The Truth About Flaxseeds That Every Cancer Patient Should Know

Flaxseeds are packed with micronutrients, manganese, dietary fiber, omega-3 fat, and vitamin B1. Mounting evidence suggests that flaxseeds may help reduce the risk of cancer, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease.

The seeds are obtained from the flax, an annual plant which flourishes in both subtropical and tropical climates. This plant is one of the oldest fiber crops, known to be cultivated as early as 3000 BC in Babylon, China, and Egypt.

Back in 2010, more than 300 new flax-based products were introduced on the North American market. Consequently, the agriculture has also significantly increased.  Flaxseed is also given to chickens due to its high levels of omega-3 fats which help them lay eggs.

Flaxseeds are packed with health-benefiting nutrients, antioxidants, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals.  As such, they offer a wide range of health benefits:

• Flaxseeds contain both insoluble and soluble types of fiber
• Flaxseeds contain lignans, phytoestrogens antioxidant qualities, which are found 75-800 times more compared to other plant foods
• A tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains 1.8 grams of omega-3 fats which are known for their heart-healthy benefits
• The Truth About Flaxseed that Every Cancer Patient Must Know
• Flaxseed kills ALL cancers

The recent meta-analysis Flax and Breast Cancer – A Systematic Review was published in Integrative Cancer Therapy and explored over 1,800 records from different academic sources related to breast cancer and the effects of flaxseeds.

“Current evidence suggests that flax may be associated with decreased risk of breast cancer,” noted the researchers.  “Flax demonstrates antiproliferative effects in breast tissue of women at risk of breast cancer and may protect against primary breast cancer. Mortality risk may also be reduced among those living with breast cancer.”

As mentioned earlier, flaxseeds contain lignans, phytoestrogens known for their antioxidant and cancer-preventing properties.  They block the enzymes which are involved in hormone metabolism and affect the growth and metastasis of tumor cells.

According to Kelley C. Fitzpatrick, director of health and nutrition with the Flax Council of Canada, recent studies show that flaxseed work as preventative measure against breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer.

As found by a 2010 study published in the journal Gynecological Oncology, hens given a 10 percent flaxseed-enriched diet for a year had  “a significant reduction in late stage ovarian tumors”, as well as “overall better health and reduced mortality”. These researchers concluded “These findings may provide the basis for a clinical trial that evaluates the efficacy of flaxseed as a chemo-suppressant of ovarian cancer in women”.

1. Cardiovascular Disease
Omega-3 fats aid the cardiovascular system with its anti-inflammatory properties while lowering blood pressure and regulating the heartbeat.  They might be also beneficial for treating heart failure and arrhythmia. The lignans in flaxseeds reduced atherosclerotic plaque buildup by up to 75 percent.

Regular consumption of flaxseed helps lower cholesterol levels, too.  A study involving menopausal women showed a notable decrease in LDL level after the women consumed four tablespoons of flaxseed daily.

2. Diabetes
Regular consumption of lignans in flaxseed helps improve blood sugar levels.

3. Inflammation
Lignans and omega-3 fats in flaxseed helps reduce inflammation linked to asthma and Parkinson`s disease, by blocking the release of pro-inflammatories.

4. Menopausal symptoms
According to a 2007 study of menopausal women,  eating two tablespoons of ground flaxseed two times daily reduced the intensity and frequency of hot flashes. The women experienced a difference after taking the flaxseed for a week and reaped the most benefit within two weeks.

How much flaxseed is recommended
The suggested dose is 1-2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily.

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