Diet Blog

The health conscious people are today turning to add flaxseed meal to their diet. Flaxseed meal is basically a flavoring of flax seed that is warm and subtle and found with omega-3 fatty acids. They are available both as ground seeds and in the whole. Flaxseed meal is also used as oil throughout the year. However, as they spoil easily, it is better to buy flaxseed meal that is found in frozen packets.

How does flaxseed look

In appearance, flaxseeds are slightly bigger than mustard seeds, with a smooth, hard and shiny shell. The color of flaxseed may be anywhere between a yellowish-brownish tinge to a reddish tinge. The nutrients of the ground seeds of flaxseed meal is much more easily absorbed than whole flaxseeds.

Flaxseed rich in omega-3 fatty acid

Flaxseed meal has alpha linolenic acid (ALA), which is a form of omega-3 fat. The APA in flaxseed meal is converted to EPA in the body in the presence of the enzyme found in your body, delta-6-destaurase. This enzyme is found in abundance in some people, and is less active in some other people. The reason for the difference in the amount of the enzyme in a person’s body is that those with diabetes and those eating more of saturated fat and alcohol have less of the enzyme. So with sufficient flaxseed meal in your diet, your body will get the same amount of omega-3 fats from flaxseed meal as it may from cold water fish oil.

Flaxseed reduce inflammation

Flaxseed meal is also beneficial in reducing swelling and inflammation in the body by reducing the inflammation occurred while having asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches and osteoarthritis. This is because it is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and lignans. Both omega-3 fatty acids and lignans prevent inflammation and work as an antioxidant. Flaxseed meal also provides protection against cancer, diabetes and heart diseases.

Flaxseed ‘s effect on your heart

The omega-3 fats in flaxseed meal produce substances that reduce the formation of blood clots in the body. This in turn reduces the possibility of a person from having stroke or heart attack. This is more so in all patients suffering from the thickening of arteries like those suffering from atherosclerosis or from any form of diabetic heart disease. The omega-3 fats of flaxseed oil produce cell membranes that are very flexible. This helps in the filtration of nutrients into the cell, and the removal of waste products from the cell. The diabetic feel better with cell membranes that are flexible as they respond better to the absorption of insulin with it, and absorbs glucose better than stiff membranes.

Flaxseed lower cholesterol

Flaxseed meal also proves to lower cholesterol in the blood as they contain a lot of fiber. It not only lowers cholesterol levels, it also provides protection to colon cells from any chemicals that may cause cancer, relieves you of constipation and helps stabilize the level of blood sugar of diabetic patients.

Can Flaxseed cure cancer?

Flaxseed meal has also been found to provide benefits to the health of women by reducing the risks of breast cancer and promotes normal ovulation with the lignans found in it. So adding flaxseed meal to your diet will find you enjoying many health benefits that come along with flaxseed meal.

A video about the benefit of flaxseed

Don’t know how to eat flaxseed? Try this yummy flaxseed muffin