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Reduce Cholesterol With Flaxseed Pills

A diagnosis of high cholesterol should be taken as a warning sign. Left untreated and ignored, you may be heading toward heart disease. However, taken as a warning, you can make some changes in your lifestyle to lower the LDL cholesterol (the bad type) in your bloodstream. One of those changes involves diet; adding flaxseed to your diet can go a long way in lowering your cholesterol.

  1. What is Flaxseed?

    • Flaxseed comes from the flax plant, and has a long history of being used as a laxative. It is high in fiber and mucilage, a gummy substance. It contains alpha-linolenic acid, part of the omega 3 fatty acids that lower cholesterol levels in the blood, improve heart health and reduce blood clotting. It also contains lignans which are antioxidants that help prevent atherosclerosis. Flaxseed can be purchased as a pill, liquid or grain.

    How Flaxseed Works on Cholesterol

    • Flaxseed reduces LDL cholesterol slightly while elevating HDL cholesterol significantly. It also reduces plaque on the arteries that can cause atherosclerosis. It may also help reduce triglyceride levels, but the studies are inconclusive on this point so far. Some show a reduction, others don't.

    Omega 3 Fatty Acids

    • Flaxseeds produce linseed oil, which is very high in omega 3 fatty acids. Flaxseeds are six times richer in omega 3 fatty acids than fish oils. Omega 3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that are essential nutrients that the body can't manufacture. So they must be consumed in food. Besides lowering cholesterol, omega 3 fatty acids help memory, improve immune function, reduce arthritis inflammation and may help fight cancer. They help oxygenate the blood and assist in digestion by breaking down food into energy sources. They even help lower insulin levels and reduce the amount of fat stored in the body.

    Dosage

    • A tablespoon of flaxseed two to three times a day, or 2 to 4 tbsp. once a day should be ground well and mixed with water. Flaxseed oil should be taken once a day. Take 1 to 2 tbsp. or one or two capsules. You can also take one or two flaxseed pills daily.

    Benefits of Flaxseed Pills

    • Flaxseed pills give you all the benefits of omega 3 fatty acids without the fishy aftertaste you get many times with fish-oil pills. In pill format, you don't have to worry about clumping as you mix up the powder.

    Precautions

    • Flaxseed may slow the absorption of oral medications so take your flaxseed at least six hours before other medications. If you have diabetes, prostate problems, breast cancer or schizophrenia, consult your doctor before taking flaxseed.

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