Incidentally, it is offered so casually as a treatment for everything from high cholesterol to dry eyes, so flax may look like some hipster rebranding of snake oil. If that were to happen, why isn’t it as ubiquitous as pumpkin spice?
Let’s see if it’s a placebo like a miracle species by explaining what flax is, what is proven, and how to incorporate it into your diet.
What is flaxseed?
Flax is a blue-flowered plant grown in cool, northern climates, such as the prairies of the northern United States and western Canada. The seeds make it interesting as processed flaxseeds can bring many benefits to your health. Therefore, you will see “flax,” “linseed,” or “linx seeds,” which are used in products and packaging.
Flax was first introduced to the US by early settlers and was primarily used to produce fiber in clothing. As the industry grew, flaxseed oil (also known as flaxseed oil) became an important component of paints and was used in diet to feed livestock. By the 1940s, cotton replaced flax as a commonly used fiber in the United States, and flax’s popularity as a commercially grown crop began to fade.
Usually there are two varieties: gold flaxseed and brown flaxseed. Some suppliers advertise other suppliers more than others based on their claims of nutrition or taste advantage, but in reality they are roughly the same on most levels.
Flaxseed nutrition
One tablespoon of ground flaxseed provides the following nutrients:
37 calories 1.3 g Protein 3 g Fat Carbohydrates 2 g Fiber 18 mg Calcium 27 mg Magnesium 57 mg Potassium 0.4 mg Iron
Benefits of flaxseed
Let’s take a look at the actual measurable benefits that have come from it before sprinkling flaxseed on the bed, in hopes of waking up 20 years younger than Big Tom Hanks.
1. From the heart
Flaxseeds like walnuts and chia seeds are loaded with omega-3 fat. Flaxseed does not contain EPA and DHA omega-3 found in fish oil, but offers an omega-3 version called alpha linolenic acid (ALA).
ALA is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that has been known to reduce the risk of heart disease by positively affecting blood pressure, cholesterol, irregular heartbeat (irregular heartbeat), and accumulation of arterial plaque.
2. The fibers are high
Eating 2 tablespoons of flaxseed per day gives you 20-25% of your recommended daily intake of fiber, and other carbohydrates also lowers the flaxseed. High levels of mucus – gel-forming substances that travel through the indigested digestive tract – can slow food passage in flaxseed and increase nutrient absorption. It may also prolong the bloating. This is important for those who want to lose weight.
3. Anti-inflammatory
Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed are associated with reduced biomarkers of inflammation. Flaxseed omega-3s can be valuable in many uses, as inflammation plays a role in problems ranging from dry eyes to inflammatory bowel disease and neuropathy.
How to eat flaxseed
The most important thing to know is that in order to get the greatest benefits of flax, it must be grounded. The ironic appearance of the seeds means that the entire flax can pass through the indigested gastrointestinal tract.
Therefore, consider purchasing flax or ground flax (or grinding your own raw flaxseed). This can be stirred into hot or cold cereals, added to mustard or mayonnaise for sandwiches, or dropped into flour mixtures for muffins or breads.
It is versatile and neither gold nor brown varieties have a strong flavor, so they can mix in both sweet and flavor, and you little know they are there. Don’t forget to refrigerate or freeze the ground flaxseed to prevent oxidation.
The main difference lies between flax and flax oil. The two actually offer slightly different benefits. For example, oils show higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids than underground flax, whereas flax is a better source of minerals such as magnesium than oils.
