What Are The Health Benefits of Flaxseed?

Flaxseed is one of the oldest superfoods consumed in the world (around 6,000 years). Well, there must be a good reason why it has been cultivated and consumed for such a long time from the past till today. Flaxseed is a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, lignans, antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This means that those tiny seeds have a really good nutrition profile and for sure is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. From this point of view, the health benefits of Flaxseed are inevitable, so let’s take a look at the possible health benefits:

Healthy Skin and Hair

Do you want healthier skin, hair, and nails? Ok then think about adding two tablespoons of flax seeds to your favorite smoothie or maybe one tablespoon of flax seed oil to your daily routine. Flax seeds contain ALA fats which can be helpful for the skin and hair by supplying essential fats and even b-vitamins which can help in reducing dryness and flakiness. This can improve symptoms of acne, rosacea, as well as eczema. This also works well for eye health because flax can reduce dry eye syndrome. Another great option is Flax seed oil because it has an even greater concentration of healthy fats. It can also be combined with essential oils and used as a natural skin lotion.

Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids

An excellent amount of omega-3 fatty acids is found in Flaxseed. We can say that Omega-3 fatty acid is considered the most active agent that fights against inflammation within your body. Inflammation is a well-known reason for heart disease, asthma, allergies, diabetes, as well as certain cancers.

Vitamins and Minerals

Flaxseed is loaded with wealthy amounts of most B-complex vitamins and vitamin E, and even minerals like for instance magnesium, potassium, and iron. Vitamin E is an important vitamin for healthy skin and bones. Potassium keeps nerve health and iron is a crucial component of red blood cells and a lot of enzymes that affect our general metabolism.

Boosts Immunity

The presence of alpha-linolenic acid in flax seeds along with lignans can boost the immune response within your body and prevent inflammatory health problems including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, as well as the autoimmune disorder lupus.

Weight Loss

Flax seeds may improve obesity and support weight loss. Simply because flax is packed with healthy fats and fiber it can help you feel full for a longer time, so it means that you will eat a smaller number of calories overall which may result in weight loss. ALA fats that are found in flax may also help reduce inflammation. This is very important for weight loss for the reason that an inflamed body will tend to hold on to excess weight. Include a few teaspoons of ground flaxseed in soups, salads, or maybe smoothies as part of your weight loss diet program.

Prevents Osteoporosis and Cardiovascular Diseases

On account of its estrogenic properties, the lignans in flaxseed can help to reduce the chance of developing osteoporosis as well as cardiovascular diseases in menopausal women.

Lower Cholesterol

Adding flax seeds into your diet can help reduce cholesterol levels naturally. So here is how it works, the soluble fiber that is contained in flax seed can trap fat and cholesterol in the digestive system so that it is unable to be absorbed. The soluble fiber also traps bile, which is made out of cholesterol in the gallbladder. The bile is then excreted by way of the digestive system, causing the body to make more, using an excessive amount of cholesterol in the blood and decreasing cholesterol overall.

Prevents Cancer

The Journal of Clinical Cancer Research published a study that discovered that consuming flax seeds may decrease the risk of breast cancer. Flaxseeds contain three lignans which can be converted by intestinal bacteria into enterolactone and enterodiol which can naturally balance hormones and that can be the reason why flax seeds reduce the risk of breast cancer. Yet another journal Journal of Nutrition published a study that found that the lignans in flaxseeds can decrease the chance of endometrial cancer as well as ovarian cancer.