Flax Seeds Benefits: You Said it All 

      What makes the flax seeds an increasingly popular addition to the diets of many health conscious consumer? Flaxseeds are known as Linum usitatissimum with it species name meaning "most useful." Definitely, this describes the versatility and nutritional value of this tiny little seed.

      Slightly larger than sesame seeds, flax seeds have a hard and shiny shell. Their color ranges from deep amber to reddish brown depending upon whether the flax is of the golden or brown variety. While whole flaxseeds feature a soft crunch, the nutrients in ground seeds are more easily absorbed. Flax seeds come in two basic varieties, brown and yellow or golden, with most types having similar nutritional values and equal amounts of short-chain omega-3 fatty acids. The exception is a type of yellow flax called Linola or solin, which has a completely different oil profile and is very low in omega-3.

      One of the first records of the culinary use of flaxseeds is from times of ancient Greece. In both that civilization and in ancient Rome, the health benefits of flaxseeds were widely praised. Let's find out why. 

Nutritional Value and Health Benefits

      Flax seeds contain high levels of lignans and omega-3 fatty acids. Lignas may benefit the heart, possess anti-cancer properties. Studies performed on mice found reduced growth in specific types of tumors. Initial studies suggest that flaxseed taken in the diet may benefit individuals with certain types of breast and prostate cancer.

      Its high content of alpha linolenic acids has made the ancient flax seed become our modern miracle food. Alpha linolenic acid is a type of plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids similar to those found in fish such as salmon. Benefits of flax seed as shown in many studies include lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) levels. Other benefits show that flax seed may also help  lower blood triglyceride and blood pressure. It may also keep platelets from becoming sticky therefore reducing the risk of a heart attack.

      Flax may also lessen the severity of diabetes by stabilizing blood-sugar levels. There is some support for the use of flax seed as a laxative due to its dietary fiber content though excessive consumption without liquid can result in intestinal blockage. Consuming large amounts of flax seed can impair the effectiveness of certain oral medications, due to its fiber content. Aside from the above-mentioned, here are the other benefits we can get from flax seeds: 

• Omega-3-rich Flaxseeds Protect Bone Health
• Flaxseed Provides Comparable Cholesterol-Lowering Benefits to Statin Drugs
• Flaxseed Oil Lowers Blood Pressure in Men with High Cholesterol
• Rich in Beneficial Fiber
• Flaxseed Puts the Brakes on Prostate Cancer Growth
• Flaxseed Reduces Hot Flushes Almost 60%
• Fend Off Dry Eyes (research findings suggest that increasing dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of dry eye syndrome, an important and prevalent cause of ocular complaints)
• Special Protection for Women's Health (what does this mean? Eating about an ounce of ground flaxseed each day will affect the way estrogen is handled in post menopausal women in such a way that offers protection against breast cancer but will not interfere with estrogen's role in normal bone maintenance)