What is flaxseed oil?
Alpha-linolenic acid or ALA, the main substance in flaxeed oil, is an omega-3, all-cis polyunsaturated fatty acid containing 18 carbon atoms and three double bonds. It is also known as ALA, ALA, 18:3n-3; 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid and (Z, Z, Z)-9, 12, 15 octadecatrienoic acid as well. The seeds and oil of the flax plant contain substances which really promote good health. Flaxseed and flaxseed oil are rich in alpha-linolenic acid or ALA, which is an essential fatty acid that appears to be beneficial for heart disease. ALA belongs to a group of substances called omega-3 fatty acids, and good health requires the right ratio of Omega 3 fatty acids to Omega 6 fatty acids in the diet. The ideal ratio is around 1:2. The average american diet is more around 1:20 to 1:50, with way too much Omega 6 and not enough Omega 3 in nutrition. The ratio present in Flaxseed oil is about 4:1. So flaxseed oil is a good source of Omega 3, which is why you should consume every day small portions of flaxseed or flaxseed oil. However if flaxseed oil is used in the diet for long time, without other oils, it may cause Omega 6 LA deficiency. Therefore, it is the best bet is to blend flaxseed oil with other oils that contain more Omega 6, in order to get the right balance.
With flaxseed oil you should use oils such as sesame oil, sunflower oil, or evening primrose oil. Flaxseed oil is good for the heart because it is the richest source of alpha-linolenic acid, but flaxseed itself also contains lignans. That may have antioxidant actions and may help protect against certain cancers, though not everyone agrees on this issue 100%.
Benefits of flaxseed oil
Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil may help to lower cholesterol, protect against heart disease and control high blood pressure as well. Several studies indicate that flaxseed oil, as well as ground flaxseeds, can lower cholesterol, thereby significantly reducing the risk of heart disease as serious problem. Flaxseed oil may also have a protective effect against angina known as chest pain and high blood pressure. A 5-year study done recently, found that flaxseed oil may be useful in preventing second heart attack. It may also help prevent elevated blood pressure by inhibiting inflammatory reactions that cause poor circulation and artery-hardening plaque. Omega-3 fatty acids appear to limit the inflammatory reaction associated with many conditions. In cases of lupus, flaxseed oil not only reduces inflammation in the joints, kidneys and skin, but also lowers cholesterol levels that may be elevated by this disease. Taking flaxseed oil for gout may lessen the often sudden and severe joint pain or swelling that is a symptom of that serious condition. Flaxeed oil is also able to control constipation, hemorrhoids, and diverticular disorders. Because they are high in soluble fiber, ground flaxseeds can help ease the passage of stools and thus relieve constipation, hemorrhoids and diverticular disease by relieving some of the worst symptoms. Moreover, flaxeed oil could reduce cancer risk. The lignans in flaxseed appear to play a role in protecting against breast, colon, prostate, and skin cancer. In one study, prostate cancer patients who added about 3 heaping tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily to their diet, had more slowly-dividing tumor cells. They also had a greater rate of tumor cell death than men who did not follow such a diet, after about 5 weeks. The researchers found no significant difference in levels of prostate specific antigen, which is a protein in the blood which indicates prostate cancer progression, between the 2 groups. However, men in the early stages of the disease experienced a trend toward lower levels. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men, excluding skin cancers as well. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 198,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year. While the cancer will be diagnosed in about 1 in 6 men, about 1 in 30 will die of this disease.
Flaxseed oil with cottage cheese?
There are few doctors who were trying to help patients to regain their health through a simple regimen of flaxseed oil blended with cottage cheese. These doctors supplemented their patients%26rsquo; diets with 2 tablespoons of flaxseed oil combined with 1/4 cup of cottage cheese. Doctors found that a yellowish green substance in their blood was replaced with a healthy red pigment called hemoglobin. They also found that the tumors receded and disappeared, anemia was alleviated, and vital energy was regained as consequence of flaxeed oil usage.
Ground flaxseed or flaxseed oil?
Liquid flaxseed oil is the easiest form to use, although it must be kept refrigerated, and it is available either in liquid form or in capsules. If you prefer to use ground flaxseeds, just add 1 or 2 tablespoons of to an 8-ounce glass of water and mix and do not be worried because flaxseeds have a pleasant, nutty flavor and taste good sprinkled on salads, cooked vegetables, or cereals. It is recommended to grind the seeds, or buy ground flaxseed, because whole seeds simply pass through the body. Grinding the seeds just before using them best preserves flavor and nutrition, but pre-ground seeds are more convenient, and also you should keep them refrigerated. Interesting is that there are no nutritional differences between brown and yellow seeds. It would be the best for absorption to take flaxseed oil with food. It is easily mixed into juices and other drinks, and its nutty, buttery flavor complements cottage cheese, yogurt and many other foods you could use. You can also try with using flaxeed oil instead of olive oil in a salad dressing. Do not cook with it, as this will deplete the oil%26rsquo;s nutrient content. You should also know it is the best to buy flaxseed oil in an opaque plastic bottle. This will prevent light from spoiling it, but also check the expiration date on the label, as the oil spoils quickly. Keep it refrigerated for freshness, but should the oil develop a powerful odor, discard it.
Mechanism of flaxeed oil action
ALA is metabolized to eicosopentaenoic acid known as EPA, which is a precursor of the series-3 prostaglandins, the series-5 leukotrienes and the series-3 thromboxanes. These eicosanoids have anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties, while ALA metabolites may also inhibit the production of the pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4, as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta. Incorporation of ALA and its metabolites in cell membranes can affect membrane fluidity. It may also play a role in anti-inflammatory activity, inhibition of platelet aggregation and possibly in anti-proliferative actions of ALA. Secoisolaricoresinol diglycoside is metabolized to enterolactone and enterodiol that may have anti-platelet-activating factor activity. It would produce anti-thrombotic activity, while SDG metabolites may also block some of the cancer-inducing effects of estrogen and may have selective estrogen receptor modulating activity.
Flaxeed oil against arthritis , heart infarct, cancer and other diseases
Dr. Budwig is considered by many to be the foremost authority on fats and human healing. He discovered what flax oil will do for your body and learn about saturated and unsaturated fats. Dr. Budwig has been treating cancer of all kinds with nothing but cottage cheese and flaxseed oil for over 16 years. She says that people with cancer have blood that is low in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids and blood of these patients has a greenish cast. Since flaxseed oil is 56% Omega 3 and 16% Omega 6 she wanted to try with it. She had chance to read that most people have blood that is 80% deficient in Omega 3. That is why, Dr. Budwig has taken patients sometimes given only hours to live and restored them to health. Doctors had attempted to treat patients with sources of Omega 3 but that therapy had not been consistently successful. Dr. Budwig%26rsquo;s research found that in order for these fatty acids to be fully available to the body, they must be tied to a sulfur based protein. The best source of these based proteins is cottage cheese. Depending on the severity of the condition she had her patients use 3 to 6 Tbsps of flaxseed oil a day. She has treated them also with at least 4 oz or 1/2 cup of cottage cheese per day. She recommended that the oil and the cottage cheese should be thoroughly mixed before eating it. For example, an excellent approach would be to mix however many Tbsps of flax oil one plans to use each day in a bowl with at least a half cup of cottage cheese and some fruit such as crushed pineapple or frozen strawberries, put it in the refrigerator and eat a portion of it at different times during the day.
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