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Health | Omega-3 | Flaxseed
The Health Benefits of Flaxseed
Everything you need to know about flaxseed.
What is Flaxseed?
Flaxseed is an oil seed originally from the Middle East. It has a slightly nutty flavor and is sold in both whole, crushed and ground varieties. It is also made into oil, namely flaxseed oil.
Flaxseed has been praised for years for its many health benefits. But what exactly are those health benefits? You will read all about that today in this article.
Important, this is NOT medical advice! see disclaimer at bottom of this article.
High in fiber and good for intestines.
Firstly, flaxseed is very high in fiber. In fact, a tablespoon of about 10 grams already contains about two to three grams of fiber.
Besides being important for healthy bowels and a good bowel movement, high fiber intake is linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and several types of cancer, among others.
Flaxseed contains both soluble and non-soluble fiber, both with different health benefits.
Protein content and weight management.
Flaxseed consists of about 60 to 80 percent non-soluble fiber, which is mainly beneficial for good bowel movements and healthy intestines.
It can also be helpful for weight loss and weight management due to the saturated feeling it provides.
Flaxseed is about 18 percent protein, which is not a major contributor to daily protein intake, but contains most of the essential amino acids.
Rich in Healthy Fats and Omega-3.
Flaxseed consists of more than 40 percent fat and is rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids, especially the alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) form, essential for a healthy heart.
Note that omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed are difficult to absorb when using the whole variety; therefore, the crushed variety is recommended.
