People are lauding the flax seed as the new miracle food nowadays because of the health benefits it provides. What most people do not know, however, is that the benefits one gets from eating flax seeds have long been known and documented since the time of the Roman Empire. Flax seeds, also known as linseed, are actually among the original medicines that Hippocrates made use of in treating illnesses of several nature.

People who eat flax seeds enjoy health benefits that come mainly from three major substances: alpha-linoleic acid, lignan and fiber. Alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) is a type of omega-3 fatty acid, an essential fatty acid that the body needs for good health. ALA is less usable to the body in that form, so the body converts it first to the two types of omega-3 fatty acids that it can more easily absorb, namely docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Nonetheless, ALA is just as effective as DHA and EPA in lowering the levels of total cholesterol and LDL or bad cholesterol in the body, as well as the levels of triglyceride in the blood. ALA stops blood platelets from clotting, thereby preventing heart attacks. Also, ALA is good for people who have high blood pressure and diabetes, or just watching their weight.

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Lignan is another chemical that can be found in flax seeds. Lignan is a phytoestrogen, a kind of antioxidant. As an antioxidant that can be found in flax seeds, the health benefits that lignan gives is most useful to women vulnerable to or suffering from post-menopausal breast cancer. What lignan does is to prevent estrogen-caused breast cancer from developing or from getting worse. Aside from breast cancer, there are also emerging studies that show that lignan is also good for treating prostrate cancer.

Fiber is the third substance present in flax seed, and obese people could benefit much from including this in their regular diet. Fiber is known to aid the digestive system in absorbing nutrients from food, enhancing their body's waste elimination processes. Fiber is also used in treating patients with inflammatory bowel disorders like colitis and Crohn’s disease. Consumption of fiber also prevents people from having diarrhea or constipation.

There are a lot of benefits that can be had from eating flax seeds. Flax seeds are becoming very popular among people who are conscious about nutrition because of these very benefits. It should be noted, though, that the substances that make flax seeds so great can also make flax seeds harmful, especially when exposed to too much heat. Flax seeds have a short shelf life and should always be refrigerated.