Health Benefits of Flax Seed

The flax plant has been around for a long time and can easily be traced back some 5,000 years to the Egyptians, who used the plant to make cloth which helped to keep them nice and cool in the desert heat. Temples and tombs have been found in Thebes with pictures of the flax plant on the walls with its easily identified bright blue flowers. This type of flax is not to be confused with the New Zealand flax plant, which was only given the name as it is also cultivated for its fibers.

Although the Egyptians recognized the benefits of using flax fibers for cloth production, they probably didn't realize what an amazing source of nutrients it is. Flax seed is one of the best sources of Omega-3 fatty acids available today, and is also high in lignans which have strong antioxidant properties with proven health benefits. It is thought that flax seed can actually help to fight prostate and breast cancer. Recent studies on laboratory mice have shown that flax seed can actually help to reduce the growth of tumors. Another amazing benefit of flax seed is that it can help to regulate the sugar levels in a person's blood, making it well suited to diabetes sufferers as well.

Flax seeds and edible flax seed oil are available from a variety of sources. They can be purchased from health food stores on the high street as well as online at e-commerce websites and wholesale flax seed outlets. Flax seed oil doesn't contain the lignans found in the seeds and so isn't as good for you as the seeds, but it is still a great source of Omega-3 and shouldn't be dismissed easily. In particular, the oil still contains alpha-linolenic acid, which is thought to help prevent heart disease and arrhythmia. Alpha-linolenic acid is also necessary for normal infant development. The oil is much easier to integrate into actual meals than the seeds and so is a great choice for those wishing to get more Omega-3 into a child's diet, for example, where supplements wouldn't generally be used.

The benefits of Omega-3 have been talked about at great length recently, and include a contribution to cell membrane development in the brain, leading to the term "brain food". Omega-3 fatty acids are also thought to contribute to good eyesight, can help to prevent heart disease, help with ADHD, dyslexia and even Alzheimer's disease. It has even been suggested that taking an Omega-3 supplement during pregnancy can contribute to a healthier baby as well!

The ready availability, low cost, and incredible health benefits of flax seed is making it a sensible choice of supplement for those people concerned about their diet. Doing some research on the internet, reading reviews and testimonials and talking to people who are using flax seed in their diet can help to alleviate any doubts you may have, and looking into wholesale flax seed suppliers and even online health food stores you will be amazed at how cheap they are to buy.

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