Flax seeds are edible seeds that are small in size from the North American flax plant. Not only do these seeds add great flavor to dishes, but they’re packed with nutrients like fiber, proteins of plants, and vital vitamins and minerals.
Here’s more about their possible health benefits and easy ways to include flax seeds in your snacks and meals. In recent years, flax seeds have become progressively popular due to their many health benefits.
So far, studies have found the following flax seeds benefits:
Increase the Health of the Digestive System:
Four tablespoons of flaxseed offer 28 percent of the suggested daily intake of fiber, the main nutrient for the health of the digestive system, in accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Flax seeds have both kinds of soluble and insoluble fiber which greatly impact bowel movements.
Soluble fiber Flax seeds can soften the stool. As a result, it will pass through the digestive tract easily without any problem.
Insoluble fiber Flax seeds add bulk to feces which pushes waste through the intestines more quickly, relieving constipation.
The amount of fiber present in the flax seeds is highly healthy for human health because:
- It reduces the occurrence of colorectal cancer.
- Maintains bowel movement properly.
- Lower the chances of swelling the veins in the lower rectum.
Improve the Amount of Sugar in Blood:
Here comes the most important health benefit of flaxseeds. Flaxseeds are low glycemic foods meaning they will never be going to raise the levels of sugar in the blood. Flax seeds contain ALA – a particular kind of healthy fat—they may also support the management of prediabetes. This is because ALAs seem to regulate sugar levels in the blood and insulin sensitivity of insulin, which decreases the danger of type 2 diabetes.
A 2013 study printed in the journal Nutrition Research had given 41 obese and prediabetic people 14 grams, 27 grams, or 0 grams of flaxseed daily for 11 weeks. Those who ate 14 grams of flaxseed (about two tablespoons) per day were found to have the utmost reduction in blood sugar levels in the blood and the most noteworthy progress in insulin sensitivity. You can take an idea from this case study of how flaxseeds are important to control blood sugar levels.
Prevent the Cancer Occurrence:
Honestly, no food completely prevents you from cancer. According to scientific research, it has been concluded that flaxseeds can be a source of reducing the chances of cancer and the proliferation of cancer cells. The flax seeds can retard the growth of cancerous cells to invade the other cells of the body. This varies from person to person as it does not apply to all cases.
If we talk about colorectal cancer, the high content of flax seeds reduces the spreading of cancer at a certain rate.
The American Institute of cancer research indicated that every additional 11 grams’ consumption of flaxseeds favorably decreases the symptoms of cancer that have been monitored in the patients. Eating flaxseeds give tremendous benefits in order to overcome cancer because of these seeds:
- Specifically, lower the rapid growth of breast cancer in younger girls.
- Decrease the rate of death in women due to breast cancer.
- Long-term protection against the development of cancerous cells in the breast.
The use of flaxseeds is quite necessary for the hour of need when there is a high percentage of breast cancer victims in hospitals.
An Effective Approach to Losing your Weight:
A piece of good news for all fat people who have been trying to find weight loss tips. Yes, with the help of flaxseeds you will be able to reduce your weight. It is only a high fraction of soluble and insoluble fiber content that helps to manage the weight. It is a completely healthy way to reduce inches of belly fat. The mucilage which is another name for soluble fiber present in the flaxseeds contains about (30%-40% fiber). It combines with water and results in the formation of a gel-like consistency which helps to slow down the process of digestion. It makes you feel fuller for a longer time.
Attention: Some people can be allergic to flax seeds as they have few amounts of toxins like cyanide. But the levels of cyanide are very low and it doesn’t cause much toxicity. Our body has been designed to detoxify toxins that are present in lower amounts. Furthermore, if you cook the flaxseeds the traces of toxins can be destroyed.
A 2018 meta-investigation published in Obesity Reviews looked at 45 studies and concluded that eating whole flax seeds was associated with substantial reductions in body weight.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a measurement of waist greater than 36 inches in women or 41 inches in men is associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes type 2.
Furthermore, flax seeds benefits include the reduction of cell damage which leads to excessive eight loss and hypertension. The presence of polyphenols in the flaxseeds contributes to the effort of making the cells protective against any damage.
Tips to Use flax seeds:
You must be finding some better ways to consume flaxseeds. Here you get a few tips for the future:
- You can bake it into banana bread, cake, brownies, and cookies.
- Eat it with yogurt.
- Sprinkle over the oats.
- You may use them as a garnish like avocado toast.
- It has versatility and can be used in sour, spicy, cold, and hot dishes.
Lastly, you have to keep them in dark areas or cold because the oil in seeds breaks down in exposure to sunlight.
Concluding Thoughts:
While small flaxseeds have a nutritive effect. A big thanks to their mode of action that reduces blood pressure, improves the process of digestion and prevents many kinds of cancer.
Whether and how often you should consume flax seed should be determined by your personal choices and individual health requirements.
For better advice regarding your health and nutrition, you can book an appointment with a nutritionist in Lahore through Marham – Find a doctor.