Flax Seed / Flax Oil

"Wherever flax seed becomes a regular food item among the people, there will be better health"

-Mahatma Gandhi.

History

During the 8th century, the emperor Charlemagne so revered the health benefits of flax seeds that he passed laws and regulations requiring its cultivation and consumption. Archaeology references flax seed cultivation dating back to ~5000 BC in Babylon. Cloth made from flax fibers was found in Egyptian burial chambers dating to ~3000 BC. Its healing properties are mentioned in ~650BC Greek and Roman writings. Ancient East Indian cultures felt that flax consumption was necessary to reach “nirvana”- a state of joy and contentment.

Flax seed for health

Health problems helped by consuming flax seed

• Skin Disorders

• Digestive Problems (including Spastic Colon, Inflammatory Bowel Disease)

• Hormone regulation

• Interfere with tumor growth

• Anti-diabetic

• Anti-lupus

• Viral, fungal and bacterial infections

Health Related Functions

•  Helps regulate / stabilize blood glucose levels  - Useful in diabetes and hypoglycemia;

• Blood Pressure Control

• Buffers excess acid;

•  Lowers elevated cholesterol - prevents re-absorption of bile acids.

•  Food for good bacteria in the colon - which keep the "bad" bacteria in check.

Properties of flax seed

Insoluble Fiber and Mucilage “The Perfect Laxative”

Mucilage contained in flax.    Acts like a sponge, absorbing water. It also soothes and protects the stomach and intestinal linings, prevents irritation and keeps bowel contents slipping along.

Flax seed is an excellent source of insoluble fiber.   Acts like a sweeping brush, moving solid waste out of the intestinal tract.

Soluble Fiber

“Lowers Cholesterol”

1/3 Soluble Fiber.    Attaches to cholesterol and together with the mucilage escorts it from the body, preventing the cholesterol's reabsorption from the intestines, and thus reducing blood cholesterol levels.

Highest Food Source of Lignans

Flax seed contains 100 times the lignans(or phytoestrogens) of the next best source (i.e. wheat bran). (Note: Lignans are different to lignins, which are a type of insoluble fiber).

Strong antioxidants / anti-inflammatory;

Regulate estrogen - mildly decrease estrogen when used in moderation; phytoestrogens contained in flax seed bind to estrogen receptors (but are less stimulating than estrogen), and so compete with other estrogens that would otherwise more strongly stimulate the estrogen receptors.

Flaxmeal reduced Testosterone in prostate cancer patients.     Researchers at Duke University found that supplementation with ~ 1 oz milled flax combined with low fat diet over ~1 month resulted in significant decreases in both total and free Testosterone in prostate cancer patients. They also found a decrease in PSA levels in men with early stage prostate cancer. A later Duke University study supplementing flaxmeal over 6 months in men with enlarged prostate did significantly both lower PSA levels and decrease benign epihelium proliferation rates, but interestingly did not significantly alter Testosterone levels.

Highest Food Source of Essential Omega-3 fatty acid ALA Alpha Linoleic Acid (ALA)

• Both its Omega-3 and Omega-6 content help regulate hormones and combat mood swings.

•  Provides a remedy for the Omega-6 / Omega-3 imbalance so prevalent in America today.    Contains 9% saturated fatty acids, 18% oleic acid, 16% Omega-6 and a high 57% Omega-3.

•  This minimally processed Omega-3 source resonates in the cell membrane "in tune" with the frequency of sunlight.    Resonation attracts oxygen to the cell thereby increasing cellular energy production.

Flax seed's other nutrients:

• An array of minerals and trace minerals;

• Good source of magnesium (2 Tbsp. seeds = 70mg).

• Vitamins E, B1, B2, C and carotene.

• Low carbohydrate food.  1T ground flax has 3g carbs (0.11g sugar) and 1T seeds has 2g carbs (0.16g sugar); sugar content is 5% of carb content

•  25% of flax seed is easily digested protein.   Contains a complete amino acid profile.

Daily Flax seed dose?

3-6 Tbsp. fresh ground flax seed.    3 Tbsp. flax seed contains 1 Tbsp. oil

Do not consume > 6 Tbsp. GROUND FLAX SEED / day

Flax seed must be taken with plenty of fluid!     Drink fluid 5 times its volume;

Flax seed types

Always buy ORGANIC flax seed or flax meal

Seed Types.    Seeds can be brown or golden, small or large. All kinds of flax seed are nutritious; however, seeds grown further north contain higher oil and omega-3 content.   Golden flax seed has milder taste than brown, no difference in nutritional value, costs a little more than brown.

Flax seed shelf life

Shelf-Life of Flax Seeds.    The whole seeds can be kept for several months in a cool, dark, airtight container without detriment to their Omega-3 Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) content.

Should I buy whole seeds or Flax meal ?

-   Whole seeds are cheaper, and provide long-term damage protection for their precious contents.   Grind the seeds just shortly before their consumption;

-   Store-bought Flax meal should be COLD-MILLED.   Flax meal that has been cold-milled is more expensive, but will keep several months unrefrigerated since the special grinding process does not crush the seed, which can damage its oil and quickly turn it rancid.

How to grind flax seed ?

Flax seed is best ground fresh to ensure the quality of its omega-3 essential fat.    A coffee grinder does the job well, or a Cuisinart ™Mini-mate”.Finely grind about 2 Tbsp. flax seeds for 4-5 seconds (yields about 3 Tbsp. flax meal, containing 1 Tbsp. Flax oil).Ground flax (flax meal) will keep about a week when refrigerated, so you can grind a few days worth at a time.

How to consume flaxmeal ?

Always take flax meal with 5 times its volume of fluid.    Flax meal absorbs a lot of water. This means that it is necessary to have 8oz. (1 cup) extra liquid with each 3 Tbsp. Flax meal.

Do not consume more than 6 Tbsps. Flax meal / day

(1-3 Tbsp/day is the usually recommended dose)

Preferably blend with Sulfurated Protein.  Flax meal is best blended with, or taken with, sulfurated protein (E.g. cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, plain yogurt, whey protein concentrate), which makes it water soluble. This bypasses the need for the liver (often impaired or diseased in ill health) to breakdown the omega-3 fat, making it available for the body's immediate use.

For more information, see:

BUDWIG PROTOCOL

Some other suggestions for consuming flax meal

• Add to blender drink, oatmeal, pancakes.   If adding ground flaxseeds to a cooked cereal or grain dish, do so at the end of cooking since the soluble fiber in the flaxseeds can thicken liquids if left too long.

• Sprinkle over salads, breakfast cereal, vegetables.   Lends a nutty flavor

It is OK to add flax meal to baked goods (e.g. muffins, breads).   Studies have shown the same levels of undamaged beneficial Omega-3 ALA after customary baking temperatures for up to 2 hours).

-   Substitute 3x ground flaxseed for an amount of fat in a recipe

-   Recipes containing flax meal tend to brown more easily

Flax seed vs. Flax seed oil ?

Ground flax seed (flaxmeal)

•  Used for baking

• Used to maintain regularity.   Seed contains fiber

•  Contains high lignan (phytoestrogen) content

Flax Oil

•  Used for high omega-3 intake.   Can be combined with sulfurated protein to aid delivery to cells, as in the BUDWIG PROTOCOL

• Only 2% of the seed's lignans end up in the oil.

• Does not contain fiber

• Oil has a tendency to go rancid easily after being pressed from the seeds.

How to use Flax Oil

Flax Oil Dosage?

• Maintenance Dose of Oil.    1-2 Tbsp. / day expeller-expressed flax OIL

• Therapeutic Dose of Oil.    Up to 9 Tablespoons / day Flax Oil

Shelf-Life of Flax Oil

Flax seed oil is unstable, and tends to go rancid about 1 month after opening.  Freeze or refrigerate to extend its shelf life. The oil should be kept refrigerated in opaque containers.

Flax Seed Oil Should Never be Heated above ~ 100 °F.

High heat oxidizes the omega-3 fatty acids.   This creates reactive oxygen species, including free radicals, thus destroying the beneficial omega-3 content of the oil.