Flax - The Richest Seed

Flax seed has been used as a healing food for thousands of years, with accounts of use by ancient Greeks and Egyptians, in the Roman Empire, and as being one of the original “medicines” used by Hippocrates. Unfortunately, within the last 100 years, modern methods of food processing, combined with preferences for wheat and other less nutritious enriched grain products, have removed the vital nutrients of valuable essential fatty acids, dietary fiber, and cancer preventing phytonutrients from our food chain. Flax seed consumption has become a current interest because of its high content of Omega-3 fatty acid, but also due to its extremely high lignan content.

Lignan is a type of phytoestrogen (antioxidant). Research has shown that lignan in flax seed has a lot of promise in fighting disease – including breast cancer. It is thought that lignan metabolites can bind to estrogen receptors, which inhibits the onset of estrogen-stimulated breast cancer. Dr. Paul Goss, director of the Breast Cancer Prevention Program in Toronto, presented research of a control group of women with recently diagnosed cancer. 50% were given 50 grams of flax seed in a muffin every day for a period of 40 days or less after diagnosis. Every woman from the control group who ate the muffins displayed slower growing tumors than those who had not. It was determined that these women were much more likely to survive their cancers. Lignan studies also show that it may interfere with the development of prostate and colon cancer, as well as other tumors in the human body.

Flax seed oil is the world’s most abundant source of Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) at almost 60%. ALA is a plant-derived Omega 3 Fatty Acid, similar to those found in fish such as salmon. Omega-3 is an Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) and must be supplied through our diets, as it is not naturally synthesized by our bodies.

EFAs increase metabolic rate, improve metabolism, increase oxygen uptake, and increase energy production. EFAs and their derivatives are components of membranes that surround each cell in our bodies. They are required for the transport and metabolism of cholesterol and triglycerides. They can lower high cholesterol levels by 25% and high triglycerides by 65%. They are required for normal development of the brain. EFAs also make a hormone-like substance in the body called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins regulate arterial muscle tone, sodium excretion through the kidneys, platelet stickiness (which reduces the risk of heart attack), inflammatory response, and immune functions.

Other positive aspects of adding flax seed and flax oil to your diet:

Flax seeds are a high quality protein.
Flax seeds are rich in soluble fiber. The combination of oil and the fiber makes flax seed an ideal laxative.
Flax seeds contain Vitamins B-1, B-2, C, E, and carotene. They contain iron, zinc, and trace amounts of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and Vitamin E and carotene, two nutrients which aid the metabolism of the oil.
Flax seeds contain over a hundred times more of a phytonutrient, known as lignan, than any of its closest competitors, such as wheat bran, buckwheat, rye, millet, oats, and soybeans.

Tips for using flax:

Don’t use flax oil for cooking. Heat can turn these helpful oils into harmful ones. Add flax oil to foods after cooking or just before serving.
Flax oil turns rancid quickly (about six weeks after processing). Purchase only refrigerated oil in black containers in quantities that will be consumed. Minimize exposure to heat, light, and air. Store bought capsules of flax oil are most likely rancid, so take care when purchasing these products.
Flax oil taken with a meal can actually increase the nutritional value of foods. Research shows that adding flax oil to foods rich in sulfated amino acids, such as culinary dairy products, animal, seafood, or soy proteins, helps to emulsify the oil, improving digestion and metabolism in the body. (I take it with my soy protein supplement drink every day.)
Flax seed must be ground in order for the body to absorb them. You can add the ground flax seed to cereal, salads, rice, pancakes, or eat it plain. (You can also add it steamed rice for an extra nutty flavor.)
It is recommended to purchase ground flax seed in black containers (as with the oil). Remember to refrigerate after opening.

Flax seed oil can also aid in fat/weight loss. It decreases your craving for fatty foods and sweets. It regulates blood sugar and insulin levels, creates satiety, increases oxygen utilization, and as mentioned above, it increases your metabolism. For those who weight train, it improves stamina and endurance, and reduces post work out muscle soreness. Hillary Swank’s personal trainer added large quantities of flax to Hillary’s daily diet to help her bulk up quickly for her role in the movie “Million Dollar Baby”.

Overall, adding 2 tablespoons of flax seed oil and 3 tablespoons of ground flax seed to your daily diet can do your body a world of good. It seems that every system in this great living organism called “our body” will benefit from its intake. It can keep your digestive track clear from possible intestinal toxemia, reduce the effects of perimenopause or menstrual cramps, reduce inflammation caused from arthritis, and even help heal mood disorders that are caused from Omega-3 deficiencies.

As most of us have gone back and forth with dieting and eliminating or minimizing fats from our eating habits, we need to be taught how to properly add the right fats back into our diets. Flax seed oil is by far the richest source of natural fat available. Research is continuously proving that flax can be used to aid in the prevention and healing of a multitude of ailments. So go out and get your fat!