| The health benefits attributed to flaxseed in the | | | | potent antioxidants called lignans, known best for |
| diet are almost too numerous to mention. It | | | | their cancer fighting properties. Nutrition Action |
| reportedly offers protection against heart disease, | | | | cites a Finnish study that reported women with |
| cancer, and diabetes. It lowers cholesterol and high | | | | the highest blood levels of lignans were 60% less |
| blood pressure and is effective for relieving | | | | likely to have breast cancer. Unfortunately, 29 of |
| symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, | | | | the 194 women who did develop breast cancer |
| and migraines. Flaxseed helps people relax and | | | | had some of the highest levels. Three years later |
| improves sleep. It restores hormonal balance in | | | | the study was repeated and found no link |
| women, and improves dry eye syndrome. Back in | | | | between lignans and the incidence of breast |
| the 1950s, a German biochemist by the name of | | | | cancer. |
| Joanna Budwig is famous for successfully treating | | | | Confused? So are the experts. has evaluated the |
| terminally ill cancer patients by feeding them her | | | | data from flaxseed research and found its use as |
| prescribed diet including a combination of flaxseed | | | | a laxative the only benefit that graded higher than |
| oil and cottage cheese. | | | | unclear scientific evidence exists. |
| Do not rush out to buy flaxseed just yet, at least | | | | If you do not like fish, healthy aging expert Dr. |
| according to Nutrition Action Newsletter, a | | | | Andrew Weil recommends whole flaxseed as a |
| reputable publication from the Center for Science | | | | source of omega-3 fatty acids, but is less |
| in the Public Interest. According to a December | | | | enthusiastic about flaxseed oil, expressing |
| 2005 article titled Just the Flax- A Miracle Seed | | | | concerns about spoilage and the lack of lignans |
| Comes Down to Earth, there is only limited | | | | which are often removed during processing. |
| evidence that alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), one of the | | | | An article by Harvard Health Publications sums of |
| main ingredients of flaxseed, can protect the | | | | the confusion best by concluding this: It is too |
| heart. The article also cites a 2005 study involving | | | | early to say whether flaxseeds are right for you. |
| 45,000 men that found those who ate the | | | | They do contain lignans that function as |
| highest amounts of ALA were more likely to | | | | phytoestrogens- but so does soy. They are very |
| develop advanced prostate cancer than those | | | | rich in ALA, which may reduce the risk of heart |
| who ate the least ALA. The author was quick to | | | | disease-but may also increase the risk of |
| point out that flax was not singled out, and the | | | | developing prostate cancer in men. |
| cancer rate was linked to ALA intake from all | | | | There might be something there, but it is clear |
| sources. In other words, proceed with caution. | | | | we do not have all of the answers yet on the |
| Flaxseed is also contains extremely high levels of | | | | benefits or risks of taking flaxseed. |