Initial studies on the anti-cancer benefits
of flax seed (begun by Dr. Budwig in Germany years ago), suggested that it
was important to have a protein food to be eaten with flax oil so that lipo-proteins
could be formed to deliver the Essential Fatty Acids. Cottage cheese was
recommended as a source of lipo-proteins. (Proteins serve as carriers in the
body for other nutrients to be received by cells as nourishment.)
Actually, the whole milled flax seed with
its 22% protein, including all the essential amino acids, is a much better
way of providing those needed proteins with the essential fats -- all
contained in the same food.
Further, the special cancer-preventing lignans found in flax seed are much
more abundant in the whole seed than in the oil. Most of these antioxidants
and phytoestrogens are lost in the process of expelling the oil.
Milling Flax Is Essential
On the other
hand, the many nutrients contained in flaxseed are not available
from consuming the whole un-milled seeds. These are small, hard to
chew well, and indigestible if not broken up.
Flax
seed needs to be milled to expose the nutrients for absorption in the
digestive tract.
Grinding Flax Is Not The Best Method
of Preparation
Some
people grind the whole seeds in a small grinder. This crushes the seed which
is highly oxidizing, so the ground seeds must be consumed quickly. Also
cleaning of the grinder is required each time to prevent
contamination of the next batch with rancid oils left on the blades. It is
difficult to clean the blades thoroughly enough to completely remove
the sticky oils.
All
of this is tedious and time-consuming, and consequently people may often
skip it and miss the benefits of regular flaxseed consumption.
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Nutrients
Omega 3
Properly grown flax
seed is the food highest in
Omega 3
source Essential Fatty Acid
content. Omega 3 fatty acids are severely lacking in most people's diet, which are
needed for brain, nerves, skin, circulatory and immune functions; and for
preventing arthritis, cancer, heart disease, M.S., fibromyalgia; for weight
control, and more.
Protein
Flax
seed is one of the very most nutritious foods. It is
22%
protein
of
very high-quality, with all 9 essential amino acids. Protein is needed for
the growth and repair of tissues; for the formation of enzymes, hormones,
neurotransmitters and other biochemicals; and for the transport of other
nutrients into the cells.
Although
a great deal of protein is eaten by people, much of it is not well-digested
due to deficiency of enzymes. Properly milled raw flaxseed is easy to
digest, and it has
enzymes
within it to assist its
own digestion. It is very important that certain amino acids be provided for
early absorption in the digestive process, to form neurotransmitters for the
brain and nerves.
Lignans
Flax
seed is by far the highest food in
lignans,
special antioxidants
documented to protect against
cancer,
heart disease, arthritis, diabetes
and
other ailments. Antioxidants help to avert damage done by free radicals,
molecular particles that zoom around inside the body seeking a missing
electron. A typical antioxidant provides an electron to a free radical which
ends its wild, damaging quest.
Flax
seed has 100 times the lignan content of the next best food source. There
are a total of 27 anti-cancer agents in flaxseed, mostly lignans.
(NOTE:
When flax oil is expelled from the seed, most of the lignans are retained in
the fiber, not in the oil.)
Some of the lignans
are phytoestrogens. The low level of these natural compounds provided by
flax seed can help balance female hormones and reduce PMS and other
disturbances, without becoming a problem themselves.
Other
Flax
contains
2%
organically-bonded minerals. It
is a good source of highly absorbable potassium, calcium, magnesium,
phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, selenium and boron.
It also
has generous amounts of Vitamins A (Beta Carotene), B-1, B-2, B-3, B-6,
B-12, and E.
CLICK HERE for the nutritional profile of
our organic milled flaxseed
