Flaxseed - small seeds with great effect
Flax seeds have many interesting health benefits:
Natural antihypertensives
Improve cholesterol levels
Stroke prevention
Support digestion
Regulate the blood sugar level
Can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer
Thanks to the soluble fiber in flax seeds, they can help achieve a healthy body weight. They slow down the speed with which food passes through the gastrointestinal tract, so that the feeling of satiety lasts longer. Also, dietary fiber leads to regulation of bowel movements and promotes intestinal transit. Flaxseed swells in the stomach to several times its volume. This is due to special mucus cells inside the seeds that can draw amazing amounts of water. This increased volume exerts pressure on the intestinal wall and stimulates intestinal peristalsis, which aids digestion. However, when eating flaxseed, it is important to drink enough fluids at the same time!
A large-scale study demonstrated that regular consumption of flaxseed was associated with a reduction in body weight and waist circumference. 30 grams of flaxseed (about 3 tablespoons) daily for 12 weeks improved BMI in overweight patients.
Flaxseeds are not only rich in beneficial fiber, but also in the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Among other things, the fatty acid helps regulate blood sugar levels and improves insulin sensitivity, which can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Further, ALA supports cardiovascular health. It can counteract high blood pressure and ensures healthy blood vessels.
Flaxseeds also contain health-promoting antioxidants called polyphenols. Flaxseeds are also an excellent source of thiamine, a B vitamin that helps convert nutrients into energy. Another micronutrient in flaxseeds is magnesium, which has numerous important functions in the body, including being needed for nerve and muscle function and the immune system. The selenium contained in flaxseed is a component of enzymes and thus involved in a variety of reactions in the body. As a component of antioxidant enzymes, for example, it is important for protecting the body from cell damage caused by free radicals. Iron serves the formation of red blood cells, which are important for the transport of oxygen.
Finally, flaxseeds have a high content of lignans, which can reduce the risk of breast cancer by regulating inflammatory processes and thus reducing the propensity of cancer cells to divide. Studies show that flaxseed is able to reduce tumor growth in women with breast cancer. Lignans are counted among the so-called phytoestrogens, plant substances that have a similar effect in the body as the hormone estrogen. Therefore, caution is advised in the case of estrogen dominance.