In keeping with the theme of Lance Armstrong from earlier today, I thought I’d tell you about a wonder food that performs almost as well on the body as Lance does on his bike. It is truly the Lance Armstrong of health foods! Can you guess what it is?

Flaxseed is turning out to be a miracle food. It contains alpha linolenic acid, which is an Omega 3 fatty acid, and is what is thought to be the reason for flax’s ability to help lower bad cholesterol. Flaxseed also contains lignan, which is a phytoestrogen. Lignan is what is thought to aid in breast cancer prevention.

For menopausal symptoms, Flaxseed was compared to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), 40 g of flaxseed was reported to be equally effective as HRT for mild menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, mood disturbances, vaginal dryness) and to lower blood sugar levels. However, a few studies report no benefits in reducing menopausal symptoms when using flaxseed oil, so it may be necessary to eat in seed form, rather than pills, to get these benefits.

Flaxseed was also found to be beneficial in bone health, potentially decreasing the chances of developing osteoporosis. 

There is also new evidence showing that flaxseed oil seems to be able to heal the inner lining of  inflamed intestines, making it a miracle for those who suffer from Chron’s Disease and Colitis. There is also evidence to suggest it can help in weight loss. I told you this is the Lance Armstrong of health foods!

Ground flaxseed is the easiest way to fit it into your diet. You can sprinkle it on cereal, in yogurt, tea, smoothies, or even on salads, and cooked vegetables. Important: It should be ground, and not whole, to benefit from the oils in the seed! So if you buy it whole, you must grind it yourself. 

A couple brands to try: Spectrum Organic, Bob’s Red Mill Organic.