Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum)

Description:

Flaxseed (also called linseed) comes from the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum) and flaxseed are rich sources of the essential fatty acid. In addition to fatty acids, flaxseed products also contain potentially therapeutic chemicals called Lignans

Essential Fatty Acids - Flax is rich in Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA), it’s important to maintain a healthy balance of LDL-Cholesterol (“bad fats”), and may be beneficial in fighting high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Also help to reduce inflammation and joint tenderness, which may mitigate arthritic pain.

Lignans - Lignans are believed to have antioxidant properties and may also act as phytoestrogens, very weak forms of estrogen found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans. Unlike human estrogen, phytoestrogens have dual properties: they can mimic the effects of the hormone in some parts of the body while blocking its effects in others. Many herbalists believe that phytoestrogens can be useful in the prevention or treatment of a variety of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. The estrogen-blocking effects of phytoestrogens may be particularly effective at combating certain cancers that depend on hormones, such as cancers of the breast or uterus. Women who consume large amounts of lignans appear to have lower rates of breast cancer. The fact that heart disease and certain cancers occur less frequently in Asian countries is sometimes attributed to a diet rich in plant foods containing phytoestrogens.

While the cancer-inhibiting effects of flaxseed have not been thoroughly studied in people, some practitioners of alternative medicine are already recommending the herb as a potential anticancer agent. Prominent herbalists maintain that the lignans found in flaxseed may help to control cancer of the breast or uterus. Some also recommend the herb for the prevention and treatment of endometriosis.