Flex your brain on the facts of flax

posted by Balanced Health and Nutrition
Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 2:32pm PDT

Food, nutrition and exercise information blended with a dash of opinion.

Flax seed oil is filled with beneficial components that are essential to an overall healthier you. It is filled with both omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids that can otherwise be a bit difficult to get the recommended amount by food sources only.

There are some cautions to take with flax seed oil, however. Because it is a fat, it can go rancid, and you must take the necessary precautions to avoid that. You need to make sure that exposure to heat, air and light are all minimal or avoided. In regards to the general quality of the oil, some are enriched with antioxidants to make their shelf life longer. If these factors are unavoidable, you could always stick the bottle in the refrigerator to help prolong quality life.

If you prefer, you can go the route of flax seeds instead of the oil. They can be ground up to a fine dust and used in the same general manner as the oil, but in a dry method. With ground flax seeds, they last longer outside the refrigerator because of their chemical components. Ground flax seeds can be purchased ready to eat, or in the whole seed form and ground as you go.

Whichever direction you go, the addition of flax seeds to your diet will greatly benefit your omega-3 stores, especially for those that are not fish lovers. The consumption of flax seed can aid in bone health, reduce the risk of blood clots, which can decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes and helps control high blood pressure. It has also been linked to the significant lowering of prostate cancer risk in men and can help reduce risk of breast cancer and prevalence of hot flashes in post-menopausal women.

http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid;=81

View Original Post at rebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com

Filed Under:
SportsPLUS, Health & Fitness, Nutrition

No one has commented on this yet. Be the first!

SIGNUP FOR A WOMEN TALK SPORTS ACCOUNT:

A Women Talk Sports account allows you to maintain a profile at www.womentalksports.com and login to comment on posts using your WTS identity.

Fields marked with a * are required.

Your First Name*:

Your Last Name*:

Your E-mail*:

Your Website:

Your Location:

Your Twitter Username:

Create a WTS Username*:

Create a Password*:

Confirm Password*:

Check here to receive bi-weekly emails from Women Talk Sports and partners highlighting discussions on our site and upcoming women's sporting events, as well as informing you of new products, services and special offers.

I accept the Terms & Conditions for joining Women Talk Sports