Flaxseed Anyone?

Okay. I have discovered the benefits of flax seed and take a heaping teaspoon of it daily. I saw an infomercial for it about 4 months ago and was intrigued because it was realy good for you. I put on my shoes and ran down to the health food store and bought the smallest bag--13.05 ounces. Try some.

What is flaxseed?

Flax is a blue flowering crop grown on the Prairies of Canada for its oil-rich seeds. The seeds of flax are tiny, smooth and flat, and range in colour from light to reddish brown. They serve a variety of purposes, including baking and other food uses.

People have eaten flaxseed since ancient times. Taste — a pleasant, nutty flavour — is one reason. Good nutrition is another.

Flax benefits

Current nutrition research continues to identify various substances in foods that appear to act as protectors against chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease and cancer. Flaxseed, a popular food ingredient in Europe and Canada, is no exception. The reasons are many:

• Several studies confirm that flaxseed can be a cholesterol-lowering agent like oat bran, fruit pectin and other food ingredients that contain soluble fibre. By packaging both omega-3 fatty acids and soluble fibre together, flaxseed presents two ingredients that favour healthy blood lipid patterns.

• Flaxseed contains healthy amounts of both soluble and insoluble fibre. Scientists at the American National Cancer Institute singled out flaxseed as one of six foods that deserved special study. The reason: flaxseed shows potential cancer-fighting ability. Flaxseed is one of the richest sources of lignans, a type of phytoestrogen which may protect against cancer, particularly hormone-sensitive cancers such as those of the breast and prostate.

While flaxseed is rich in protein, research suggests that its health benefits probably have more to do with its fatty acid and fibre profile.

Nutrient Profile of Flaxseed
Proximate
100 grams (3 ½ ounces)
Food Energy	450 Kilocalories (Calories)
Fat*	41.0 grams
Total Dietary Fibre	28.0 grams
Protein	20.0 grams

*Analysed by the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS ) Official Method Am 2-93, which is based on the Federation of Oils, Seeds and Fats Associations Ltd. (FOSFA) Official Method. The American Organization of Analytical Chemists (AOAC International) Method 996.06 will produce a slightly lower fat content.

What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!

~~Aileen Mehle~~