Health Benefits of Eating Flax Seeds

 I did an Instagram reel all about my love for flax seeds and I realized it should really have a permanent spot on my website. I suggest it to almost all of my clients for a reason!

I use flax, hemp seeds and chia seeds - but I’d argue flax has the most health benefits. It’s not as easy to add to dishes as it’s cousin hemp hearts, I admit. It just requires a little prep and forethought then you’re set for the week.

Buying Flax

• your local grocer should have it

• I personally opt for organic, but it’s better to include than exclude if organic isn’t in the budget

• the kicker - buy it whole, not ground

  • when we grind flax and it sits on the grocery store shelves it can go rancid easily as we’ve broken the shell of the fat and it oxidizes easily

  • whole flax seeds can go right through your body without being absorbed so grinding ensures you reap the benefits

• I love the seeds over flax oil, you miss out on the fibre with oil

Preparing Flax for Easy Use

• I love using a coffee grinder

• pop it in a glass jar and store it in the fridge (3-5 days) or freezer

Nutrient Profile

• richest source of the precursor to lingans

• contains minerals: zinc, calcium, potassium, iron, copper

• source of fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), 1.6g per tbsp of ground

Benefits of Consumption

• so helpful for bowel movements, constipation or binding up excess water if diarrhea present

• source of soluble and insoluble fibre

• source of the precursor for phytochemical lingans

• rich in omega 3 fatty acids (we make hormones from fats)

• supportive during any gastrointestinal illness protocol where die off may occur

• helpful for estrogen detoxification (important if you have high beta glucuronidase on a GI-MAP stool test)

• great for reducing PMS, breast pain, can lengthen the luteal phase by 1 day which is great for more progesterone days

• plays an important role in prostate health

• flax is a phytoestrogen, which is amazing! this means it is 1000x weaker than estrogen and is helpful when you are low in estrogen, or when you’re high in estrogen

• great for hot flashes in perimenopause

• may be helpful in lower LDL or total cholesterol levels for heart health

How to Enjoy

• use it in baked goods as a flax egg

• add it to hot or cold cereals, I love it in my steel cut oatmeal

• mix with mashed avocado for a sandwich

• add to coconut or cashew yogurt with berries

• smoothies

Don’t skip out on drinking water when adding fibre supplementation.

PS How do you use flax seeds? Were you previously buying it ground?

If you’re curious about your gastrointestinal and hormone health, I currently have space for 1:1 work. Head here to apply to ensure it’s a great fit.

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