Heart Disease Prevention

Milled flaxseed (linseed) shows considerable potential to prevent heart disease by cleansing and nourishing the bloodstream. A clean bowel is paramount for healthy blood.This is where milled flaxseed excels. It encourages regular daily elimination and binds cholesterol and toxins so preventing their re-absorbtion into the blood.

Regular milled flaxseed consumption is known to reduce not only blood cholesterol but also platelet c lumping and inflammatory markers. Eating milled flaxseed also increases  blood levels of Omega 3 fats such as EPA. The great news is that the effects of regular consumption of milled flaxseed on blood heath can be seen in just three weeks of regular daily consumption! It is believed that the fibre and lignan content of milled flaxseed help reduce cholesterol while the Omega 3 plays a key role in reducing inflammation.

Just take 2 tablespoons a day. If you take it with oat meal porridge you will have the benefits of the cholesterol lowering properties of the oatmeal also!

Milled Flaxseed Supplementation  Reduces Prostate Cancer Growth

Prostate cancer affects one in six men during their lifetime. A study at the University of Texas tested the effects of milled flaxseed supplemented diets on prostate cancer. A group of 161 prostate cancer patients were divided in 4 groups:

1. Control group
2. Same diet but adding 30g milled flaxseed per day (About 2 tablespoons)
3. Low fat diet
4. Low fat diet with 30g  milled flaxseed per day

The men remained on the protocol for 30 days. After that time the testosterone levels in the men on the milled flaxseed diet were reduced by 15% and tumour proliferation rates were significantly lower than in the other 2 groups.  This study is consistent with previous research suggesting that milled flaxseed has anti-cancer properties.

Milled Flaxseed Consumption can Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

High circulating levels of oestrogen hormones have been identified as contributing to breast cancer as they can stimulate excessive growth of breast tissue increasing cancer risk.  In research carried out by Lilian Thompson PhD milled flaxseed reduced breast cancer size between the time of diagnosis and surgery. The weak phytoestrogens known as lignans contained in the milled flaxseed are changed in the body to mammalian lignans and bind to the estrogen receptors in breast tissue, blocking the stronger oestrogens. They do not however stimulate growth. Flaxseed contains up to 3,000 times more lignans than other plant products. Women who eat the most foods containing lignans have a cancer risk 20% lower than the women who eat few lignan containing foods. Most plant products contain some lignans, but the regular consumption of just 2 tablespoons of milled flaxseed is the best way to get a good dose. Other food sources though at much lower levels include sesame seeds, cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli and kale, and green tea. These foods also contain many other anti cancer components.

Bloedon LT, Szapary PO. Flaxseed and cardiovascular risk. Nutritional Reviews. 2004;62:18-27.

Dietary flaxseed alters  tumor biological markers in postmenopausal breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2005 May 15;11(10):3828-35.

Flaxseed supplementation (not dietary fat restriction) reduces prostate cancer proliferation rates in men presurgery. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2008  Dec 17 (12) 3577-87

Thompson LU.  Dietary flaxseed alters tumor biological markers in postmenopausal breast cancer.  Clin Cancer Res. 2005 May 15;11(10):3828-35