Dear Reader,
Flax seed is the richest plant form of omega-3 fatty acids,
which have been linked to reducing the risk of cancer. It is
a grain much like oat and wheat, however, its nutritional
value is far superior and it is also high in fiber. Most of
the flax seed that you'll find on the market is grown in
Canada and although a lot of people don't know much about
it, it is considered one of the original "health" foods.
Flax Seed has been used as a healing "medicine" dating back
to as early as the Roman Empire.
If flax seed is so good, how come everyone doesn't know
about it? Although studies have shown the benefits of
incorporating flax seed into our daily diet, the shelf life
of flax seed isn't long. Once a container of flax seed oil
or flax seed meal is opened it must be kept in a
refrigerator to keep it from going rancid. Because of this,
many people choose to buy flax seed oil in capsules to take
as a supplement or, alternatively, buy the flax seeds they
can then grind themselves in a coffee and spice mill.
Grinding only as much as you need will keep the flax seed
fresh longer and avoid spoilage.
Benefits of Flax Seed
Many studies have been conducted on flax seed to define the
health benefits. A Duke University study showed that flax
seed was effective in reducing the size and aggressiveness
of tumors in mice that had developed prostate cancer by
genetically engineered means. As many as 3 percent of the
mice did not get the cancer at all while taking the flax
seed diet.
Many women suffer serious menopausal symptoms as the body
experiences hormonal swings. Taking hormones to offset the
side effects of menopause is either not desirable or not an
option for some women. Flax seed contains phytoestrogens,
which is a natural plant based estrogen that helps to keep a
woman's hormones in balance as she goes through the change.
This offers hope of a more natural way to get through
menopause.
Flax seed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, shown to help
lower the risk of heart attacks by providing a lubricant for
the arteries. It also helps to reduce cholesterol levels and
high blood pressure.
Benefits of a flax seed rich diet are:
* Helps promote cardiovascular health
* High source of fiber and acts as a natural lubricant
to the intestines
* Helps to reduce constipation
* Improves immunity to help reduce colds and flu
* Provides important fats that build brain function in
babies when mothers take it during pregnancy and while
nursing
* Helps to stabilize blood sugar
* Helps promote healthy skin and aids in clearing acne,
eczema and
psoriasis
* Because flax seed is high in fiber and has zero carbs,
it can actually
aid in weight loss when used in foods
* Helps decrease inflammation and may be beneficial to
people with
rheumatoid arthritis
* Flax seed oil contains lignans and phytoestrogens
which help reduce the
symptoms of menopause in some women
* Flax seed oil helps heal the inner lining of the
intestines, and may give
relief to those with Colitis and Chron's disease.
Using Flax Seed
Flax seed is available in several forms. How you use it
depends on personal choice, however, some forms are easier
to use than others.
Since flax seed has a slightly nutty taste, sprinkling the
whole seed on salads, in soups or in muffins will give a
crunchy, nutty flavor. However, whole seeds don't digest the
same way meal or oil does. Whole seeds pass through the
digestive tract, preventing the intestines from absorbing
most of the nutrients.
Flax seed meal can be purchased already ground or you can
grind it yourself. There are many uses for flax seed meal in
cooking. Adding a tablespoon or two to hot or cold cereal or
sprinkling it on salads and soup not only enhances the foods
flavor, but it adds nutritional value. Adding a tablespoon
to yogurt is also a great way to start the day. You can
easily add a quarter cup of flax seed meal to any recipe by
exchanging 1/4 cup of flour for 1/4 cup of flax seed meal.
For people who are lowering their egg intake, you can
replace one egg with 1 tablespoon of flax seed meal and 2
tablespoons of water. Please note that the consistency of
the food might change slightly.
Flax seed oil capsules are also available as a daily
supplement for people who either don't want to add it to
food or don't enjoy the taste of it. It is also available as
an oil substitute in cooking and can easily replace higher
fat oils in salads and baking.
Any way you incorporate flax seed into your daily diet,
you'll gain tremendous health benefits from it. Whether
you're concerned about eating heart healthy foods, are
approaching menopause and want a natural way to alleviate
symptoms or you want to help maintain your overall health,
flax seed can be a great addition to your diet.
Yours in good health,
Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch
Work with your body, rather than against it!
We used to think that the human growth
hormone naturally produced by the body was only necessary
until we reached maturity. However, studies now show that
the human growth hormone, or hGH, is vital in virtually all
functions of the body throughout our entire lives, even into
old age!
Sadly, as our bodies mature, the level of hGH decreases
accordingly, leaving us at the mercy of time, increasing our
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drive, loss of eyesight, and more.
Many people try to continually replace these hormones with
injections that can cost about $1,000 a month, month after
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Dorman, we now know that there is a natural way to stimulate
our own body's release of its own natural hGH! Here's the
good news:
http://www.ivlonline.com/letter/secretagogue
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