The Little Seed That Could
June 28th, 2005 by Yzabel…Turn into a miracle product? Perhaps not, but flaxseeds and flaxseed oil can no matter what be counted among these healthy fats that we all need, namely for their richness in EFA and particularly in alpha-linoleilc acid (known as one of these blessed “omega-3″ we’ve all heard about one day or the other).
These essential fatty acids, that our bodies can’t manufacture on its own, appear to reduce the risk of heart disease, among other ailments. Specifically, flaxseed oil (and flaxseeds) may help to:
- Lower cholesterol, protect against heart disease and control high blood pressure.
- Counter inflammation associated with gout, lupus and fibrocystic breasts.
- Control constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticular disorders and gallstones.
- Promote healthy hair and nails.
- Reduce cancer risk and guard against the effects of aging.
- Treat menopausal symptoms, menstrual cramps, female infertility and endometriosis.
- … and more
Sounds a little too good to be true? More details can be found ob wholehealthmd.com.
Unfortunately, flaxseed oil is a lot more harder to find than one could think after reading such articles, at least in France – in spite of its health benefits, it tends to get rancid pretty quickly and easily, which is probably why it’s not sold around here, not even in pharmacies.
Fortunately, seeds are a lot more easier to find (I could buy some in my regular supermarket, which isn’t that well-stocked to start with), and they also make a nice addition to salads.
