Hi Melisa, Most flaxseed oils should be kept cool and in the fridge. The soft gels do help reduce exposure to light and heat, but any flaxseed oil may experience heat damage if exposed to high temperatures. This is way flaxseed manufacturers recommend keeping flaxseed oil in a cool dark place. The problem is you won't know if the flaxseed oil you get through mail order has been exposed to any heat sources; however, the same could also be said for the flaxseed oil you get at your local health food store. How do you know the flaxseed oil from your health food store was also not exposed to any heat sources as it was being delivered to the health food store? Unfortunately, you have no way of knowing without analyzing the oil to determine if there has been heat damage or fat oxidation in the oil.