If you’ve researched health at all, then you’ve likely come across the recommendation to add flaxseed to your diet numerous times. Some health experts suggest that you do this via flaxseed oil while others promote simply buying the seeds, grinding them up yourself, and adding them to your favorite foods. But why all the fuss over this one simple health food?
WebMD points out that some studies have found that flaxseed can help reduce your risk of major diseases, some of which include cancer (mainly breast, prostate, and colon), cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and lung disease. And anytime you can do something this easy to help you possibly avoid one of these life-altering conditions, why wouldn’t you?
Part of the reason flaxseed is beneficial in regard to disease is that it lowers your cholesterol levels, mainly through your triglycerides. So, if your triglyceride levels are 150 or higher, then adding this one health food to your diet may help lower this number to safer levels.
Some studies have even reported that flaxseed can even help promote healthier kidney function in people that are diagnosed with lupus. Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease in which your body attacks itself and generally results in damage to skin and internal organs. Thus, by adding to the health of these organs, this can help reduce this disease’s effects and potentially increase quality of life.
Flaxseed has also been shown to reduce hot flashes not only in frequency, but also in intensity. Ask any menopausal woman how valuable this one singular benefit is and you’ll likely get your answer very quickly. It seems to be quick acting too as one study reported that women experienced these positive benefits after just two weeks of consuming flaxseed regularly.
These are just a few of the reasons why adding flaxseed to your diet is a good thing. Any more that should be added to the list? Feel free to comment about them below!
