The Benefits of Flax Seeds

July 5, 2011 · Filed under Food, Health

It’s time we sit down and have a little chat about the awesomeness known as flax seed.

Every morning, when I make my green smoothie or when I’m eating a salad I always include flax seed oil in the recipe. Flax seeds, are a versatile food. They can be used to bake, placed on salads, like I do, put into smoothies or whatever your heart’s desire. They have a grainy, almost nutty taste and for $1.50 a pound,  it’s a bargain for all the rich fiber and Omega-3 fatty acids you’re getting.

Flax seeds come from the same blue-flowered plant, Linum usitatissimum, that brings us our prized  linens. Who knew, right?

Here’s just a few of the benefits that flax seeds have on your bod from our friends over at All Things O’Natural:

• An excellent source of protein and fiber.
• Including flaxseed in your daily diet can help you manage your weight. Besides stabilizing your sugar levels , flax expands five times in bulk when ingested. Flax taken half an hour before meals will help you eat less, so you will lose weight while simultaneously strengthening your immune system.
• Flax seed, with its high concentration of lignans, is a great choice for all women, whether younger, middle-aged, or older, as a natural way to normalize the menstrual cycle, manage menopause, and lower the risk of osteoporosis , cancer and heart disease.
• Flax seeds helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease – It aids in decreasing the so-called “bad” cholesterol. Increase the “good” cholesterol, decrease blood pressure, suppress the development of atherosclerosis and inflammation, and enhances blood vessel tone.
• The insoluble fiber in flax seed is helpful in regulating bowel movements, increasing the frequency of bowel movements, and preventing or treating bowel irregularities and constipation.
• Flax seeds help with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).
• Flax seeds enhance the immune system.
• Alleviates dry skin, eczema and psoriasis
• Protects against cancer, especially hormone sensitive cancers, such as breast and prostrate.
• Reduces the threat of blood clots.
• Increases sense of calmness under stress.
• Lowers high blood pressure.
• Flax seeds help to reduce the risk of diabetes.

So with all this nutritional goodness you just learned about, how do you plan on incorporating flax seeds into your diet?