{"id":13779,"date":"2025-03-27T00:42:21","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T17:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=13779"},"modified":"2025-03-27T00:42:21","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T17:42:21","slug":"the-facts-about-flax-flaxseed-benefits-and-nutrition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=13779","title":{"rendered":"The Facts About Flax: Flaxseed Benefits and Nutrition"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>By the way it\u2019s so casually offered up as a cure-all for everything from high cholesterol to dry eyes, flax may seem like some kind of hipster rebranding of snake oil. If it does so much, how come it\u2019s not as ubiquitous as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beachbodyondemand.com\/blog\/whats-really-in-pumpkin-spice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pumpkin spice<\/a>?<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look at whether or not flax is a placebo dressed up like a miracle seed by explaining what it is, what it\u2019s been proven to do, and how you can incorporate it into your diet.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is Flaxseed?<\/h2>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-164131\" src=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/17130149\/Flaxseed-600-oil.jpg\" alt=\"Scoop of Flaxseed and Flax Oil | Flaxseed\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Flax is a blue-flowered plant grown in cool, northern climates such as the prairies of the Northern U.S. and Western Canada. Its seeds are what make it interesting, as consuming processed flaxseed can provide a variety of benefits to your health. That\u2019s why you\u2019ll see \u201cflax,\u201d \u201cflaxseed,\u201d or \u201cflax seed\u201d used in products and packaging.<\/p>\n<p>Flax was first introduced to the U.S. by early colonists, and it was used primarily to produce fiber for clothing. As industry grew, flaxseed oil \u2014 also known as linseed oil \u2014 became an important ingredient in paint and was used in meal to feed livestock. By the 1940s, cotton had replaced flax as a commonly used fiber in the U.S., and flax\u2019s popularity as a commercially grown crop began to wane.<\/p>\n<p>There are usually two varieties: gold flaxseed and brown flaxseed. Although some suppliers will tout one over the other (based on claims of either nutritional or taste superiority), they actually work out to be pretty much the same on most levels.<\/p>\n<h2>Flaxseed Nutrition<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fdc.nal.usda.gov\/food-details\/169414\/nutrients\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A tablespoon<\/a> of ground flaxseed provides the following nutrients:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>37 calories<\/li>\n<li>1.3 g protein<\/li>\n<li>3 g fat<\/li>\n<li>2 g carbs<\/li>\n<li>2 g fiber<\/li>\n<li>18 mg calcium<\/li>\n<li>27 mg magnesium<\/li>\n<li>57 mg potassium<\/li>\n<li>0.4 mg iron<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Flaxseed Benefits<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-164129\" src=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/17130131\/Flaxseed-600-Omega3.jpg\" alt=\"Image of Food High in Omega 3 | Flaxseed\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Before you sprinkle flaxseed around your bed in the hopes of waking up 20 years younger like Tom Hanks in<i data-redactor-tag=\"i\">\u00a0Big<\/i>, let\u2019s take a look at the actual measurable benefits derived from it.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Heart-healthy<\/h3>\n<p>Flaxseeds, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bodi.com\/blog\/walnuts-nutrition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">walnuts<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bodi.com\/blog\/edible-seeds-benefits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">chia seeds<\/a>, are loaded with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bodi.com\/blog\/what-are-fatty-acids\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">omega-3 fats<\/a>. While flaxseed doesn\u2019t contain the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3262608\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">EPA and DHA<\/a>\u00a0omega-3s found in fish oil, it does offer a version of omega-3 called\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0140673694925801\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">alpha-linolenic acid<\/a> (ALA).<\/p>\n<p>ALA is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/15945135\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">polyunsaturated fatty acid<\/a>\u00a0that\u2019s been found to possibly\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/15945135\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reduce the risk of heart disease<\/a>\u00a0by positively affecting blood pressure,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/jn\/article\/145\/4\/749\/4644334\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">cholesterol<\/a>, arrhythmias (irregular heart beat), and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.physiology.org\/doi\/full\/10.1152\/ajpheart.00606.2012\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">arterial plaque buildup<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>2. High in fiber<\/h3>\n<p>Eating\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fdc.nal.usda.gov\/food-details\/169414\/nutrients\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">two tablespoons<\/a> of flaxseed per day provides 20 to 25 percent of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nap.edu\/read\/10490\/chapter\/9#389\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">recommended daily intake<\/a>\u00a0of fiber, and flaxseeds are also low in other carbohydrates. High levels of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4375225\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">mucilage<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 a gel-forming substance that moves through the gastrointestinal tract\u00a0undigested\u00a0\u2014 in flaxseed can\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4375225\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">slow the passage of food<\/a>\u00a0from the stomach to the small intestine, increasing nutrient absorption. That may also prolong fullness, which is key for those looking to lose weight.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Anti-inflammatory<\/h3>\n<p>Studies have shown that the omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed are associated with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4030645\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">decreases<\/a>\u00a0in the biomarkers of inflammation. Since inflammation plays a role in issues ranging from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamaophthalmology\/article-abstract\/420332\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">dry eyes<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0955286315002004\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">inflammatory bowel disease<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/pharmrev.aspetjournals.org\/content\/70\/1\/12#abstract-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">neurological disorders<\/a>, the omega-3s in flaxseed could be valuable in a host of applications.<\/p>\n<h2>How to Eat Flaxseed<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-164130\" src=\"https:\/\/bod-blog-assets.prod.cd.beachbodyondemand.com\/bod-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/17130139\/Flaxseed-600-ground.jpg\" alt=\"Measuring Spoon of Grounded Flaxseed | Flaxseed\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The most important thing to know is that, in order to get the maximum benefit from flax,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/patientinstructions\/000728.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">it must be ground<\/a>; the seed\u2019s nigh-impervious exterior means whole flax can pass through the gastrointestinal tract undigested.<\/p>\n<p>So consider purchasing flaxmeal or ground flax (or grind up your own raw flaxseed), which can be stirred into hot or cold cereal, added to mustard or mayonnaise for sandwiches, or dropped into flour mixtures for muffins or breads.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s versatile, and neither the gold nor the brown varieties have a strong flavor, so they can blend with both sweet and savory, and you\u2019ll barely know they\u2019re there. Just remember to refrigerate or freeze ground flaxseed\u00a0to prevent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0963996911000676\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">oxidation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The main difference lies between flax meal and flax oil. The two actually offer slightly differing benefits: Oil, for example, shows <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Pravin_Ganorkar2\/publication\/256426572_Flaxseed_-_A_nutritional_punch\/links\/02e7e523553bab6b62000000\/Flaxseed-A-nutritional-punch.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids<\/a>\u00a0than ground flax, whereas\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fdc.nal.usda.gov\/food-details\/169414\/nutrients\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ground flax<\/a>\u00a0is a better source of minerals such as magnesium than\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fdc.nal.usda.gov\/food-details\/167702\/nutrients\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">oil<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bodi.com\/blog\/flaxseed-benefits-flax-nutrition\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By the way it\u2019s so casually offered up as a cure-all for everything from high cholesterol to dry eyes, flax may seem like some kind of hipster rebranding of snake oil. If it does so much, how come it\u2019s not as ubiquitous as pumpkin spice? Let\u2019s take a look at whether or not flax is &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fitness"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13779\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}