Flax Seed: A Healthy Addition to Your Diet

Do you need a healthy addition to your diet? If you say yes, I've got just the thing. If you say no, then I ask you to read the rest of the article and then decide for yourself.

It is flax seed. I've been adding flax seed to my diet for years now. And no I am not a distributor or a seller of flax seed. I would just like to let as many people know about the many benefits that flax seed provides. It's a simple way to add something healthy to your diet.

There are two different kinds of flax seeds . They are brown or golden flax seeds. My experience is with the brown or glossy brown seeds. They can be purchased at any health store or most supermarkets. I typically buy one bag at a time only because it last a long time. You can buy your flax as seeds , oil or grounded. Shelf life depends on what you purchase. For flax seed oil you will need to go to a health food store because not all supermarkets carry it. The other two which is seeded and grounded is available at most major supermarkets these days. The best bet is to go to a health food store to get your flax seed.

Next, lets talk about serving amounts. For the flax seed oil, it comes in a small bottle with a dropper cap. Just a few drops a day will be fine. For the flax seeds, you can add a tea spoon amount into your cereal or salad. Or, you can take the seeds and put about a tablespoon amount into a coffee grinder to get ground flax seed. Ground flax seeds can be put into your baking and bread recipes. Or, you can take about a teaspoon of ground flax to start with and add it to half a glass of orange juice. Stir it vigorously and drink it right away. Never add ground flax seed to warm or hot liquids because it expands very quickly in warm or hot liquids and it will not be so appealing to the eyes.

Flax seed has a buttery taste to it. No matter how you consume flax seed just remember to start out in very small amounts. Your body needs to adjust to flax seed very slowly. Also, you will need to drink adequate amounts of water during the day. If you do not drink a adequate amount of water while taking flax seed you may develop a bowel obstruction. This happens because flax seed is both insoluble and soluble. Which means that it will coat the lining and also expand and expel out of your intestines and colon. Typically, you may notice that your fecal matter is more bulkier and that you may have an increased amount of bowel movements. Which as a result will benefit your digestive system. Just remember not to take too much at the beginning and drink adequate amounts of water and you will be fine.

I saved the best for last. Benefits! Flax seed is very good to lower your cholesterol. It can be a mild laxative but if you take too much you may need to be by a bathroom for a while. So, don't make that mistake. And, it is very good at lowering your blood pressure too. These things are made possible because flax seed is very high in dietary fiber and omega 3 fatty acids.

Overall, the benefits far outweigh the possible drawbacks. It's a great addition to your diet and it is a natural product. Like any thing else, you should talk to your doctor before introducing any new foods to your diet especially if you are on medicine.