Golden Flax: Is It The Health Supplement You Need?
If you’re looking for more fiber in your diet, don’t like fish, or have worries about breast cancer, flax might be the health supplement for you. On the other hand, flax has adverse effects on the human body, and shouldn’t be taken without serious medical consideration. Here’s the basics on flax to get you started.
Omega-3 ALA is an important fatty acid to the human body. It makes your brain work effectively, particularly helping improve memory and behavior. Your body can take ALA to make eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the other kinds of fatty acids. Aside from these major functions, ALA is believed to inhibit inflammations, as well as the possibility of heart disease and arthritis. Lastly, it is needed to counterbalance the effects of Omega-6 in the body. Ideally, you should be supplying 3 times as much Omega-3 in your body as you already have Omega-6.
Lignans, which are highly concentrated in flax, help reduce risks for diseases like breast cancer, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer. Lignans may also help in reducing risk of osteoporosis, and are know to be antioxidants. We know this because lignans from golden flax seed, when consumed by bacteria, are transformed into biologically active lignans enterodiol and enterolactione.
Flax’s high fiber content means you can’t eat too much of it, especially if you’re just starting. Take smaller amounts at first and just add more later. You will also need to compensate your high fiber consumption with greater amounts of water. Failure to take these precautions can lead to vomiting or loose bowels. Aside from all this, flax does not go well with oral medicine, so make sure to get advice from a medical professional before you start.
Flax can be bought ground or in oil form, but you may prefer to buy whole seeds, which retain both lignans and AHA. Flax will go bad if kept out in the open for very long. If you do decide to buy prepared flaxseed, store it airtight and away from the sun. If you buy flaxseed oil, make sure to put it in the fridge the minute you open it. If you buy milled flaxseed, you can easily grind them with a coffee grinder or blender, but remember to put it in your food just before serving.
And one more thing you’ll need to know before buying your first box of flax or bottle of flaxseed oil: If you can’t decide between brown and golden flax when you buy flax seed, choose golden flax. Brown flax is used in paints and solvents, while golden flax is meant to be eaten by you and me.
