Relief from Constipation. Flax seed's all natural fiber helps to absorb water, thereby softening the stool and allowing it to pass through the colon quickly. When adding fiber to your diet, it is important to make sure that you are drinking at least eight glasses of water daily. Without enough liquids, fiber can actually cause constipation. It is the whole or ground flax seed that has the fiber, not the flax seed oil.
Good for Your Heart Flax has been found to help reduce total cholesterol, LDL levels (the bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. Flax helps to reduce clotting time and thereby reduces the chance for heart attacks and strokes. Regular intake of flax protects against arrhythmias and helps keep the arteries clear and pliable! Research suggests that plant omega-3s help the cardiovascular system via several different mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory action and normalizing the heartbeat,"Lignans in flax seed have been shown to reduce atherosclerotic plaque buildup by up to 75%," says says Kelley C. Fitzpatrick, MSc, director of health and nutrition with the Flax Council of Canada.
Lowers Cholesterol Eating flaxseed daily may help your cholesterol levels, too. Small particles of LDL or "bad" cholesterol in the bloodstream have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes. A French-Canadian study in menopausal women reported a decrease in these small LDL particles after the women ate 4 tablespoons of ground flax seed daily for a year. Fitzpatrick says the cholesterol-lowering effects of flax seed are the result of the synergistic benefits of the omega-3 ALA, fiber, and lignans. Ground flax seed has been shown to work just as well as statins in lowering cholesterol in some studies.
Help Prevent Diabetes Research suggests that daily intake of the lignans in flaxseed may modestly improve blood sugar. It has also been discovered that the omega-3 fat and high fiber in flax may play a role in the fight against diabetes. In a study conducted by the University of Toronto, participants who ate flaxseed bread had blood sugar levels 28% lower an hour after eating than their counterparts who ate bread made with wheat flour!
Reduces Inflammation Two components in flax seed, ALA and lignans, may reduce the inflammation that accompanies certain illnesses (such as Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma) by helping to block the release of certain pro-inflammatory agents. The January 1996 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that the participants in a study that took flax oil daily reduced inflammatory responses by as much as 30%. The plant omega-3 ALA has been shown to decrease inflammatory reactions in humans. Reducing inflammatory reactions associated with plaque buildup in the arteries may be another way flax seed helps prevent heart attack and strokes.
Boost Your Mood Preliminary research suggests that eating a diet rich in flax could slash your risk of ever feeling "down in the dumps". Flax, has a mood boosting ingredient: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that is essential for the proper function of brain cells, yet up to 85% of women aren't getting enough of it, says Udo Erasmus, PhD.
Reduces Cravings The fatty acids contained in flax seeds and flax oil are essential nutrients. The body is not able to produce these nutrients from other food sources. Because they are essential and necessary for your body to remain in full health, the body will look for them after you have eaten to use them at a cellular level. If the body is unable to locate these essential fats, it will register that there is a nutritional deficiency. You are likely to experience cravings for more fatty foods as your body attempts to obtain what it needs. Therefore, by adding small amounts of flax oil daily you can reduce cravings for fatty foods, which will help prevent excess weight gain.
Helps Get Rid of Belly Fat Really, flax can help you reduce your belly fat. It contains "good" fats, which initiate a process called thermogenesis, which burns stored excess fat cells from around the belly and other parts of the body. Also the essential fatty acids found in flax oil will help increase the metabolism, which helps burn excess fat cells, according to Dr. Oz.
May Reduce Hot Flashes Flax is the richest known plant source of phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens act as a natural hormone therapy and help to stabilize hormonal levels. This stabilization of hormonal levels helps to lessen the symptoms of menopause.
Cancer Prevention Recent studies have suggested that flax seed may have a protective effect against cancer, particularly breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. The 2 important components are the lignans which may help protect against cancer by blocking enzymes that are involved in hormone metabolism and the plant omega-3 fatty which inhibited the growth and spread of tumor cells. Research has shown that increasing the amount of fiber in your diet also reduces your colon-cancer risk.
