Flax Seed: For Your Health
In this day and age when health is of paramount concern to everyone, eating right and getting regular exercise should be prioritized. Although both are important components of a healthy lifestyle, a proper diet consisting of foods rich in vital nutrients is very important. Among these nutrients is Omega-3, a fatty acid needed to sustain human health that can’t be produced by the human body.
Because the body does not make the three major Omega-3 fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, we must turn to food for our recommended daily allowance. Fish such as salmon and tuna is a good source of Omega-3. If you are not fond of fish, flax seed is an excellent source of Omega-3. Both golden and brown flax are readily available, and golden flax is more often used as a food supplement.
Despite the fact that most people initially buy flaxseed for its Omega-3 content alone, flaxseed is packed with other nutrients. It is rich in a majority of B vitamins, like Thiamin and Niacin, and minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium.
Flax is also one of the best sources of dietary fiber, the portion of vegetables, fruits and other plant foods that helps move other types of food through the digestive track. This is among the benefits of flax seed often obscured by the popularity of other foods rich in fiber and fatty acids. Flax seed however, has about twice the amount of dietary fiber found in oats and certain kinds of nuts.
Before you buy organic flax seed, however, you may want to consider increasing consumption at a moderate pace as its high fiber content may overwhelm your digestive system so that your body can adapt to the increased fiber intake. The recommended daily allowance for dietary fiber for adults in many countries is about 20 grams to 35 grams.
Women can benefit more from flax seed than men as it is a good source of lignans, or chemical compounds that act like the female hormone estrogen. Consuming flax regularly may help balance female hormones and boost fertility, and decrease pre-menopausal symptoms. Keep in mind that the seeds need to be ground to make all of the advantages available.
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