Health Spotlight: Flax

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Flax

Fresh Interest in a Forgotten Plant

Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is one of the world’s

oldest cultivated plants. In times past, flax was

grown for its oil-bearing seed and for its fiber.

Linen cloth woven from flax has been found in ancient

Egyptian tombs, while Jewish high priests of the Old

Testament wore garments made from flax.

 

Records from early civilizations reveal that flax was

also used internally as a mild laxative and for its

soothing action on irritated mucous membranes. Flax

was also applied to the skin as a poultice for the

treatment of local inflammations and the relief of

pain.

 

Flax is an annual plant that grows from 12 to 48

inches in height. Its sky-blue flowers bloom only

during the morning hours. Flax is cultivated in both

temperate and tropical regions throughout much of the

world. Major commercial supplies of flax come from

Argentina, Canada, North Africa, and Turkey.

 

Flaxseed, or linseed as it is called in some parts of

the world, consists of the dried, ripe seeds of the

fruit, a globular capsule about one quarter of an inch

long. The flat, brown and glossy seeds contain up to

10 percent mucilage, as well as very high levels of

linolenic acid (an omega-3 fat) and lignans, in

addition to some protein.

 

Health Promoting Properties

Recently American consumers developed a real interest

in the health-promoting properties of flaxseed and its

oil. Flaxseed and the flour derived from flaxseed are

increasingly being used in breads, cereals, and bakery

products to provide a pleasant nutty flavor and to

increase the nutritional and health benefits of the

final product.

 

The present popularity of flax was spurred by the

research findings that flax is a rich source of

omega-3 fat. Clinical studies have shown that ground

flax seed is useful for protection against cancer and

for lowering the risk of heart disease in patients

with elevated blood cholesterol levels. Flaxseed also

has been reported to have glucose-reducing effects.

 

Blood Lipid Changes

Flaxseed has been shown to lower serum cholesterol

levels in both subjects with normal blood lipid levels

and in those with elevated lipid levels. Flaxseed

lowers blood lipid levels because of its soluble fiber

content and its very low saturated fat content. When

15 patients with elevated blood cholesterol levels

were fed 15 grams ground flaxseed and three slices of

flaxseed-containing bread daily for three months, the

patients experienced about a 10 percent decrease in

total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels as well

as a substantial decrease in platelet clumping, while

their HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels did not

significantly change.

 

Since defatted flaxseed can also produce a major drop

in LDL cholesterol with a 70 percent reduction in

athero-sclerosis in rabbits after only eight weeks,

the cholesterol-lowering substance in flax is probably

not the unsaturated fat. In another study 29 subjects

with elevated blood cholesterol levels who consumed

muffins made from partially defatted flaxseed

experienced, on average, an 8 percent drop in their

LDL cholesterol levels over three weeks, while their

HDL cholesterol levels were unchanged. The regular use

of flaxseed flour in one’s bakery products or morning

cereal would appear to be useful in the control of

high blood cholesterol levels.

 

Protection Against Breast Cancer

Animal studies have shown that flax added to the diet

can significantly reduce the incidence of breast

tumors and produce at least a 50 percent reduction in

tumor size of chemically induced cancers. The number

of tumors may be reduced by almost 40 percent in

carcinogen-treated rats. The cancer-protective

properties of flax are believed to result from their

very high level of lignans.

 

Flaxseed is the richest known source of lignans, with

100 to 800 times the level of lignans found in other

oil seeds, cereals, and legumes. Plant lignans are

metabolized in the colon by bacterial fermen- tation.

The lignan metabolites, which have a strong

antioxidant activity, appear to be anticarcinogenic.

They have structure similar to estrogens and can bind

to estrogen receptors, thereby inhibiting the growth

of breast cancer. Lignans may also produce positive

effects in women with ovarian dysfunction.

 

Help for the Bowel

Today flaxseed is used as a mild laxative for chronic

constipation and to relieve irritable bowel syndrome,

diverticulitis, gastritis, and enteritis. Flaxseed is

also used to correct bowel problems caused from the

misuse and overuse of stimulant laxatives. The

mucilaginous fiber in the seeds can absorb water in

the colon, producing soft stools. Flaxseed fiber may

also protect against colon cancer.

 

The use of flaxseed is considered safe. However, the

use of large quantities of flax as a laxative with

insufficient fluid intake can produce obstruction of

the bowel. For gastritis and enteritis, the dose of

coarsely ground meal is one tablespoon of whole seed

with 150 milliliters of liquid, taken two to three

times a day. A compress can be made from 30 to 50

grams (one to two ounces) of flax flour. German

Commis-sion E suggests taking one to three tablespoons

of whole or crushed flaxseed two to three times a day

for chronic constipation. However, it is important

that plenty of water be consumed with this remedy to

avoid bowel obstruction.

 

Winston J. Craig, Ph.D., R.D., is a professor of

nutrition at Andrews University, Berrien Springs,

Michigan.

 

Remember: Herbal products and dietary supplements can

have pharmacological effects, may produce adverse

reactions in some people, and could interact with

over-the-counter and prescription medications you may

take. Discuss with your physician your decision to use

any herbal product. Anything mentioned in this article

is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any

ailment.

 

 

 

 

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