Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Asking your doctor questions about your health is one of the most important things you can do at your appointment. Whether you trust your doctor or are just hopeful that the new medications that have been prescribed to you will work, asking your doctor questions …
Many say, “The eyes are the window to the soul”. Unfortunately, in the United States, many develop serious eye conditions. One of the most common conditions that develop in the eye is known as a cataract. Though it is very common, it can be difficult …
Flaxseeds, also known as linseeds, are a wonderful superfood. They are a terrific source of fiber, protein, and ALA (an essential omega-3) and contain mucilage, phytoestrogens and anti-cancer lignans. They also contain micronutrients like manganese and vitamin B1. This food is so nutritious, it is no wonder it benefits a long list of organs and organs systems, providing symptom relief and disease prevention. In fact, studies have shown flaxseed to benefit in numerous conditions – PMS, breast cancer, prostate cancer, type 2 diabetes, memory, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and skin healing.
Unlike the non-edible linseed oil, raw flax and flax oil have numerous health properties. Because they have a tough outer shell, it’s best to grind the flax seeds to get the most beneficial properties from them. Take 1 tbsp with yogurt & berries before going to bed. I have stopped recommending flax oil because it is very unstable. If you choose to consume flax oil, I suggest making sure that it is high in lignin and raw but it does not come close to matching the lignin content of the powdered seed and lignan’s are important to many of the protective benefits of flaxseed. Never cook flax oil.
Flax contains phytoestrogens called Lignans. Lignan are compounds that build plant cell walls. They contain specialized phytoestrogens that help normalize the body’s estrogen production. Eating lignin compounds help to convert intestinal probiotics into enterolactone, a metabolite that produces weak estrogenic activity in our blood circulation. Many reports have revealed that high enterolactone in our blood helps to reduce the risk of breast, prostate, colon cancers and heart disease. Lignans are great for hormone balance, weight loss, sugar metabolism and skin healing. In addition to lowering blood pressure, cholesterol and regulating bowel movements flax seeds have a host of protective hormonal activity, which is very powerful and very special. Medical doctors have become concerned with the term “phytoestrogen’, as they believe it proliferates cell activity similar to synthetic and natural estrogen compounds, advising their patients against taking the superfood. Research, however, does not support this opinion.
While research pertaining to the range of capabilities of flaxseeds in humans is present for many metabolic conditions, animal studies are more advanced in terms of hormone studies and should not be overlooked. The super-food aspects of flax include: protection of bones, regulation of period, increase in sexual libido, vaginal lubrication, and hair health (similar to estrogen). However, flaxseeds do not provide the negative growth promoting effects of medical estrogens, birth control pills, HRT and testosterone. In fact, flax seeds have been shown helpful in reducing the symptoms of menopause while not growing the hormone sensitive tissue. One study determined that while flax seed contains compounds that may slow bone loss during aging, especially when combined with low-dose estrogen therapy, it does so without promoting growth of uterine tissue of postmenopausal female rats2.
Another study from Brazil showed that neither the flaxseed extract nor flaxseed meal exerted estrogenic effects on the vaginal epithelium or endometrium as revealed by the absence of changes in the blood levels of follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol, as well as in the endometrial thickness, and vaginal epithelial maturation value of postmenopausal women. This is a benefit for those wanting to treat menopausal and hormonal symptoms but may be concerned with breast and ovarian cancer, endometriosis and fibroids.
To regulate periods, increase fertility and detox from the birth control pill, follow this flax seed protocol for a minimum of 3 months. Studies show, in a population of hens, flaxseed supplementation reduced severity and prevalence of ovarian cancer through reduction of a growth promoting and pro-inflammatory hormone called prostaglandin 24.
This flax seed protocol may also help to increase fertility, regulate menstrual and ovulatory cycles and improve postpartum symptoms. I recommend adding seeds to breakfast, especially after traveling, when one’s cycle can get a little wonky. Make sure to use raw organic seeds. If you don’t know where you are in your cycle, use the phases of the moon to guide you.
The Seed Protocol:
From the day you start to flow to ovulation (day 1–14). If you don’t know where you are in your cycle, use the moon cycles as a guide. Starting from the next new moon to the following full moon take:
Starting from ovulation to menses (day 14 – 28) or from full moon to new moon take:
If you have a hankering for bread, this flax meal bread recipe will help lower cholesterol, blood pressure and improve regularity.
You can find Dr. Millie’s Flourless Flax Seed Bread Recipe Here!
The best thing about flax seeds; if you plant it, it will grow.
For a full list of sources and references from this article, click here!
Research carried out by the experts at Aquaint sanitizer earlier this month have uncovered some disgusting facts that may make you want to choose a destination you can drive to this vacation season. Many people report feeling sick after an airplane ride – from runny …
When you hear the term “the plague” it is common that you automatically think back to grade school when you learned about its history and how it wiped out about 60% of Europe’s population in the 14th century. Historians and researchers now know that the …
As one of the biggest threats to your overall health, sugar is one part of your diet that many dieticians and nutritionists say you should completely eliminate. When consumed in large quantities, sugar can lead to obesity and diabetes, just to name a few. But what else do you need to know? And how can it be safely consumed?
According to ABC News and research from recent studies, “For every additional 150 calories of added sugar downed per person per day, the prevalence of diabetes rose by 1 percent, even after controlling for obesity, physical activity and calories from other foods.” In other words, this study proves that sugar has a direct relationship with the increased risk of diabetes, regardless of how much physical activity or calories a person burns in one day. It has also been found to have a direct relationship with heart problems; A study conducted by JAMA Internal Medicine found that the more a person consumes, the higher the risk of developing heart disease.
The first step to knowing how to safely consume sugar is to know what to look out for. There are two types – natural and added. Natural sugar is commonly found in whole foods, vegetables and dairy products. These foods are a great source of fiber, protein, and calcium and also contain important vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Added sugars are artificially added to your food for flavor and preservation of processed foods. This is something that you should eliminate from your diet. The American Heart Association explains, “Increases in intake over the past four decades parallel our expanding waistlines, and studies have connected added sugar, not the naturally occurring kind, to heart disease and diabetes.”
Many packaged foods contain sugar – both natural and added. To figure out what kind is added in a product, review the nutrition label. If you see any of these sweeteners – brown sugar, cane sugar or juice, corn syrup, maltose or fructose – choose something else. Also remember, by law, the order of the ingredients on the ingredient label goes by weight, so the first ingredient listed is what the product is mostly made out of. Be vigilant and cautious of what you are about to put into your body.
According to the AHA, you should have no more than 100 calories or 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day. However, the average person consumes up to 18 teaspoons a day (more than double the suggested amount!) Most of the products people consume that are very high in sugar are sweetened drinks and pre-packaged, processed foods. To keep track of your intake while consuming these beverages and foods, remember that 1 teaspoon equals 4 grams.
A diet with a high consumption rate of fruits and vegetables can actually make you consume more sugar than you think. Fruit smoothies and dried fruits are packed with sugar, though many people would think they are the healthier alternative. While breaking down the vegetables for the smoothies in the blender, you are actually eliminating its fiber content. It is the fiber that slows down digestion and gives your body the time to metabolize it correctly. As a result, the calories in the fruits are actually stored as fat in your body. Without water, natural sugars become very concentrated. This is the reason why you must also be careful of consuming too much dried fruit. Portion your meals and dried fruit to make sure you are not consuming too much sugar.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com