The Benefits of Eating Ground Flaxseed

By Jeff Novick, M.S., R.D., L.D., L.N.

In the last issue of Healthy Times, we identified the most beneficial foods for longevity. Raw, ground flaxseed ranks among the very best of these. Flaxseed has become very popular with researchers because they are rich in lignans (a type of fiber) and omega 3 essential fatty acid, also known as alpha linoleic acid (ALA), both of which are so important for health.

Recent scientific studies have confirmed that flaxseed can have a positive influence on everything
from cholesterol levels to constipation to cancer and heart disease.

Here are some of the documented benefits of eating flaxseed.

*Relief from constipation: Eating 50 grams of flaxseed per day helped increase the frequency of bowel movements.

*Lowered risk of heart disease: Women and men who ate 50 grams of ground flaxseed daily averaged a 9 percent drop in total cholesterol levels, LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) decreased 18 percent, and serum lipids (fat in the blood) were 11-16 percent lower.

*Lowered risk of cancer: Population studies of diet and disease risk suggest an anti-cancer role for flaxseed in both prostate cancer and breast cancer.

Keep in mind that these benefits come from raw, ground flaxseed, not flaxseed oil. Flaxseed oil is pure fat and virtually devoid of all or most of the nutrients found in ground flaxseed. Flaxseed is an important source of omega 3 fatty acids and other important nutrients that are a valuable addition to a healthful diet.