Doctor’s Senior Exercise & Health Newsletter

Flaxseed…A shortcut to health!

Flaxseed is also called linseed. It is an annual plant that has been around since biblical times. In ancient Egypt, it was carried by Doctors and used for medicinal purposes.  The plant itself has small green leaves and delicate blue flowers  It’s Latin name, Linum Usitatissimum tells it all with it’s meaning “the most useful”. Throughout these many years it has been a source of food in European and Asian countries. As more and more research is being done, and we are learning about more of the great benefits that can be derived from the ingestion of flaxseed, we in this country are beginning to appreciate the value of this miracle food and what it can do for us. Mahatma Gandhi was familiar with its health benefits and stated, “Wherever flax seed becomes a regular part of the diet, there will be better health.”

Flax seed contains all eight of the “essential” amino acids”. It is these essential amino acids that are the body’s building blocks for our muscles, internal organs, skin, hair and nails. They have a major impact on our body, including the brain and the eyes. A membrane covers the individual cells in our body, and this membrane, called the “skin” allows the cells to absorb the needed nutrients that are required for optimal health. It also allows the cells to rid themselves of the built-up waste products. All living things, plants and animals alike are made up of these smaller units called, “fatty acids (FA). It is important to keep the skin surrounding these cells soft and flexible so that they can readily absorb the life sustaining nutrients derived from the foods we eat. They are the glue that keeps our body together. Keeping these skin-like membranes soft and flexible requires “unsaturated fatty acids (UFA).”

Flax seed is highly abundant in phytoestrogens, and both soluble and insoluble fiber. They contain alpha-linolenic acid and the essential fatty acids necessary for blood pressure regulation. They also contain lignans, compounds with antioxidant-like properties. Flax seed can have awesome benefits to our health in many ways. These are some of the benefits:

1. Can lower cholesterol as much as 10 percent in those with high cholesterol.  It can lower the bad cholesterol (LDL) by as much as 15 percent, and has a very profound affect on the good cholesterol (HDL) by raising it. It also lowers concentrations of “lipoprotein (a)” by as much as 7 percent. Lipoprotein (a) has been shown by researchers to be a highly involved risk factor in heart disease. There are no other known supplements that can accomplish this. The soluble fiber in flax seed binds to cholesterol in the intestinal tract and removes it from the body via the stool. It also tends to bind to bile acids and prevents their reabsorption into the bloodstream. This further prevents cholesterol from forming in the liver. This action on the bile also aids in the prevention of gallstones, thereby maintaining a healthy gallbladder.
2. The insoluble fiber in flax seed acts as a bulking agent (roughage), and aids in promoting regular bowel movements. By providing a gentle laxative effect it can relieve and prevent constipation, and in the process prevent diverticulosis. These are pouches that develop where food can remain and harden and at times become inflamed (diverticulitis).  This action helps maintain the large bowel in a healthy condition.
3. Flax seeds have been shown by researchers to produce 2 phytoestrogens that will have a profound effect on maintaining the good health of the female reproductive organs. Phytoestrogens are plant-based estrogens. These phytoestorgens are called, “enterlactone and enterodiol”. They tend to retard the over stimulation of hormones produced by the body and such other factors as being on hormone replacement therapy or the birth control pill. This retardation can be an important factor in the prevention of breast cancer or other cancers.
4. Flax seeds also have a profound effect on male health. Eighty percent of the adult male population will have enlargement of the prostate, called, benign prostatic hyperthrophy (BPH). Cancer of the prostate is the most common form of cancer in men. Flaxseed can be an extremely important aid in maintaining a healthy prostate by blocking the overproduction of estrone hormone in the fat cells. As these fat cells become larger as we age, the prostate has a tendency to increase in size, thus BPH.
5. Generally, flaxseed has an anti-aging effect upon the entire body. This is readily apparent in its effect upon the largest organ of our body, the skin. Those using flaxseed on a regular basis will notice a change in the texture of their skin, very often within a month. The skin will become smoother with a silk-like texture.

How best to implement flaxseed into your diet. It is easy and inexpensive. Read how in the health hints below.

Health Hints***