Before following my fitness trainers request to add Flaxseed to my diet I first wanted to do some research. I had heard of Flaxseed but did not really know what it was. I wanted to find out about its nutritional value and if it had any health benefits. These are some things that I have learned thus far.
Flaxseed has been a part of human and animal diets for thousands of years in Europe, Asia, Africa, and more recently in North America and Australia, says Kaye Effertz, executive director of AmeriFlax, a trade promotion group representing U.S. flaxseed producers. As flax gained popularity for its industrial uses, however, its popularity as a food product waned, but it never lost its nutritional value. “Today flax is experiencing a renaissance among nutritionists, the health conscious public, food processors, and chefs alike,” says Effertz.
WebMD.com states “Flaxseed is very high in omega-3 essential fatty acids. It’s the omega 3s “good” fats that researchers are looking at in terms of their possible effects on lowering cholesterol and stabilizing blood sugar, lowering the risk of breast, prostate, and colon cancers, and reducing the inflammation of arthritis, as well as the inflammation that accompanies certain illnesses such as Parkinson’s Disease and asthma”. Studies so far with flaxseed contributing with the above have shown mixed results.
In addition to the omega-3s, another component of flaxseed is fiber. It is being studied for it’s health benefits as well, says Diane Morris, PhD, RD, spokesperson for the Flax Council of Canada. Improved regularity has been a reported benefit associated with flax oil. On a personal level, this really caught my attention. As I have gotten older I have experienced constipation and bloating off an on. I have started taking one flax oil capsule every morning.