It is no wonder that there is an increasing interest in flaxseed –studies show that flaxseed may help fight everything from heart disease and diabetes to even breast cancer.
Flaxseed is very high in omega-3 essential fatty acids, the good fats that aid in lowering cholesterol, stabilizing blood sugar, lower the risk of certain cancers, and reduce the inflammation of arthritis, as well as the inflammation that accompanies certain illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease and asthma.
In addition to the omega-3s, the remaining two components of flaxseed, lignans and fiber, have health benefits as well. Both act as phytoestrogens and antioxidants, while the fiber contained in the flaxseed is of both the soluble and insoluble type.
Flaxseed is available in supermarkets and health food stores and comes in whole seeds, ground seeds, or oil. The ground seeds is what has all the goodness – the fiber, the lignans, and the essential fatty acids, while whole seeds will pass through your system undigested.
The recommended daily amount of flaxseed is approximately 1-2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed, or 1 teaspoon of flax oil (which is best used cold, perhaps mixed in a vinaigrette salad dressing).
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