Benefit of Flax Seed and Flax OilFlaxseeds have a long history of medicinal use, being traced back to the ancient Babylonians who dwelled over 5,000 years ago. The earliest mention of flaxseeds in recorded history occurred in 650 B.C. when Hippocrates wrote about the benefits of flaxseeds for easing abdominal pains. Today, these seeds are cultivated both for use in the textile industry and as a nutritional aide. Nutritionally speaking, flaxseeds are known to be a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and lignans, both of which have demonstrated the power to combat heart disease and certain types of cancer. Sprinkle a tablespoon of flaxseeds on your morning yogurt or make a batch of homemade salad dressing with flaxseed oil, and you could be contributing to the health of your heart, immune system, hair, skin, nails, and much, much more. As a natural source of fiber and one of the easiest ways to supplement your diet with omega-3 essential fatty acids, flaxseeds are becoming a pantry staple in many health-conscious consumers’ homes. The key word to remember here is “essential,” which means that the body is incapable of producing this compound on its own and must rely on dietary intake to receive proper amounts of this health-promoting nutrient. You can experience the benefit of flax seed and flax oil by incorporating them into your diet. Proper intake of omega-3 fatty acids is essential to our health. Unfortunately, the typical American diet, which is low in fish and rarely includes flaxseeds, does not provide sufficient amounts of this essential fat, making supplementation almost mandatory. Will you notice a difference in your health if you do not get enough omega-3s in your diet? It’s possible, since dry skin, hair and nails are all signs of an omega-3 fatty acid deficiency. However, what you may not notice due to a lack of essential omega-3 fatty acids in your diet is what is even more important –the health of your heart. A proper intake of omega-3 fatty acids, which can easily be achieved by eating more fatty fish and flaxseeds, has been shown to lower both cholesterol and blood pressure, which helps to protect against heart disease. Since heart disease is currently ranked as the #1 killer of both men and women in the U.S., eating more flaxseeds and fatty fish would be an intelligent preventative measure to take against this deadly killer. Flaxseeds have also been found to:
If you want to start experiencing the benefit of flax seed and flax oil, take a tablespoon of flaxseed oil a day and sprinkle flaxseeds on your yogurt and salads. Make sure to keep flaxseed oil cold and stored in an opaque container to avoid damage from light and heat. Do not cook with flaxseeds, since heat destroys their beneficial effect. Some people are allergic to flaxseeds, so if you have a tendency toward food allergies, please use caution if trying flaxseeds for the first time.
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