Linum usitatissimum is the scientific name for the super fibrous crop – Flax. These seeds were very initially grown in Egypt, and it is a very ancient crop that was used in ayurvedic medicine for centuries. It is a rich source of antioxidants, proteins, fibers, and, most importantly – omega-3 fatty acids. All of these nutrients make flaxseed good for you. So, before you discover how much flaxseed per day you must consume, let’s check out the health benefits of flax seeds. Keep reading on to know everything about the super emerging food that’s made itself to most diets!
Table of Contents
What Makes Flaxseed Good for Your Health?
Everyone you see is going crazy over the inclusion of flaxseeds in their diet. Are you also one of them? If yes, before you add them to your shopping cart, know is flaxseed good for you or not. Scroll down to learn the well-curated list of health benefits flaxseeds provide you.
Here are the following health benefits that make flaxseed good for you:
Helps in Preventing Cancer
You know well enough that flaxseeds have made to most diets. And there is ongoing research that is proving the health benefits of flax seeds immensely. Similarly, a study done on women who went through menopause was given flaxseeds in their diet. And researchers concluded that the chances of breast cancer were reduced in these women by a significant percentage.
So, you can conclude that the presence of anti-inflammatory properties and omega-3 fatty acids have helped reduce cancer cells’ production. Also, flaxseeds contain lignans in them, which helps to reduce cancerous tumors to grow. Men can also benefit because flaxseed can help in preventing prostate cancer too.
May Help in Lowering Blood Sugar Levels
Diabetes is an emerging problem in the entire world. Almost every tenth person has diabetes. So, researchers are trying their best to find out the possible chances to prevent diabetes. And the good news is flaxseeds have made it to the list.
As a matter of fact, you will find the studies to show the lowering of blood sugar levels by supplementing flaxseeds is of a whopping 20%. Although the research is incomplete, it is believed that the mucilage-content in flaxseeds has helped in this regard. It made the digestion slow, which has made the glucose release out in the blood.
Other studies also prove that flaxseed is useful in reducing the chances of diabetes mellitus. The presence of SDG in flaxseeds reduces the chances of type 1 diabetes and delays the onslaught of type 2 diabetes.
Helps in Weight Loss
Is flaxseed good for weight loss? If that’s the question you’re searching for, well then, there’s good news for you. Flaxseeds are very high in fiber, which makes it a perfect food inclusion for weight loss.
Even more, the presence of omega-3 fatty acids is a superfood to reduce your appetite. Flaxseeds contain a fair amount of lignans in them, which can help you in boosting metabolism.
A few more studies also show that you can excrete out fat with the help of flaxseeds. So, don’t you want to know how to eat flax seeds for weight loss? Hang in there to know more!
Improves Digestive Health
Since flaxseeds contain a lot of fiber in them, you can be sure to say goodbye to your digestive problems like constipation. It includes the right amounts of soluble and insoluble fiber that keeps your gut healthy. And research promotes consuming the ground form of flaxseeds rather than the whole to improve your digestive ailments.
Flaxseeds contain the laxative properties in them, which can make your pass stool easily. But remember how to eat flaxseeds and then drink a lot of water to allow the fibers to pass through the intestine.
Also, the presence of omega-3 fatty acids that present in flaxseeds abundantly helps in reducing inflammation. All of which protects the GI tract lining.
Protects Your Heart
You can protect your heart from many heart problems by consuming flaxseeds. That’s because flaxseeds contain vast amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which help in keeping your heart in good health.
ALA is present in omega-3 fatty acids is very good at lowering the risk of having a heart attack. This is a research that is done in Costa Rico that claims consuming adequate amounts of ALA keep you away from cardiac arrest.
Helps to Fight Off Inflammation
Do you know that flaxseeds powder contains more than 140% of omega-3 fatty acids your body needs daily? If you consume two tablespoons, your body is getting the correct amount of omega-3, which can help to fight off inflammation. An important content in omega 3 is ALA, which can help in decreasing the pro-inflammatory compounds present in your body.
More so, you can even try fighting off inflammation caused by arthritis by supply your body with the right amount of omega-3 fatty acids.
Treats Menstrual Problems
When you start eating flaxseeds, your ovulation is regularized well. Numerous studies say many people who ate ground flaxseeds had ovulation during each menstrual cycle. Moreover, you can also reduce cramps by consuming flaxseeds during the menstrual cycle.
One more study also talks about stopping hot flashes for women too. However, there is a requirement for more studies and research in this regard.
Flax seed is Gluten-Free
If you’re on a weight loss regime, then flaxseeds have good news for you. It is an excellent swap for many other grains that contain gluten in them. But if you are gluten-intolerant, it’ll be hard for you to digest other grains but flaxseeds will be a perfect choice for you.
Benefits when Pregnant and During Breastfeeding
The high supply of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and protein present makes flaxseed good for pregnant women. Moreover, the fiber content also prevents pregnant women from constipation. However, you need more research to show the health benefits of flaxseeds in pregnancy.
But a study done on animals showed good development in the optic nerve and retina of the offspring. However, it would be best if you consult a doctor before you consume flaxseeds during breastfeeding and pregnancy.
Keeps Skin in Good Health
Is flaxseed good for your skin? Is that what you’re searching for? Well, then you’re surely going to be in for a surprise. Flaxseeds benefits your skin immensely. You can keep your skin healthy and very smooth by supplying yourself with omega-3s. This reduces premature aging, wrinkles, and fine lines too.
More so, the benefit of flaxseed oil is also useful in this regard. That’s because you can keep the pollutants and other irritants away from getting into the pores of your skin. It keeps your skin hydrated and supple. You can also choose flaxseeds to treat psoriasis, eczema, and other skin conditions.
Keeps Hair Healthy
Flax seeds benefits for hair are significantly powerful. You need to provide your hair with the right amounts of fatty acids to avoid having dry and brittle hair. Moreover, you can also get the benefit of flaxseed oil to reduce hair fall. Also, cicatricial alopecia a hair loss condition that stays permanent can be reduced by using flaxseeds.
You can try making a hair mask using flaxseeds to prevent hair fall and ensure hair growth. All you need to do is bring around three cups of water to boil. Then add around five tablespoons of flaxseed into the boiling water. Finally, use a lid to cover it and let it boil until it gets a gel-like consistency. Use a sieve to strain the fluid out and allow it cool. Store the flaxseed gel in a container and use it every morning. Allow it to dry onto your scalp for about twenty minutes and then wash your hair using a herbal or organic shampoo.
Flax seeds Nutrition Profile
Now that you know well how beneficial flaxseeds are for you. Why not try discovering what makes flaxseed good for you? So, the flaxseed nutrition profile will give you all the reasons to add it to your diet. Here is the complete flax seeds nutrition profile.
When you consume a tablespoon of flaxseeds, you’re providing your body with 0.7 grams of fiber, 13 calories, 0.46 grams of protein, 1.05 grams of fat, and 0.72 grams of carbohydrates.
You must understand that flaxseed is not any magic pill that’ll keep you away from health problems. It would be best if you know how to eat flaxseeds and how much flaxseeds per day to benefit yourself. More so, making the correct choice and have a balanced diet is essential. Indeed, only then you can keep yourself healthy and fit.
How to Eat Flaxseed?
Now that you know what makes flaxseed good for you, here we have curated some easy and essential tips on how to eat flaxseeds. You can follow these easy tips and give your body the perfect dosage.
The following ways to eat flaxseed are:
- It would be best if you have flaxseed when they are in the form of sprouts. When you soak the flaxseeds, you are allowing them to sprout up and consequently removing the phytic acid from it. That’s because when the levels of phytic acids are gone from the flaxseeds, will enable you to absorb minerals in your body. So, to sprout up the flaxseeds you need to soak the flaxseeds in cold water for a good two hours. But if you’re in a hurry, try soaking the great seeds in hot water for ten minutes, and your flaxseed sprouts will be ready.
- Another best form to have flaxseeds is when it’s ground. That’s because you can provide your body with the nutrients that you might not get when its eaten whole.
- Be sure to eat flaxseeds with lots of water along with it. Only then you can allow the fibers to clean your intestine, that’ll keep your gut healthy.
- Try consuming the flaxseeds with your smoothie or morning cereals. Also, another way to eat flaxseeds is to add them to your salads roasted and give it a nice crunchy flavor.
- If you want to get the benefit of flaxseed oil, remember not to heat it up. That’s because by heating the oil you may end up changing its composition. On the other hand, the whole flaxseeds have a stable nutrient structure. So, you can roast the whole flaxseeds and consume it to get the optimum benefits.
- Are you on a Paleo diet? Well, then you can go ahead and add flaxseeds to your diet. Flax are seeds and can fit into the requirement this diet demands.
- If you are thinking when you must consume flaxseeds, then the morning is going to be the most beneficial. Keep two or four spoons of flaxseeds with your breakfast to make the most of its benefits.
Flax seeds Side Effects
When you consume flaxseeds, you need to make sure you have it in the right amount. That’s because it might leave adverse ill effects on your health. Having too much of flaxseeds can lead to stomach pain, bloating, constipation, low blood pressure, vomiting, and nausea. So, it is always best you have them in moderate amounts.
Although the research regarding inferring with other medications is quite limited, you might as well take an expert opinion if you have health issues like – diabetes and heart problems. That’s because it is seen that blood-thinning medicines like warfarin might interfere with the omega-3 present in flaxseeds. That might lead to severe bleeding issues. So, if you have other health problems, keep your doctor informed before you consume flaxseeds.
Final Thoughts
As we conclude our blog today and bring you right to the end, you know well what makes flaxseed good for you. It’s a great seed if you think of consuming them in moderation. More so, the tips for eating flaxseeds will help you get the most of this extraordinary food.
It would be best if you consume flaxseeds through your food and not through its supplements. More so, ask your doctor before consuming whole, ground, or sprouted flaxseeds if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or diabetic.
Apart from keeping these points in mind, you can enjoy the complete goodness of flaxseeds for your skin, hair, and health overall.