Flaxseed Meal Benefits

Flaxseed meal has been a nutritional and medicinal supplement since ancient times. It comes from the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum) and is cultivated for either seed or fiber production. Sometimes known as linseed, its uses have been culled from sources as varied as folklore and modern research. Flax crops produce a variety of commercial products from health supplements to linen clothing to livestock feed.

History

• Flaxseed and its ground version, flax meal, have been used since the Stone Age. Ancient Egyptians created clothing from flax and also ingested flax for nutritional purposes. In North America during the 1800s, flax production moved west along with U.S. and Canadian pioneers. Flax became a main crop of the Midwest and the prairie provinces of Canada. Today, North Dakota is the leading U.S. producer of flax for oil and food use, according to the North Dakota State University Extension Service.

Benefits

• According to an article published by the University of Maryland Medical Center, two different parts of flax prove to be beneficial to your health. These are omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which comes from flax oil, and lignans from the flaxseed. Omega-3 fatty acid ALA is a known anti-inflammatory and works much like the fatty acids found in fish oils, according to the article. This may prevent or fight heart disease and arthritis.

  Lignans, plant compounds, are found in abundance in flaxseed. This phytochemical acts like estrogen. Research is being conducted to determine if lignans can decrease menopausal hot flashes.

Misconceptions

• The University of Maryland article suggests that flaxseed oil may cause diarrhea and increase blood sugar levels when consumed in large quantities. A common misconception is that whole flaxseeds can be beneficial to your health when sprinkled on food. Katherine Zeratsky of the Mayo Clinic points out that whole flaxseed goes through the body undigested, leaving valuable nutrients unabsorbed. Ground flaxseed, or meal, is absorbed, providing the body with fiber and beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseed oil contains the fatty acids, but not the fiber of the flaxseed.

Effects

• Research thus far indicates that ingesting flaxseed, flax meal and flax oil is beneficial to your health. Possible healthful effects mentioned in the media are vast, ranging from improved heart health and lower cholesterol and blood sugars to shinier hair. While the research looks positive so far, the official studies are preliminary.

Considerations

• According to the University of Maryland, research is still being performed on the effects of flaxseed and lignans on cancer patients. Researchers are unsure about the flax meal's effects on pregnant women. Lilian Thompson, Ph.D., a well-known flaxseed expert at the University of Toronto, has performed many animal studies with flaxseed with mixed results on mothers and their offspring.

  Thompson agrees with researchers at the American Institute for Cancer Research, who say that more studies are needed on flaxseed's possible cancer-preventing properties. She states that a healthy person wanting flax benefits can safely take one tablespoon of flax meal per day.