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Flaxseed, a small seed with great nutritional contributions
A small spoonful of this food provides your body with fiber, omega 3 and 6, magnesium, iron, calcium, vitamins B1 and B6, proteins and many more.
In recent years, the consumption of flaxseed has been highly recommended, due to the broad benefits that it provides to the body, especially to the health of our digestive system, and in the reduction of cholesterol in the blood, which is ideal to reduce the risks of heart disease.
Various scientific investigations have concluded that flax seeds are a superfood, which is why nutritionists recommend it widely in our diet, since it has calories, carbohydrates, proteins, potassium, fiber, Omega 3, and 6, magnesium, iron, calcium, vitamins B1 and B6, phosphorus and folate.
A little history
Before learning about the benefits of flaxseed, let's review a little the history of this nutritious and healthy food. The first records of this seed date back 5,000 years before Christ in Mesopotamia.
Archaeologists have found drawings of this food in the tombs of the pharaohs in Ancient Egypt, however, the discoveries do not specify the use that the Egyptian kings gave it, however, they do indicate that these civilizations knew it and used it in your everyday life.
Regarding its cultivation, in ancient times it was harvested near the Tigre and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia, and the Nile in Egypt; little by little it was spreading to more places around the world for medicinal and food purposes; It has also been used in the wood and textile industry.
Benefits of flaxseed on the body
Now, let's know the extraordinary benefits that flaxseed brings to our body:
1. Contains omega 3
It is well known by all that our body needs healthy fats such as omega-3 to strengthen our neurons, and also to keep our heart and brain healthy.
Flaxseed contains this fat that we normally find in fish, so it can be made into a supplement to this food.
Some research has indicated that consuming flaxseed prevents cholesterol from adhering to the blood vessels of the heart, reduces inflation in the arteries and also prevents the growth of tumors.
2. Fiber to avoid constipation.
We all need to have good digestive health, and we achieve this by eating foods rich in fiber. Flaxseed is food that contains this plant component.
Flax seed has two types of dietary fiber: soluble and insoluble, which are fermented by bacteria in the large intestine, which will increase the volume of the stool and allow us to go to the bathroom more regularly, ideal for those who suffer irritable bowel syndrome.
3. Improves cholesterol
Controlling cholesterol is one of the great challenges for a large part of the world population, because we normally consume many foods rich in fat (something that we must reduce for our health), therefore, flaxseed is ideal to reduce the levels of this substance fat from our body.
Nutrition experts point out that ingesting 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed per day for three months helps reduce total cholesterol by at least 17%, while bad cholesterol is decreased by 20%.
With these numbers, there is no doubt that flax is an ideal food for lowering cholesterol. It is also ideal for controlling cholesterol in women with menopause.
4. Control blood sugar
Flaxseed can help you control the sugar going through your blood.
According to various studies conducted on people with type 2 diabetes, who were prescribed to consume between 10 and 20 grams of flaxseed powder daily for a month.
This resulted in a reduction in their blood sugar levels, by at least 8 and 20%.
Experts explain that this is because the insoluble fiber contained in flaxseed slows the release of sugar into the blood, while lowering blood sugar.
5. Control hunger
Yes, as you read it, flaxseed can help you improve your anxiety to eat.
Nutritionists recommend including at least 2.5 grams of ground flaxseed in our drinks, as this will reduce the feeling of hunger.
This is because, according to experts, the soluble fiber in flax seed slows down digestion, and releases hormones that control appetite, which will make us feel satisfied.
6. Lowers blood pressure
Here I must be responsible and indicate that it is only a helper to reduce blood pressure, and not the total solution to this health problem.
Canadian doctors found that people who consumed about 30 grams of flax seed a day for about six months had their blood pressure lowered by 10 mmHg and 7 mmHg.
According to this research, people who took medications to control this health problem, which also included flaxseed in their daily diet, had their blood pressure reduced even more.
7. Proteins to improve immune function
Research carried out by scientists on flax seed has shown that this food is a source of vegetable protein, rich in amino acid's arginine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid.
This flaxseed protein helps our body improve immune function, reduces cholesterol, as I have said before and prevents the growth of tumors.
On the other hand, it can be a substitute for animal protein, at least when it comes to issues like controlling appetite, and satiety. This has been shown by studies carried out by American universities.
