The Benefits of Flaxseed Is flaxseed the new wonder food?
Preliminary studies show that it may help fight heart disease,
diabetes and breast cancer. The Health Benefits of Flax
continued... Research suggests that plant omega-3s help the
cardiovascular system through several different mechanisms,
including anti-inflammatory action and normalizing the
heartbeat. Fitzpatrick says new research also suggests
significant blood pressure-lowering effects of flaxseed. Those
effects may be due to both the omega-3 fatty acids as well as
the amino acid groups found in flaxseed. Several studies have
suggested that diets rich in flaxseed omega-3s help prevent
hardening of the arteries and keep plaque from being deposited
in the arteries partly by keeping white blood cells from
sticking to the blood vessels’ inner linings. "Lignans in
flaxseed have been shown to reduce atherosclerotic plaque
buildup by up to 75%," Fitzpatrick says. Because plant omega-3s
may also play a role in maintaining the heart’s natural rhythm,
they m