Anyone use Flaxseed Oil to diet?

I don't mean to sound dumb but what is the importance of flaxseed oil?  My diet guidelines from Virginia Mason says to add 1/2 teaspoon to protein shake ....  but I've never heard of flaxseed oil until I came into this WLS world....and still don't understand its importance....  

Well I recently read where omega 3s rev up the metabolism so maybe that is part of the theory as I believe flax seed oil has them too. Also we do need a certain amount of healthy oils in our diet even with WLS. Just a guess on my part because I only play a doctor.

Flaxseed is great! The omega fats that are in it are essential to brain function and other stuff.  Very good stuff...and it is important!  Though I wonder how much as an RNY patient I would absorb if it's in the form of an oil (as we don't absorb a lot of the fat we ingest).  I wonder if the ground flax seed would be better??