Thirty Fabulous Things You Need to Know About Flax

1. Each ground tablespoon of flax contains about 2 grams of fiber, a daily dose is an excellent help to keep your bowels regular.

2. One ground tablespoon of flax contains around 1 gram of protein. Making it a simple way to subtly increase your protein consumption for muscle and tissue growth.

3. One ground tablespoon of flax also has 2 grams of carbohydrates for extra energy.

4. Flax is a plant source of omega-3 fatty acids, some thing most folks are dangerously lacking in their current diet.

5. Flax seed and its powerful content of omega 3 fatty acids, play and important role keeping the body safe from painful inflammation and autoimmune diseases.

6. Because flax is anti-inflammatory it is great for those who have Celiac disease or have a gluten- sensitivity.

7. Virtually 50% of the omega 3 oil that is found in flaxseeds, is found in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (often abbreviated “ALA”).

8. Flax is one of the riches plant sources of a phytonutrients called lignans

9. Flaxseeds contain about 7 times as many lignans as the closest runner-up food (sesame seeds). They contain about 338 times as many lignans as sunflower seeds, 475 times as many as cashew nuts, and 3,200 times as many lignans as peanuts.

10. These Phytonutirents in flax support the growth of probiotics in the gut and may also help eliminate yeast and candida in the body.

11. Lignans, also, alter the way your body metabolizes estrogens and is known to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.

12. Flax has been shown to reduce hot flashes in menopausal women.

13. Lignans are also known for their anti-viral and antibacterial properties. Sp.consuming flax regularly can help reduce your risk of colds and flus.

14. Flaxseeds turn out to be significantly higher in polyphenol antioxidants than fruits like blueberries or vegetables like olives.

15. The antioxidant benefits of flaxseeds have long been associated with prevention of cardiovascular diseases ,insulin resistance, improving blood pressure and lowering fasting glucose level

16. Flaxseed intake also helped decrease mid-waist obesity .

17. Remember to grind it your flax for optimum nutrition and results. Pre ground flax can spoil, or oxidizes, quickly.

18. If you don’t grind your flax, all that amazing goodness will slip right trough you because of its hard, impermeable coating.

19. Flax has a nice nutty flavor.

20. Consuming flax oil , instead of the seed, as that eliminates the fiber and most of the lignans.

21. Flax seeds can be either brown or yellow in colour. But its the brown flax seeds that is most commonly found in grocery stores.

22. Flaxseed may also help lower total blood cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol levels, which may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

23. Flaxseeds is sometimes known as linseeds.

24. Also, flaxseeds contain a good amount of Vitamin B6, Vitamin B1, Maganese. Magnesium, Phosphorus. Iron, Potassium, Copper and Zinc.

25. Flax seed is a powerhouse of nutrients known to support anti-aging, and skin care. It can also improve symptoms of acne, rosacea, and eczema.

26. Recent research studies has shown that ground flax can be added to baked foods without sacrificing large amounts of alpha-linolenic acid. Oven temperatures of 300F (150C) – even over several hours of baking time – doesn’t appear to substantially reduce the amount of ALA in baked products. Adding flax to muffins, breads and cookies will give your snacks an fabulous nutritious boost.

27. Canada is the world’s leader in the production and export of flax — a position it has held since 1994. Canadian flax is exported mainly to Europe, the U.S., Japan and South Korea . Canada currently ships 60% of its flax exports to the EU, 30% to the United States, and 4% to Japan.

28. Flax has been used as a poultice for boils and skin abscesses
Roll about 3 tbsp of flax seeds in a 6-inch square of clean, white cloth and twist ends tightly. Holding the flax parcel by each of its two ends, dip the poultice into boiling water. Wring it out, place the poultice on the infected area and cover it with a dry cloth. The flax seeds retain the heat, providing relief to the infected area.

29. Flax folklore has women using the thick water from boiled flax seed as a setting gel for their hair. It apparently worked very well!

30. The flower of the flax plant is a brilliant robin- egg blue. A field in full bloom is breathtaking and looks more like a vast ocean of water than a field of grain.