Linseed Diet

Linseed, or flaxseed, is a natural product which has been found to have health benefits. Studies have shown a diet including linseed can help fight cancer. People have also been known to use linseed as part of a weight loss diet.

Nutritional Benefits

• Linseed oil has essential fatty acids. The Diet Health Club suggests that linseed oil be consumed by vegetarians because it is the only plant source for omega 3 fatty acids. The Diet Health Club reports that consuming linseed oils are healthy to all parts of the body and can improve organ functions and help to prevent heart disease.

Cancer

• According to the Cancer Cure Foundation, the linseed oil diet was developed by Dr. Johanna Budwig in 1951. Budwig discovered cancer patients were lacking in specific nutrients. She also found by feeding these patients a diet of linseed oil and cottage cheese she could reduce symptoms of cancer, in some cases significantly. The Medical News reports that as recently as May of 2010 another study showed omega 3 fatty acids found in linseed oil could decrease ovarian cancer in hens.

Weight Loss

• According to the Diet Health Club, linseed oil consumption can lead to weight loss because it raises the body's metabolism. This makes other weight loss efforts, such as exercise, more beneficial to losing weight. Nature's Bounty experts recommend starting with one tablespoon per day on a salad and making adjustments to the amount as needed. Linseed oil has not been shown to have negative side effects but it can act as a laxative.