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| Flax seeds |
Why Flax seeds are considered as super food?
Flax seeds are the small tiny
edible seeds of the flax plant. This plant is considered as one of the oldest
plants on earth. It has so many
nutrients to boost the entire health that It is now considered as a great plant
based superfood. Studies has shown that if you add this super seeds in your
diet then you will get tremendous health benefits in many ways. But to take
full advantage of these super seeds you need to eat it in the raw form. Let’s
check out the details you need to know about flaxseed.
Flaxseed is one of the top plant
based source of omega-3 fatty acids
Flaxseed does contain plant-based omega-3 fatty acid known as alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA. This type of fatty acids is quite essential for us to improve the circulation of blood in our system. It also has anti-inflammatory properties which help fight inflammation in arteries and blood vessels. It can also help in fighting osteoporosis by reducing the risk of bone fractures. Type 2 diabetes can also be prevented by in taking adequate amount of flax seeds in our diet. We all know that type 2 diabetes is a life style disease and we can reverse it by proper diet and exercise.
Flax seeds also contain sufficient amount of fiber and protein
If you add two tablespoon of flaxseeds in your cereal or smoothies then you are getting almost 6 grams of fiber , 4 to 5 grams of plant protein, and good amount of nutrients which includes magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, copper, and thiamine. These micro nutrients are very essential for a healthy body. Magnesium present in flax seeds helps to improve quality of sleep which is often associated healthy gut. It also contains significant amount of manganese that can help in collagen production and improves skin and bone health. Copper present in flax seeds also helps in collagen production which improves oxygen level in blood by producing new red blood cells. Thiamin present in flax seeds plays a vital to boost the nervous system of our body.
Flaxseed is rich in antioxidants which fights free radicals in our body
Flaxseed is one of the richest sources of health-protective antioxidants called polyphenols. Antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress in our body and removes free radicals form our body. Free radicals present in our body can cause life threatening diseases like heart disease and cancer. It also speed up the aging process so adding adequate amount of flax seeds in our diet also helps us to slow down the aging process. It also helps fight neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Flaxseed contains huge amount of fiber that helps in digestion
Flaxseed contains good amount of fiber. It contains both soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. To maintain a healthy gut both these types of fiber is necessary. Soluble fiber is helpful to soften stool hence it helps in keeping a healthy GI tract. On the other hand insoluble fiber present in flax seeds can stimulate the digestive system and help in removing waste through the gut and improves bowel regularity.
Flaxseed is known for its
anti-cancer properties
Flaxseed has some nutrients present in it which helps to prevent the development of tumors in our body. Flax seeds also help in preventing some types of cancers like breast, prostate, and colon cancers. Flax seeds contain lignans which is a plant based compound that has antiangiogenic properties. This compound helps the body to stop tumors from forming new blood vessels and growing.
One tablespoon of ground flax seeds contains :
- Calories: 37
- Protein: 1.3 grams
- Carbs: 2 grams
- Fiber: 1.9 grams
- Total fat: 3 grams
- Saturated fat: 0.3 grams
- Monounsaturated fat: 0.5 grams
- Polyunsaturated fat: 2.0 grams
- Omega-3 fatty acids: 1,597 mg
- Vitamin B1: 8% of the RDI
- Vitamin B6: 2% of the RDI
- Folate: 2% of the RDI
- Calcium: 2% of the RDI
- Iron: 2% of the RDI
- Magnesium: 7% of the RDI
- Phosphorus: 4% of the RDI
- Potassium: 2% of the RDI
How can you eat flaxseeds to get the optimum results?
It is suggested to use ground flaxseeds rather than whole one because it is easy to digest. You can add a tablespoon or two in your breakfast cereal or you can even add this in your morning smoothie. You can even add this in to your dal or even sprinkle it on salads. You can even use flaxseed oil or flaxseed oil capsules for omega-3 health benefits. No matter how you consume flax seeds it is important to choose the best quality flax seeds which is organic.
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