Flaxseed and Cholesterol

Another benefit of flaxseed oil is that it can help to lower your body's cholesterol.  We've already gone over in earlier posts that the three main ingredients in flaxseed are:

Lignans- have both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities. Flaxseed oil contains 75- 800 times more lignans than other plant foods. One way lignans are important to your body is that they can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer if you are a woman.

Fiber- Flaxseed oil contains both soluble and insoluble fiber. This benefits you by decreasing your blood pressure, keeping your digestive system running smoothly, and by helping you lose weight .

Omega-3 essential fatty acids- "good" fats that have been shown to benefit your heart. These fatty acids found in flaxseed oil benefits your body and are important in helping it to function, but they cannot be produced by the body. For this reason it is important to have a good source of omega-3 acids which flaxseed oil provides. In some animal studies this Omega-3 has been shown to inhibit tumor growth. It is also suggested that Omega-3 fatty acids aide your cardiovascular system.

The two important ingredients towards you cholesterol are the fatty acids and fiber.  The specific essential fatty acid found in flaxseed is called alpha linolenic acid.  This acid as been shown in scientific tests to have a link to the lowering of cholesterol.  It has been noticed that people that eat a more mediterranean style diet generally have lower cholesterol.  Mediterranean food is very high in essential fatty acids including alpha linolenic acid found in flaxseed.  It should be taken into account that this type of diet also encourages whole wheat foods, fish, and fruits and vegetables.  There are others studies that have shown a relationship between alpha linolenic acid and lower cholesterol. Another major benefit of is flaxseed for acne. 

Thanks for reading about flaxseed and cholersterol.