Kimberly Scott April 26, 2009
Category:Book Reviews, Fats/Oils, Fatty Acids/ Omega-3's, Health/Fitness
What are flax seeds?
Flax seeds also known as linseed, come from a plant known as Linium usitatissimum. It’s a blue flowering plant, native to the regions from the eastern Mediterranean to India. Flax seeds are the richest vegetable source of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) and plant-based omega-3 fatty acids. Also contains dietary fiber, protein, and mucilage. The term flax refers to the unspun fibers of the flax plant. Flax seeds come in two varieties, brown or yellow/golden. Though close in nutritional value, the yellow contain a low amount of omegas. Flax seeds produce a type of vegetable oil also known as flax seed oil or linseed oil.
Flax seed plant
Health Benefits:
The factors in flax seeds nutritional benefit helps reduce risks of diabetes by stabilizing blood-sugar levels, cancer and tumors, heart disease, stroke, high-blood pressure and many other inflammatory conditions. The fatty acids help in brain development. Our bodies can produce these fatties acids on it’s own and has to be obtained from the food we eat.
100 grams of ground flax seed contains about 450 kilocalories, 41 grams of fat, 28 grams of fiber, and 20 grams of protein.
Immune System Help
Flax seeds in your daily diet can help boost the body’s immune system with the help of corn oil or cornstarch by helping your white blood cells become healthier and stronger against tougher pathogenic microorganisms. Flax seeds also help your body with the healing response, helping with such conditions as:
- Stoke
- Fatigue
- High cholesterol levels
- Acne
- Arthritis
- Lupus
- Leukemia
- Obesity
- Menopause
- Learning disabilities
- Kidney Diseases
- Inflammatory disease
- immune deficiencies
- Dry skin
- Depression
- Behavioral disorders
- Allergies
- Plus more!
Flax Seed Oil
Flax seeds produce a vegetable oil known as flaxseed or linseed oil. Flax seed oil is one of the best fats to consume in your nutritional diet since it contains ALA and omega fatty acids. Your body has enzymes that can break down linolenic and linoleic acids and are considered essential. Essential fatty acids are considered food fats because they help optimize metabolic rate, engery production, oxygen utilazation, and metabolism.
Ways to eat flax seeds:
Flax seeds have a nuty flavor. You can add it to any food of your choice where the flavor would work for you. i.e.:
- Place a tablespoon or so in yogurt,
- salads,
- cereal, oatmeal,
- glass of water
- place in baked goods
Consuming too much flax seeds can cause diahrrea.
Resources
For father reading into flax and how it helps your body, look into
The Healing Power of Flax: The definitive guide. By Herb Joiner-Bey, N.D.
It is an excellent source of information on what flax seeds are how they help/ work and more information into what omegas are and how they are good. It shows how to use to help with weight loss, male/women health, how it protects your body against different diseases, and even tons of recipes in which to incorporate flax seeds into your daily diet.
