Top 10 Health Benefits of Flax

Flax is packed with healthy fats, antioxidants, and fiber. Including them in your diet would be very beneficial to your health as they are seen as “functional foods”, meaning that if eaten, they can benefit you. Originating in the Mediterranean, they can be found grown in North Dakota and Montana during Spring. Seen as an Ayurdevic (which we wrote about here), we can find flax in many different forms. From the seeds itself to oils, powders, supplements, and more, let’s take a look at the top 10 benefits of flax:

Full of Nutrients

When you’re looking for a healthy way to add some extra nutrition to your day, flax is the way to go.

With just one tablespoon of flaxseed, you can get 2 grams of fiber, 1.3 grams of protein, 8% of the daily value of manganese, 2% the daily value of vitamin B6, 2% the daily value of iron—and that’s just the start!

It’s true: when you eat flaxseed, even in small quantities, it can give you all these benefits and more.

May Help Fight Cancer

Flax is a powerful cancer fighter, due to containing lignans. Postmenopausal women are at greater risk for breast cancer, and flax is a great way to curve this. It has even been found to fight against colorectal, blood, lung, and skin cancer!

Studies have shown that flax can help prevent or treat breast cancer in two ways: it can help reduce the risk of breast cancer by reducing estrogen levels; and it can also increase the effectiveness of tamoxifen, an anti-cancer drug used to treat breast cancer. Flax also contains plant sterols which may lower cholesterol levels in your body, which is another factor that can help reduce your risk of heart disease and other health problems like diabetes.

Lowers Cholesterol

Flaxseed is one of the most powerful foods you can eat to lower cholesterol.

A study found that eating 4 tablespoons of flax lowered their LDL cholesterol by 15%. Another study found that 4 tablespoons of flax daily lowered BMI, cholesterol, and blood pressure! These effects are due to the fact that flax binds to bile salts where cholesterol is then taken to the liver, lowering its levels.

Flax has a long history of being used in Ayurvedic medicine for detoxification and weight loss. It also contains an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which helps to reduce inflammation and improve cardiovascular health. Flaxseed oil has been shown in studies to improve blood lipid profiles by reducing triglycerides and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels while decreasing LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

Good for Heart Health

Are you looking for a way to improve your heart health? If so, you may want to look into eating more flax. Alpha-linolenic acid, known to be good for heart health is in good quantities flax!

Flax is a plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to reduce cholesterol and lower your risk of heart disease. In fact, a study done in regards to increased levels of alpha-linolenic acid found decreased levels of cholesterol and lower risk of heart disease. In a study done on animals, flax was found to reduce inflammation and lower chances of cholesterol being deposited into the hearts blood vessels.

What are you waiting for? Get some flax today!

Helps Detox Radiation

Flaxseed is a powerful cancer-fighting food, but what if you could use it to help protect against radiation poisoning?

In a study done with mice, flaxseed was found to have a protective effect against radiation exposure. Flaxseed has a lignan called secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), which has been shown to reduce inflammation, oxidative damage, and fibrosis in mice exposed to radiation. This means that flaxseed may be able to reduce the effects of radiation on our bodies!

Flaxseed is also an excellent source of fiber and plant protein, as well as omega-3 fatty acids. It can be used in smoothies or sprinkled on cereal or yogurt.

Arthritis

If you suffer from arthritis, you know how painful it can be. Flaxseed is a great way to ease the pain of arthritis and improve your quality of life. The Arthritis Foundation suggests the use of flax to help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, and they’re right.

Flax is a great way to ease the symptoms of arthritis, and it’s all thanks to its high content of alpha-linoleic acid and lignans. These two compounds have been found to reduce inflammation, joint pain and stiffness in people with arthritis. What’s more, flaxseed oil has also been shown to help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. It can be taken in capsule form or sprinkled on your food as a salad dressing or garnish for meat dishes.

Try adding flaxseed to your diet today!

Helps Promote Good Digestion

If you’re struggling with constipation, there’s a simple solution: just add flaxseed to your diet.

Just 1 tablespoon of flaxseed contains 2 grams of fiber—that’s nearly half your daily recommended intake! That’s not all: flax is also a great source of soluble and insoluble fiber. This means it will help keep things moving in your digestive tract, which can help keep things moving in the bathroom too.

Skin Health and pH balance

Flaxseed oil is not only a great source of omega-3s, but it’s also alkaline. That means it helps restore your skin’s pH balance, which is important to protect you from free radicals and environmental pollutants.

When your skin’s pH is unbalanced, it can lead to all kinds of problems like breakouts, wrinkles, and blotchiness. That’s where flax comes in! Its high levels of omega-3 fatty acids help to reduce inflammation and boost your skin’s ability to repair itself after damage has occurred.

Flaxseed oil is also rich in lignans and linoleic acid, which help to keep your skin smooth and supple while preventing wrinkles from forming.

Helps Lower Blood sugar

Flax seeds are a nutritional powerhouse. They’re rich in fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, and they have the ability to control blood sugar and its levels. A study found that ingesting flax decreased blood sugar and prevented insulin resistance.

This means that flax is a great addition to your diet if you’re trying to control blood sugar. Flax seeds provide fiber, which helps slow down digestion and prevent spikes in blood sugar after a meal. This means they can be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes, and those who struggle with hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

Weight management

Flaxseed is a great way to manage your weight.

Flaxseed is rich in fiber, which helps you feel fuller for longer. A study found that ingesting flax reduced hunger, and this is thanks to one of its fiber types: soluble fiber. In another study, the soluble fiber was found to increase fullness. Another review found those who ingested flax saw a reduction in their BMI.