attn: mrsmom2003 - what's the significance of flax seed?

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In a message dated 7/1/2003 11:55:39 AM Central Daylight Time,

rnrsmom2003@... writes:

> I'm new to the site. What's the significance of Flax seeds/oil? They've

> never been recommended by my MD. If they 're useful, I'd like to know more.

> Thanks

> ----------------------------------------------

Here's everything I've bothered to " collect " on the subject:

Flaxseed (Alpha Linolenic Acid)

Excerpt: Seeds of Good Health ( M. Lark, M.D.)

The seeds of young flax stalks, carefully milled in the traditional way

--without high heat or chemicals-- are tiny but complete pharmacies. About 30%

of

the flaxseed is oil, mostly linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. These

essential fatty acids cannot be made by the body and they provide moisture,

softness, and smoothness to the skin, vagina, bladder, and hair. The seed also

has a

natural estrogenic effect**, causing beneficial effects on menopausal

symptoms. Flaxseed has many times more lignans than other plants, and improves

the

estrogen-to-progesterone ratio of your body in mid-life and beyond. It has also

been proven in many studies to lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Add

to this that it is a potent source of soluble fiber, *** and you can see why

there is just one simple thing I wish you would do: sprinkle two tablespoons of

milled flaxseed on your cereal every morning. It's tasty--and it will keep you

away from drugs for many more years.

---------------------------

From Sally Myers

Unless you are having immediate diarrhea after ingesting your shake with flax

seed meal, you are absorbing your protein and vitamins. We are always

telling people to eat a high fiber diet to exercise their bowels and keep them

healthy along with moving things down the track. That does not keep people from

absorbing their nutrients.

---------------------------------

Flaxseed may slow down the absorption of oral medications or other nutrients

if taken at the same time. Try to avoid taking flaxseed at the same time of

day as medications and other supplements. (this excerpt from:

www.healthandage.com/html/res/com/ConsHerbs/Flaxseedch.html)

--------------------------------

from Sally Myers

Fiber cuts down on the absorption of several vitamins/minerals one of which

is iron. That does not mean none is absorbed. The oil content of flaxseed may

also cut down on absorption of fat soluble vitamins. I have not read that

fiber affects protein absorption in my nutrition science books. Take it once a

day first thing with your protein and take the rest of the other nutrients

throughout the day so you will receive full benefit or take it last thing at

night, you just have to plan a little differently to accommodate. It probably

depends on how much you are using also. LIke I said, unless you are having

diarrhea immediately after, it is not sweeping out everything you just ingested.

-----------------------------

From the July/August 2003 issue of " Body & Soul " magazine: (summarized and

condensed by me)

Apparently the benefits of flaxseed have been known for hundreds of years.

Hippocrates recommended if for abdominal pain; Charlemagne passed laws requiring

his subjects to consume it. Elaine Magee, R.D., has seen so many impressive

results of flaxseed studies that she has written a book of recipes " The Flax

Cookbook. " She had her own lipids tested before and after 4 months of daily

flaxseed consumption and her total cholesterol dropped 15mg and LDL dropped 5mg.

It's good for a lot of other things as well.

1. Great for digestion: has both insoluble and soluble fiber, more than twice

the amount in oat bran. Insoluble fiber eases the idgestive process AND may

help prevent colon cancer, while sticky soluble fiber can lower cholesterol and

regulate blood sugar.

2. Great for your heart: an excellent source of omega-3's (the same

polyunsaturated fatty acids that make fish so healthy to eat) which reduce the

risk of

stroke and heart disease. Americans get a lot of omega-6 fatty acids--a ratio

of about 20:1 of the 6's vs the 3's but the ratio should actually be about

4:1. The 20:1 ratio may compromise the immune system, cause blood clots, and

help promote breast cancer. Eating more omega-3's helps check the negative

potential effects of too much of the 6's. Flax expert Diane H. , Ph.D,

R.D.,

says for your overall health, boosting omega-3 intake is one of the most

important things you can do.

3. May help prevent cancer: the concentration of lignans -- which are

powerful phytoestrogens: naturally occurring hormones from plants -- is higher

in

flaxseed than in any other food source. Lignans offer anti-viral activity, and

may protect against hormone-sensitive cancers. This effect is so promising, as a

matter of fact, that the National Cancer Institute has selected it, along

with 5 other foods, for specific research. In addition, Kailash Prasad, M.D.,

Ph.D, of the Univ of Saskatchewan, has pioneered research on the antioxidant

activity of SDG, the main lignan in flax, and has found that it is 1.5 times

more

powerful that vit E at scavenging for free radicals.

4. Other key studies include:

a. an examination of flaxseed's role in bone metabolism and osteoporosis

prevention in postmenopausal women

b. research revealing that flaxseed lowers the levels of apolipoprotein B

(apo- in the bloodstream by 6 to 7.5% -- significant bcuz elevated levels

of apo B correspond to higher levels of LDL and other particles in the blood

that promote atherosclerosis (plaque forms on artery walls), a condition which

often leads to heart disease and stroke

c. a study headed by osteoporosis researcher Sylvie Dodin, M.D. to

evaluate the effects of flaxseed on a host of different conditions in menopausal

women, such as blood-lipid levels, bone density, and cardiovascular disease.

OF SPECIAL NOTE:

1. Whole seeds pass thru the body undigested, offereing only SOME fiber. To

get the full range of flax's benefits, you need to break thru the hard seed

coat. Teeth won't do it but a coffee grinder works well.

2. It's not true, per , the flax expert, that you need to keep ground

flaxseed refrigerated to keep it from getting rancid. It will keep at room temp

for about 4 months. (I still refrig it, 2b on the safe side: one store where

I buy it sells it off the shelf and I asked why they don't refrig it and they

said not necessary and in fact the warehouse stores it on skids at room temp

as well; another store where I buy it keeps it in the frig section).

3. The low end of the average amount used in all clinical studies is 1-2 TBS

daily; 5-6 TBS is considered a high intake. There's no evidence that a high

intake is dangerous in any way, but also none that it's safe either. (I myself

take 4 TBS daily, based on the recommendation of Dr. Weil, M.D. and

author of the newsletter " Self-Healing " ).

4. Flaxseed OIL contains no fiber and few, if any, lignans. Go with the

ground seeds.

5. No known studies on possible interaction with certain drugs, or certain

human populations, but it affects hormone levels in adults, so caution is

advised for children, pregnant women, those on tamoxifen or birth-control pills,

etc.

6. You can put the ground seeds into or on just about anything: cereals (hot

or cold), juices, protein shakes, yogurt, jello, cooked/canned veggies/fruits,

cottage or any soft cheese, meatloaf or meatballs, any kind of dough (bread,

muffins, cookies), pancake/waffle batter. Whatever you eat, there's probably a

way you can figure out to add some flaxseed meal.

------------------------------

Carol A

P.S. A teenager AND an infant?? Gosh, do I send congratulations or

condolences? Or maybe both, LOL. You GO, girl !!! Oh, and get that hubby of

yours on

" the pill " right away. Certainly don't want him getting preggers, too (giggle).