐6 fatty acids [finger prick blood sample Baseline and at 8 weeks post‐baseline] INCLUSION CRITERIA: • 18‐years‐old or older • Habitual dietary intake of a whole food, plant‐based (WFPB) low fat (<20%) diet > 6 months (Validated with a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ))