What is Flaxseed?Natural source of ALA,Omega-3 EFAs,lignans,benefits and utility uses...

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   Botanical Identification and info of flaxseed:

 Official Latin Name: Linum usitatissimum
 Botanical name: Linum usitatissimum.
 Family: Linaceae
 Parts used: ripe seeds and their expressed oil
 Meaning of literature: The species name "usitatissimum" means "most useful".

 Synonyms: flaxseed, common flax, lint bells, winterlien,Chih-ma,Common Flax,Flax,Flax Seed,Flax Weed,Linseed,Lint Bells,Toad Flax,Uma,flaxseed kernel,linseed kernel.
 Other Possible Synonyms: L. crepitans[G] L. humile[B,G,P] L. usitatissimum subsp. transitorium[G] L. usitatissimum var. humile[B,G,P]
 Common Names: Flax,Golden Flax, Ama, Annual Flax, Chih Ma,Lini semen,flaxseed,Common Flax, Cultivated Flax, Hu Ma, Kahtan, Keten, Kettan, Kittan, Lin, Linaza, Lino, Linseed, Linseed Flax, Linum usitatissimum

 Other Common Names: Ama [E ], Annual Flax [H ], Chih Ma [E ], Common Flax [P,H,L ], Cultivated Flax [B ], Flax [H,S,MS,E,L ], Flax, Common [S ], Hu Ma [E ], Kahtan [E ], Keten [E ], Kettan [E ], Kittan [E ], Lin [E ], Linaza [E ], Lino [E ], Linseed [E,H ], Linseed Flax [H ], Vlas [D ],

 

 Botanical Identification and info of flaxseed:
 Origin and Bible literature of Flaxseed:
 Botanical Description of Flaxseed:
 Constituents and Phytochemicals of Flaxseed:
 Natural ALA,Omega-3 source(Omega-3 EFAs):
 Comparative advantage of omega-3 supply between Flaxseed and deepsea fish oil:
 Rich source of lignans and the functions of flaxseed lignans:
 Uses of parts of Linum usitatissimum:
 Medicinal and Nutritional application,Therapeutics and Pharmacology of flaxseed:
 Health Benefits Highlights and Tips of Flaxseed:
 Other uses and actions of Flaxseed:
 Nutrition Facts of flaxseed: Why Use Flax Seed
 Dosage and administration of Flaxseed: How much to take
 Traditional Research of flaxseed:
 Modern Reasearch of Flaxseed:
 Research Update:Linum usitatissimum L.


   Origin and Bible literature of Flaxseed:

 Linseed is native to temperate zones of Europe and Asia. Linseed is cultivated worldwide for its fiber, seeds, and seed oil. The seeds are harvested in late summer or early autumn.

 This truly useful plant has been cultivated for over 7,000 years.The cultivation of flaxseed reaches back to the remotest periods of history. Consumed in Europe and Asia since around 8,000 b.c.; introduced to North America during Colonial days but not widely used as food until the 1960s. Both the seeds as well as the cloth woven from this plant fabric have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. In fact, the first linen mentioned in the Bible has been proven by historians and archaeologists to have been spun from flax.

 In the 8th century, the French king Charlemagne passed a law requiring citizens to consume Flaxseed so that they would be healthy subjects. Many traditions are associated with this useful plant. Flax flowers were believed in the Middle Ages to be a protection against sorcery. The Bohemians have a belief that if seven-year-old children dance among Flax, they will become beautiful, and the whole plant was supposed to be under the protection of the goddess Hulda, who, in Teuton mythology, was held to have first taught mortals the art of growing Flax, of spinning, and of weaving it.


  Bible literature of Flaxseed:

 Flax is one of the English-grown medicinal herbs, the products of which are included in the British Pharmacopoeia, its seed known as Linseed, being much employed in medicine.

 Its cultivation reaches back to the remotest periods of history, Flax seeds as well as the woven cloth having been found in Egyptian tombs. It has been cultivated in all temperate and tropical regions for so many centuries that its geographical origin cannot be identified, for it readily escapes from cultivation and is found in a semi-wild condition in all the countries where it is grown.

 The 'fine linen' mentioned in the Bible has been satisfactorily proved to have been spun from Flax; it was the plant to which the plague of hail proved so disastrous (Exodus ix. 31). Joseph was arrayed in this product (Genesis xii. 42), and it also furnished the garments of the Jewish High-Priests (Exodus xxviii.) as well as the curtains of the Tabernacle (Exodus xxvi. 1). We learn that the knowledge of spinning this linen was known to the Canaanites (see Joshua ii. 6), and in New Testament times it formed the clothing of the Saviour in the tomb where Joseph of Arimathaea laid Him.

 It was used for cord and sail-cloth ('white sails' are mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey), and it was used for lamp-wicks (Isaiah xlii. 3).

 The seed-vessels with their five-celled capsules are referred to in the Bible as 'bolls,' and the expression 'the flax was bolled' (Exodus ix. 31) means that it had arrived at a state of maturity. When the bolls are ripe, the Flax is pulled and tied in bundles, and in order to assist the separation of the fibre from the stalks, the bundles are placed in water for several weeks, and then spread out to dry. This custom is alluded to in Joshua ii. 6.


   Botanical Description of Flaxseed:
 

 The scientific name of flax is Linum usitatissimum. Usitatissimum means "most useful," a suitable appellation for a plant used for both food and fiber. Flax is sown in the winter in the Middle East and flowers in the late spring. With sky-blue flowers that open only in the morning, flax is one of the most beautiful of all crops when flowering. It is often planted as an ornamental.

 Linum is an erect annual herb with a glabrous stem and few branches, growing about 60cm in height and cultivated in most temperate and tropical regions. The stem bears alternate, sessile, simple entire lanceolate to oblong leaves. Each branch produces one or two violet-blue five-petalled flowers in a terminal cluster from June to August, and a globular capsule containing about ten seeds.

 The flax is a graceful little plant with turquoise blue blossoms, a tall, erect annual 1-2 feet in height. The stems are usually solitary, quite smooth, with alternate, linear, sessile leaves nearly an inch long. The seed vessels with their five-celled capsules are referred to in the Bible as "bolls." When the bolls are ripe, then the flax is pulled and tied in bundles. In order to help in the separation of the fiber from the stalks, the bundles are placed in water for several weeks, and then spread out to dry.

 Collection: when fully ripe in September.
 Range: Likely native to Europe. Also found in USA, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Iraq, South and Central America, Kurdistan, Peru, Spain, Turkey, Venezuela
 Habitat: Prefers a light well-drained moderately fertile humus-rich soil in a sunny sheltered position. Prefers a cool moist climate.

 

   Constituents and Phytochemicals of Flaxseed:

  Composition of Flaxseed:

 30-40% fixed oil (including oleic acids,36-50% linolenic acid and 23-24% linoleic acid), mucilage (6%), protein (25%), the cyanogenic glycoside linamarine( Linamarin has a sedative effect on the respiratory system.), bitter principle; the oil contains vitamins A, B, D and E, minerals and amino acids.

 The oil in the seed contains 4% L-glutamic acid, which is used to treat mental deficiencies in adults. It also has soothing and lubricating properties, and is used in medicines to soothe tonsilitis, sore throats, coughs, colds, constipation, gravel and stones. Flaxseed is largely employed as an addition to cough medicines. As a domestic remedy for colds, coughs and irritation of the urinary organs, Flaxseed tea is most valuable. A little honey and lemon juice makes it very agreeable and more efficacious. This demulcent infusion contains a large quantity of mucilage, and is made from 1 ounce of the ground or entire seeds to 1 pint of boiling water. It is taken in wineglassful doses, which may be repeated ad libitum.

 Flaxseed contains omega-6 and omega-9 essential fatty acids, linolenic, linoleni & oleic acids, linamarin (a cyanogenic glycoside), mucilage, cyanogenic glycosides, B vitamins, fiber, protein, potassium, lecithin, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins A and E.

 Nutritional experts have identified lignans, fiber and Omega-3 fatty acids, as the nutrients in flaxseed that appear to have substantial health benefits.

 The envelope or testa of the seed contains about 15 per cent of mucilage. The seeds themselves contain in the cotyledons and endosperm from 30 to 40 per cent of a fixed oil, of a light yellow colour, and about 25 per cent proteids, together with wax, resin, sugar, phosphates, acetic acid, and a small quantity of the glucoside Linamarin. On incineration, linseed should not yield more than 5 per cent of ash.

 The oil is obtained by expression, with little or no heat. The cake which remains after expressing the oil, and which contains the farinaceous and mucilaginous part of the seed, is familiarly known as oil-cake, and is largely used as a fattening food for cattle. It is also used as a manure. When ground up, it is known as linseed meal, which is employed for making poultices. The meal is sold in two forms, crushed linseed and linseed meal. Formerly linseed meal was always obtained by grinding English oil-cake to powder and contained little oil, but now the crushed seeds, containing all the oil, are official. Crushed linseed of good quality usually contains from 30 to 35 per cent of oil.

 Linseed oil rapidly absorbs oxygen from the air and forms, when laid on in thin layers, a hard, transparent varnish. It is largely used in the arts for its properties as a drying oil. It is a viscid, yellow liquid, its chief constituent being Linolein. It also contains palmitin, stearin and myristin, with glyceride of linoleic acid. Boiled oil, produced by heating raw linseed oil to a temperature of 150 degrees C., together with a small proportion of a metallic drier, possesses the drying properties of linseed oil to an enhanced degree. It becomes of a brown colour and dries much more rapidly, and in this state is used in the manufacture of printer's ink.

 

   Natural ALA,Omega-3 source(Omega-3 EFAs):

 Flaxseed is an important richest source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant source of omega-3 series of essential fatty acids. Flaxseed is one of the richest sources of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the main compound of valuable omega-3 fatty acids.

  Rich source of ALA(alpha-linolenic acid):

 ALA is the precursor to eicosapentaenoic acid and the Series 3 prostaglandins (PGE3), which are critical hormones regulating cellular activity.

 Flaxseed is by far the richest source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the parent compound of the omega-3 fatty acids. In comparison, fish contain only trace amounts of ALA and fish oil can adversely affect the taste and odor of food products. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid because it cannot be synthesized by the body. Research indicates that ALA improves immunity, the body's ability to defend itself against foreign substances. Studies have also shown that alpha-linolenic acid may lower the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Both the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization recommend an increased daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

  Rich source of Omega-3 EFAs(Omega-3;Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids):

 The omega-3's are one of two families of essential fatty acids, which are necessary for growth and development and cannot be made by the body. Omega-3's are the building blocks of eicosanoids, hormonelike compounds that regulate blood pressure, clotting, and other body functions.


 The body does not naturally produce certain essential fatty acids, so it is necessary to receive them via the diet. Flaxseed supplements the body with these fatty acids, which are vital for maintaining body temperature, building nerve insulation, protecting tissues and producing energy. Fatty acids are important for building prostaglandins, which are necessary for several body processes, including dilation of blood vessels, cholesterol metabolization, and other critical bio-chemical functions.

 Prostaglandins are essential hormone-like substances that help regulate systems functions, including immune, reproductive, cardiovascular and nervous systems. Several scientific studies show that consumption of sources of omega-3 oils leads to a substantially lower risk of death from coronary heart disease. Until recently, experts believed the best sources of omega-3 were fish oils.

 However, Flaxseed contains twice to three times as much omega-3 essential fatty acids as fish oil products, without the fishy aftertaste. The common name Flax also includes the species Linum lewisii and Linum perenne, which are used interchangeably with Linum usitatissimum.

 Numerous studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids help lower cholesterol and blood triglycerides, and help prevent clots in arteries which may result in strokes, heart attacks and thromboses.

 Other fatty acids, omega-6's, are abundant in vegetable oils such as corn, soybean, safflower, and sunflower oils as well as in the many processed foods made from these oils. They're also available in the meat from grain-fed livestock.


 The discoveries about omega-3's and omega-6's are relevant to flaxseed as well as to fish oil. Our bodies function best when our diets contain a well-balanced ratio of these fatty acids, meaning no more than 4 times as much omega-6 as omega-3. But we typically eat 10 to 30 times more omega-6's than omega-3's, which is a prescription for trouble, says Artemis Simopoulos, M.D., president of the Center for Genetics, Nutrition, and Health in Washington, D.C., and author of The Omega Plan. This imbalance puts us at greater risk for a number of serious illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, and arthritis, he says.

 As we've noted, an excess of omega-6 fatty acids, when not checked by a complementary amount of omega-3's, can lead to the overproduction of potentially inflammatory biochemicals called prostaglandins and leukotrienes.

 A deficiency of omega-3's is linked to various skin disorders, arthritis and joint stiffness, irritable bowel syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, immune dysfunction, and depression, says Michael Janson, M.D., president of the American College for Advancement in Medicine, based in Laguna Hills, California, and author of The Vitamin Revolution in Health Care. As the most abundant plant source of omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed helps restore balance and lets omega-3's do what they're best at:balancing the immune system, decreasing inflammation, and lowering some of the risk factors for heart disease.


   Comparative advantage of omega-3 supply between Flaxseed and deepsea fish oil:

 Omega 3 fatty acid is considered essential. Your body CANNOT produce it, but requires it, so your diet must provide it. Most diets do not include this necessary fat. Flaxseed is unique in that 48% of its total fat content is Omega 3 fatty acids. Studies have also shown that alpha-linolenic acid may lower the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

 Both the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization recommend an increased daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids.
 Deepsee fish oil is a traditional omega-3 nutrition supplement, but we now have a more better nutrients from plant kingdom.
 Flaxseed provides approximately 100%~150% more omega-3 oils than the amount available from fish oil.
 It would take approximately 3 pounds of salmon to equal only 50 grams of flaxseed.
 


   Rich source of lignans and the functions of flaxseed lignans:

 Flaxseeds are the most abundant source of lignans. Lignans are a type of insoluble fiber that act as phytoestrogens that have shown to help relieve the symptoms of menopause, as well as having anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. It is the anticancer effects of lignans that have received the most research attention lately.

 Flaxseeds are the most abundant source of compounds which can be converted by bacteria in the gut to lignans, special compounds which are demonstrating some rather impressive health benefits. The benefits include positive effects in relieving menopausal hot flashes, as well as anti-cancer, anti- bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral activity.

 Lignans are plant-based compounds that can block estrogen activity in cells, reducing the risk of certain cancers. Many plants have some lignans, but flaxseed has at least 75 times more than almost any other plant.

 Lignans are phytoestrogens, meaning that they are similar to but weaker than the estrogen that a woman¡¯s body produces naturally. Therefore, they may also help alleviate menopausal discomforts such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. They are also antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral.


   Uses of parts of Linum usitatissimum:

  Seeds:  For constipation, eat 1-2 tbsp of seeds, followed by 1-2 glasses of water; the seeds swell in the bowel to produce a gentle, bulking laxative. The seeds can be mixed with muesli, cereal, or honey and soft cheese, then eaten at breakfast. Simultaneous high fluid intake is important.

  Infusion:  Use for coughs and sore throats; flavor with honey and lemon juice.

  Poultice:  Crush the seeds, and apply to boils, abscesses, and ulcers; apply locally for pleurisy pain.

  Maceration:  Soak the seeds in water to produce a thick mucilage, which can be taken for inflammations of the mucous membranes, such as gastritis and pharyngitis.

  Oil:  The essential fatty acids this contains can be helpful for eczema, menstrual disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, and atherosclerosis. Add 2 tsp freshly pressed oil or 1-2 tsp freshly crushed seeds to the diet every day.

  Infusion:  Take the fresh herb for constipation, liver congestion, and rheumatic pain.


  Parts Used Medicinally:  The fruit is a globular capsule, about the size of a small pea, containing in separate cells ten seeds, which are brown (white within), oval-oblong and flattened, pointed at one end, shining and polished on the surface, 1/6 to 1/4 inch long. They are inodorous except when powdered, but the taste is mucilaginous and slightly unpleasant.

  Linseed varies much in size and tint:  a yellowish variety occurring in India. Holland, Russia, the United States, Canada, the Argentine and India furnish the principal supplies. The Russian seed or Dutch-grown of Russian origin, though small, is preferred for Flax-growing, as it is hardier than the large southern seed from the Mediterranean and India. For medicinal purposes, English and Dutch seeds are preferred, on account of their freedom from weed-seeds and dirt. If containing more than 4 per cent of weedseeds, linseed may be said to be adulterated. Of English and Dutch seeds about twelve weigh 1 grain, but some of the Indian and Mediterranean varieties are twice as large and heavy.

 

   Medicinal and Nutritional application,Therapeutics and Pharmacology of flaxseed:

 Flax seed has a long history of medicinal use, its main effects being as a laxative and expectorant that soothes irritated tissues, controls coughing and relieves pain. The seed, or the oil from the seed are normally used.

 The seed is analgesic, demulcent, emollient, laxative, pectoral and resolvent. The crushed seed makes a very useful poultice in the treatment of ulceration, abcesses and deep-seated inflammations. An infusion of the seed contains a good deal of mucilage and is a valuable domestic remedy for coughs, colds and inflammation of the urinary organs. If the seed is bruised and then eaten straight away, it will swell considerably in the digestive tract and stimulate peristalsis and so is used in the treatment of chronic constipation.

 May help: Heart disease, heart arrhythmia, high cholesterol, angina, breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, stroke, lupus-related kidney damage, low immunity, irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure, fingernail problems, constipation, diarrhea, hot flashes, gout, migraines, asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis, sunburn, and sciatica.

  For Pulmonary infections and anti-inflammatory effect:

 Linum may be used in all pulmonary infections, particularly where there is much catarrh, as in bronchitis. It is often applied as a poultice in pleurisy and other pulmonary conditions. A poultice may also be applied to boils and carbuncles, shingles, psoriasis and burns.

 The ALA in flaxseed oil has an anti-inflammatory effect that can benefit a number of illnesses, says Emily Kane, N.D., a naturopathic doctor in Juneau, Alaska, and senior editor of the Journal of Naturopathic Medicine. In her practice, she recommends flaxseed oil for inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and asthma.

 Flaxseed oil and lignans have also been credited with reducing inflammation of the kidneys experienced by some people with a condition known as lupus nephritis. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects the skin and other organs.


  Treat Constipation:

 Linum is also used in chronic or acute, atonic or spastic constipation. Whilst not a true laxative, it acts as a bulking and lubricating agent causing no irritation. Laxative effects due to increase in volume and consequent initiation of intestinal peristalsis due to stretching reflexes. Protective effect on the mucosa because of coating action.

  Fatty deposits build-up:

 Linseed oil is an valuable source of essential fatty acids which can help prevent the build-up of fatty deposits in the tissues. The oil has also been used to help the passage of gallstones.

  Effective cholesterol lowering:

 Elevated cholesterol has become a common problem among Americans due to the high fat content of many common foods. If you worry about Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL), you will want to learn about the impressive results attained with Golden Flax Seeds. Flax has been used for centuries and is considered among one of the most effective cholesterol lowering foods, because Golden Flax Seeds are rich in several amazing natural compounds including soluble beta glucan fibers, valuable lignans, essential omega-3 fatty acids, and dietary fibers.

  Reduce Heart disease and stroke:

 Flaxseed also appears to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. One way that ALA helps the heart is by decreasing the ability of platelets to clump together, a reaction involved in the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), says Dr. Janson. ALA also lowers levels of dangerous LDL cholesterol and helps the body rid itself of blood fats called triglycerides, which, at high levels, can also be harmful to heart health.

 Flax seed rich in Omega 3's, helps to lower high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Consuming flaxseed, rich in Omega 3's, is said to lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, the artery clogging bad cholesterol that can build up restricting blood flow. Lowering triglycerides reduces the risk of clogging arteries, which can help protect against heart attacks and strokes.

 

   Health Benefits Highlights and Tips of Flaxseed:

  For hormone sensitive cancers: The National Cancer Institute has identified flax as a food with potential cancer fighting properties. This has been shown to be beneficial to hormone sensitive cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer.

 According to the US Department of Agriculture, flaxseed contains 27 identifiable cancer preventative compounds,Flax seed promotes healthy cholesterol levels, aids in healthy digestion, and promotes healthy glowing skin.

 1/4 cup of flax seed contains 20 grams of fiber! Fiber is an extremely important part of our diet. The average persons diet consists of only 8.75 grams of fiber per day. Between 25-30 grams of fiber per day is recommended as an aid in the prevention of coronary disease and certain forms of cancer (breast and of colon).


  For intestinal and chest problems:laxative uses Linseed is rich in mucilage and unsaturated fats, and makes a valuable remedy for many intestinal and chest problems. Taken whole internally, the seeds soothe irritation throughout the digestive tract. They also absorb fluid and swell, drawing in toxins and forming a jellylike mass, which acts as an effective bulk laxative. If the seeds are split before being swallowed, they provide essential fatty acids. To a lesser extent, the seeds benefit the urinary tract. Externally, a poultice of the crushed seeds may be helpful in treating chronic coughs, bronchitis, pleurisy, and emphysema. A poultice of the seeds, or of linseed flour, may be applied to relieve painful boils. A Portuguese recipe recommends linseed oil mixed with red wine to treat wounds.

 Adding Golden Fitness Flaxseed to your diet is an important step towards a healthy diet plan, which includes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. If your primary diet consists mostly of cheeseburgers and fries, then flaxseed isn't likely to help much.

  Cardiotonic and Nervine The flowers are cardiotonic and nervine. The plant has a long history of folk use in the treatment of cancer. It has been found to contain various anticancer agents.

 Along with carotenes, flavonoids, and other valuable phytochemicals, lignans are shown to play an ever increasing role in numerous aspects of human health. Lignans are phytochemicals that protect against certain cancers, particularly those that are hormone sensitive. Lignans in flaxseeds are 200 to 800 times more concentrated than any other lignan source.

  Cooking Tips:

 The seed contains 30 - 40% oil, which comprises mainly linoleic and linolenic acids. The seed is used in breads and cereals, it can also be sprouted and used in salads.

 A fiber is obtained from the stem. It is of very high quality and is used in making cloth, sails, nets, paper, insulating material etc. The plant is harvested just after it flowers.

 Flaxseed oil, mixed with an equal quantity of lime water, known then as Carron Oil, is an excellent application for burns and scalds.


  Keep the following tips in mind while using flaxseed:

  Grind your flaxseed using a battery or electric operated coffee bean grinder, blender, or food processor.
  Our resealable, refillable containers, should be stored in a cool dry place.
  Refrigerate any extra ground flaxseed to maintain freshness.
  Whole flaxseeds must be thoroughly chewed to utilize their nutritional benefits.
  Ground flaxseed is easier to digest when eaten.
  Flaxseeds have a nutty flavor and are excellent sprinkled on salads, cereals, and yogurt.
  They are a wonderful addition to baked goods, such as breads, muffins, waffles, hot cereals and pancakes.
  Stir 1 TBLS of ground flaxseed into your favorite fruit, vegetable juice, or milk.
  There are no nutritional differences between brown and golden seeds.
  Because flaxseed is high in fiber, it is important to drink plenty of water.
  On rare occasions, some people may have an allergic reaction to flaxseed.
  Flaxseed absorbs approximately eight times its weight in water, so if taken 1 hour before meals, it may help you loose extra weight by reducing your appetite.
 


   Other uses and actions of Flaxseed:

  Rich fibre and Linen Source:

 The fibers of some of the species of this plant are used to make paper, linen and twine.

 Linen from Flax was used to wrap mummies in ancient Egypt. The great majority of textiles that have come down to us from dynastic Egypt and earlier are made of linen. Linen was also very widely used throughout the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Asia. However, Egypt is unusual in the continued dominance of linen there, long after wool had become the primary textile fibre in other areas, beginning from around 2000 BC.

 Flax was the most important plant fiber in Bible times because it was used to make linen. All clothing was made either of linen or wool. While its production has declined in recent years due to the superiority of cotton that is more easily handled by machines, flax remains one of the most important fiber plants in the world because of the long, strong fibers found in the outer layers of the stem. These are removed by a kind of controlled decay called retting. One of the common forms of retting is allowing the cut stalks of flax to remain in the dew until the fiber containing layers separate from the stem. This is probably why Rahab had bundles of flax on her roof. After retting, the fibers are cleaned and then bleached in the sun.

 Linen fibre derives from a plant, Linum usitatissimum L., which as a raw material is more usually known by the term flax. Flax was cultivated by the Egyptians in fields. To grow well, flax as a crop needs water and a rich soil and frequent weeding.

 Linen had several uses in Bible times. The most obvious was clothing. But other uses were for wicks (eg., Matthew 12:2) and as measuring lines. The man in Ezekiel 4 had a measuring line made out of linen (flax). English word line is from the Latin word for flax. Words such as linear, lineage, etc. also derive from the same root. One use of flax that is not mentioned in the Bible is eating the seeds. Flax seeds, barley, and wheat are among the oldest known foods. Linseed oil is expressed from the seeds of flax.

 The Scriptures teach explicitly the significance of linen when used as clothing; it is the righteousness or righteous acts of saints. Put another way, it represents personal holiness and suggests that the person clothed in linen is in a condition suitable to approach God. In fact, one of the synonyms for a priest is one who "wears the linen ephod."

 Prostate cancer:These small brown seeds hold some big promise for combating breast and colon cancer. In animal studies, flaxseed has significantly reduced existing breast and colon tumors while stopping new ones from getting started. In one study, researchers at the University of Toronto were able to reduce tumor size by more than half in animals that were fed flaxseed over a seven-week period. Flaxseed and flaxseed oil reduced the growth of existing tumors, but another component of flaxseed, called lignans, appeared to help prevent the development of new ones.


  Internal uses of flaxseed:Chronic constipation, for colons damaged by abuse of laxatives, irritable colon, diverticulitis, as mucilage for gastritis and enteritis.

  External uses of flaxseed:As cataplasm for local inflammation.

  Actions and Indications of Flaxseed:

 Actions: demulcent, antitussive, gentle bulk laxative, emollient, anodyne, resolvent, relaxing expectorant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, locally drawing, soothing and healing, antitussive, pectoral
 Indications: Respiratory catarrh, bronchitis, furunculosis, pleuritic pains

  Flaxseed Oil Benefits:

  Lower cholesterol, protect against heart disease and control high blood pressure:

 Several studies indicate that flaxseed oil, as well as ground flaxseeds, can lower cholesterol, thereby significantly reducing the risk of heart disease. Taking flaxseed oil may also protect against angina (chest pain) and high blood pressure. In addition, a five-year study done recently at Boston's Simmons College found that flaxseed oil may be useful in preventing a second heart attack. It may also help prevent elevated blood pressure by inhibiting inflammatory reactions that cause artery-hardening plaque and poor circulation.

  Counter inflammation associated with gout, lupus and fibrocystic breasts:

 Omega-3 fatty acids appear to limit the inflammatory reaction associated with these conditions. In cases of lupus, flaxseed oil not only reduces inflammation in the joints, skin and kidneys, but also lowers cholesterol levels that may be elevated by the disease. Taking flaxseed oil for gout may lessen the often sudden and severe joint pain or swelling that is a symptom of this condition. In addition, the ability of omega-3 fatty acids to boost the absorption of iodine--a mineral often found in low levels in women suffering from fibrocystic breasts--makes flaxseed oil potentially valuable for treating this often painful condition.


  Control constipation, haemorrhoids, diverticular disorders and gallstones:

 Because they are high in dietary fibre, ground flaxseeds can help ease the passage of stools and thus relieve constipation, haemorrhoids and diverticular disease. In those with diverticular disease, flaxseeds may also keep intestinal pouches free of waste and thus keep potential infection at bay. Taken for inflammatory bowel disease, flaxseed oil can help to calm inflammation and repair any intestinal tract damage. In addition, the oil may prevent painful gallstones from developing and even dissolve existing stones.

  Treat acne, eczema, psoriasis, sunburn and rosacea:

 The essential fatty acids in flaxseed oil are largely responsible for its skin-healing powers. Red, itchy patches of eczema, psoriasis and rosacea often respond to the EFA's anti-inflammatory actions and overall skin-soothing properties. Sunburned skin may heal faster when treated with the oil as well. In cases of acne, the EFAs encourage thinning of the oily sebum that clogs pores.

  Promote healthy hair and nails:

 The abundant omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed oil have been shown to contribute to healthy hair growth (in fact, low levels of these acids may cause dry and lackluster locks). Hair problems exacerbated by psoriasis or eczema of the scalp may respond to the skin-revitalizing and anti-inflammatory actions of flaxseed oil as well. Similarly, the oil's EFAs work to nourish dry or brittle nails, stopping them from cracking or splitting.

  Minimise nerve damage that causes numbness and tingling as well as other disorders:

 The EFAs in flaxseed oil assist in the transmission of nerve impulses, making the oil potentially valuable in treating conditions of numbness and tingling. The oil's nerve-nourishing actions may also help in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, a degenerative disorder of the nervous system, and protect against the nerve damage associated with diabetes and multiple sclerosis.


  Reduce cancer risk and guard against the effects of ageing:

 The lignans in flaxseed oil appear to play a role in protecting against breast, colon, prostate, and perhaps skin cancer. Although further studies are needed, research undertaken at the University of Toronto indicates that women with breast cancer, regardless of the degree of cancer invasiveness, may benefit from treatment with flaxseed oil. Interestingly, the oil's lignans may protect against various effects of ageing as well.

  Treat menopausal symptoms, menstrual cramps, female infertility and endometriosis:

 Because the hormone-balancing lignans and plant estrogens (phytoestrogens) in flaxseed oil help stabilise a woman's estrogen-progesterone ratio, they can have beneficial effects on the menstrual cycle, and relieve the hot flashes of perimenopause and menopause. Flaxseed oil may also improve uterine function and thus treat fertility problems. In addition, the essential fatty acids in flaxseed oil have been shown to block production of prostaglandins, hormonelike substances that, when released in excess amounts during menstruation, can cause the heavy bleeding associated with endometriosis.

  Fight prostate problems, male infertility and impotence:

 The EFAs in flaxseed oil may help to prevent swelling and inflammation of the prostate, the small gland located below the bladder in males that tends to enlarge with age. Symptoms of such enlargement, such as urgency to urinate, may lessen as a result. The EFAs also play a role in keeping sperm healthy, which may be of value in treating male infertility, and they can improve blood flow to the penis, a boon for those suffering from impotence.


   Nutrition Facts of flaxseed: Why Use Flax Seed

 Chances are you are not getting enough valuable fiber or Omega 3's in your diet. Omega 3 is found in cold water fish, like salmon, although you would need to eat almost 3 pounds of salmon to equal only 50 grams of flaxseed! So unless you are eating salmon every night for dinner you are probably not getting enough Omega 3 in you diet.
 

   Dosage and administration of Flaxseed: How much to take

 Adults and children over 12 years of age: 5 - 10 g seeds (whole or crushed), soaked in water and taken with a glass of liquid up to 3 times daily (effects observed 18 - 24 hours later); treatment should be continued for 2 or 3 days.
 Children 6-12 years of age: half the adult dose.
 Children under 6 years of age: to be treated under medical supervision only.
 Flax is frequently used as an ingredient in baked goods (such as muffins). In this form it will also produce a laxative effect.
 Clinical trials report cardiovascular effects from a variety of doses. Up to 50 g flaxseed (approximately equal to 20 g flaxseed oil) daily is apparently safe and palatable.

  Internal dosage of flaxseed:

 1 tablespoon of whole or "bruised" seed (not ground) with 150 ml of liquid 2 - 3 times daily.
 2 ~ 3 tablespoons of milled flaxseed for the preparation of flaxseed mucilage (gruel).

  External dosage of flaxseed: 30 - 50 g flaxseed flour for a moist-heat cataplasm or compress.


  Side Effects:

 If directions are observed, i.e., especially if the concomitant administration of sufficient amounts of liquid (1:10) is observed, there are no known side effects.
 Interactions with Other Drugs: As with any other mucilage, the absorption of other drugs may be negatively affected.
 Flaxseed oil is also called linseed oil. The industrial types of linseed oil found in hardware stores are not for internal consumption, however. They may contain poisonous additives.

 Do not take if pregant or breast-feeding. Due to lack of information it is advisable to avoid giving flaxseed oil to children under the age of 12.

 Women with hormone-dependent conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or cancers of the breast, ovaries, or uterus and men with prostate cancer should avoid taking flaxseed products without prior consultation with a doctor.
 Flaxseed can block the esophagus or parts of the intestinal tract. Therefore individuals who have had esophageal or intestinal blockages should not use flaxseed.

 Side effects associated with taking flaxseed are gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhea, gas, nausea, and stomach pain. Allergic reactions have been reported by individuals who took flaxseed or flaxseed oil.

 In case studies, flaxseed oil has been reported to increase the time blood needs to clot. When it is taken with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs, the effect of the drug may be increased, resulting in uncontrolled bleeding. Antiplatelets include Plavix and Ticlid. Anticoagulants include aspirin, heparin and warfarin. Avoid taking with Danshen, Devil's Claw, Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Horse Chestnut, Papain, Red Clover or Saw Palmetto.
 If you take flaxseed, do not take other drugs within 2 hours.


  Mode of Administration

  Internal: As seed, as cracked or coarsely ground seed, in which only the cuticle and mucilage epidermis are damaged; as flaxseed mucilage (gruel) and other galenical preparations.

  External: As flaxseed flour or flaxseed expellent.

  Indicated for: Acne, ageing, angina, arthritis and joint inflammation, back pain, bacteria, fungi, and viruses, cancer prevention, cataracts, chronic pain, cold sores, constipation, Crohn's disease, diverticular disorders, eczema, endometriosis, fatigue, gallstones, gout, hair problems, heart disease prevention, haemorrhoids, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and clogged arteries, impotence, infertility (male & female), kidney stones, lupus, menopause, multiple sclerosis, nail problems, osteoporosis, parkinson's disease, perimenopause, prostate problems, psoriasis, rosacea, shingles, skin health, stroke, sunburn.

 

   Traditional Research of flaxseed:

  Pliny writes:

 'What department is there to be found of active life in which flax is not employed? And in what production of the Earth are there greater marvels to us than in this? To think that here is a plant which brings Egypt to close proximity to Italy! - so much so, in fact, that Galerius and Balbillus, both of them prefects of Egypt, made the passage to Alexandria from the Straits of Sicily, the one in six days, the other in five! . . . What audacity in man! What criminal perverseness! Thus to sow a thing in the ground for the purpose of catching the winds and tempests; it being not enough for him, forsooth, to be borne upon the waves alone!'

 'Bartholomew the mediaeval herbalist, refers to the making of linen from the soaking of Flax in water till it is dried and turned in the sun and then bound in 'praty bundels' and afterwards 'knockyd, beten and brayd and carflyd, rodded and gnodded; ribbyd and heklyd, and at the last sponne'; of the bleaching, and finally of its many uses for making clothing, and for sails, and fish-nets, and thread and ropes, and strings ('for bows'), and measuring lines, and sheets ('to reste in'), and 'sackes and bagges, and purses (to put and to kepe thynges in').

 'Of the making of tow 'uneven and full of knobs' used for stuffing into the cracks in ships, and 'for bonds and byndynges and matches for candelles, for it is full drye and taketh sone fyre and brenneth.' 'And so,' he concludes somewhat breathlessly, 'none herbe is so needfull to so many dyurrse uses to mankynde as is the flexe.'


 'Darwin studied several species of Linum, and found that some like the primrose had flowers with two forms of stamens and pistil. His object was to test the relative degrees of fertility of the long and short-styled pistils. L. perenne, for instance, is dimorphic:

 ''Of the flowers on the long-styled plants he found that twelve were fertilized with their own form pollen, but from a different plant. A seed capsule was only set when pollinated from anthers of the same height as the stigmas.'
 'So Darwin concluded:
 ''We have the clearest evidence that the stigmas of each form require for full fertility that pollen from the stamens of a corresponding height, belonging to the opposite form, should be brought to them.' (Forms of Flowers, p. 92.)
 'This plant is visited by bees, who perform the function Darwin describes.
 'The Flax is a graceful little plant with turquoise blue blossoms, a tall, erect annual, 1 to 2 feet high, the stems usually solitary quite smooth, with alternate, linear, sessile leaves, 3/4 to 1 inch long.

 'Many traditions are associated with this useful plant. Flax flowers were believed in the Middle Ages to be a protection against sorcery. The Bohemians have a belief that if seven-year-old children dance among Flax, they will become beautiful, and the whole plant was supposed to be under the protection of the goddess Hulda, who, in Teuton mythology, was held to have first taught mortals the art of growing Flax, of spinning, and of weaving it.
 


   Modern Reasearch of Flaxseed:

  1. Flaxseed improves lipid profile without altering biomarkers of bone metabolism in postmenopausal women.

 The risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis drastically increases at the onset of menopause. Phytoestrogens have been suggested to inhibit bone loss and protect the cardiovascular system, in part by improving lipid profiles.

 The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of flaxseed, a rich source of the phytoestrogens called lignans, on lipid metabolism and biomarkers of bone turnover in postmenopausal women.

 Postmenopausal women who were not on hormone replacement therapy were assigned to one of two treatment groups in a double-blind randomized study. Women were asked to consume 40 g of either ground flaxseed or wheat-based comparative control regimen daily for 3 months. In addition, all subjects received 1,000 mg calcium and 400 IU vitamin D daily.

 Flaxseed supplementation lowered (P < 0.05) both serum total cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 6%, whereas the comparative control regimen had no such effect.

 Flaxseed regimen reduced serum levels of both low-density- and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol by 4.7% and triglyceride by 12.8%, albeit not statistically significant. Serum apolipoprotein A-1 and apolipoprotein B concentrations were significantly (P < 0.005) reduced by 6 and 7.5%, respectively, by the flaxseed regimen.

 Markers of bone formation and resorption were not affected by either of the treatments.

 The findings of this study indicate that flaxseed supplementation improves lipid profiles but has no effect on biomarkers of bone metabolism in postmenopausal women.


  2.Dietary fibre: more than a matter of dietetics. II. Application in prevention and therapy]

 A nutrition rich in fibre has a preventive effect against constipation, colon diverticulosis, carcinoma of the large bowel and stomach, type 2-diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. In case of constipation, diverticulosis and diabetes this effect solely depends on dietary fibre. Regarding carcinomas and cardiovascular diseases, so far unknown factors integrated in or associated with fibre-rich food may also contribute to the preventive effect. Therapy with dietary fibre is indicated for constipation, colon diverticulosis, diarrhea, diabetes, and hypercholesterinemia. The individual dietary fibres differ substance-specifically. Food-integrated dietary fibre such as whole-grain bread, vegetables and fruit have their place in prevention. Dietary fibre preparations such as wheat bran, flax seed or sugar-beet fibre are useful in the treatment of constipation, colon diverticulosis and adiposity. Oat bran is preferentially used in hypercholesterinemia. Purified dietary fibres such as cellulose, guar, psyllium, and beta-glucan have an anti-diabetic, all viscous fibres an anti-lipaemic effect. The therapeutic dosages of dietary fibre preparations are 20-40 g/day and of purified fibres substances 10-20 g/day respectively.


  3.The effect of flax seed cultivars with differing content of alpha-linolenic acid and lignans on responses to mental stress.

 Phytoestrogens offer a possible alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Flax seed contains large quantities of a phytoestrogen precursor, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), as well as large quantities of alpha-linolenic acid; these factors may be protective against vascular disease. We have previously shown that the rise in blood pressure during mental stress is a strong predictor of atherosclerosis progression.

 Methods: 35 postmenopausal women with vascular disease, 62 +/- 8 years of age, were treated in a random-sequence double-blind Latin square crossover study comparing three strains of flax seed: Flanders (low in lignan and high in alpha-linolenic acid), Linola 989 (high in lignan and low in alpha-linolenic acid) and AC Linora (intermediate in both lignan and alpha-linolenic acid). RESULTS: Compared to the pre-treatment baseline diet, all three strains of flax significantly reduced blood pressure during mental stress induced by a frustrating cognitive task (Stroop color-word interference task) (p = 0.004). Linola 989, the strain highest in lignan and lowest in alpha-linolenic acid, was associated with the least increase in peripheral resistance during stress, the greatest reduction in plasma cortisol during stress and the smallest increase in plasma fibrinogen during mental stress.

 Conclusion: Flax phytoestrogens ameliorate certain responses to stress and thus may afford protection against atherosclerosis; this hypothesis should be tested in clinical trials.


  4.Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet.

 It has been estimated that 30-40 percent of all cancers can be prevented by lifestyle and dietary measures alone. Obesity, nutrient sparse foods such as concentrated sugars and refined flour products that contribute to impaired glucose metabolism (which leads to diabetes), low fiber intake, consumption of red meat, and imbalance of omega 3 and omega 6 fats all contribute to excess cancer risk. Intake of flax seed, especially its lignan fraction, and abundant portions of fruits and vegetables will lower cancer risk. Allium and cruciferous vegetables are especially beneficial, with broccoli sprouts being the densest source of sulforophane.

 Protective elements in a cancer prevention diet include selenium, folic acid, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, chlorophyll, and antioxidants such as the carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin). Ascorbic acid has limited benefits orally, but could be very beneficial intravenously. Supplementary use of oral digestive enzymes and probiotics also has merit as anticancer dietary measures. When a diet is compiled according to the guidelines here it is likely that there would be at least a 60-70 percent decrease in breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers, and even a 40-50 percent decrease in lung cancer, along with similar reductions in cancers at other sites. Such a diet would be conducive to preventing cancer and would favor recovery from cancer as well.


  5.Dietary flax seed in prevention of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis.

 Oxygen free radicals (OFRs) have been implicated in the development of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis.

 Flax seed is the richest source of omega-3 fatty acid and lignans. omega-3 Fatty acid suppresses the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and of OFRs by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) and monocytes. Lignans possess anti-platelet activating factor (PAF) activity and are antioxidant. PAF, IL-1, TNF and LTB4 are known to stimulate PMNLs to produce OFRs.
 Flaxseed would, therefore, reduce the levels of OFRs and hence would prevent the development of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis. The effects of dietary flax seed on a high cholesterol diet induced atherosclerosis, lipid profile and OFR-producing activity of PMNLs (PMNL-CL) were investigated in rabbits.

 The rabbits were divided into 4 groups: group I, control; group II, flax seed diet (7.5 g/kg daily, orally); group III, 1% cholesterol diet; and group IV, same as group III but received flax seed (7.5 g/kg daily, orally). Blood samples were collected before and after 4 and 8 weeks on their respective diets for biochemical measurements and aortae were removed at the end of 8 weeks for estimation of atherosclerotic changes.

 The high cholesterol diet increased the serum level of total cholesterol (TC) and PMNL-CL without altering the levels of serum triglycerides (TG). These changes were associated with a marked development of atherosclerosis in the aorta. Flax seed reduced the development of aortic atherosclerosis by 46% and reduced the PMNL-CL without significantly lowering the serum cholesterol. Flax seed in normocholesterolemic rabbits increased serum total cholesterol and decreased PMNL-CL without significantly affecting the serum TG. Modest dietary flax seed supplementation is effective in reducing hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis markedly without lowering serum cholesterol. Its effectiveness against hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis could be due to suppression of enhanced production of OFRs by PMNLs in hypercholesterolemia.

 Dietary flax seed supplementation could, therefore, prevent hypercholesterolemia-related heart attack and strokes.


  6.Medicinal virtues:

 The seed is emollient, digesting and ripening, and is frequently put into fomentations and cataplasms for use against inflammations and tumours. Cold-drawn linseed oil is of great service in all diseases of the chest and lungs, such as pleurisies, peripneumonia, coughs, asthrna and consumption. It likewise helps the colic and stone, both taken at the mouth and given in elysters. The oil, by expression, is the only officinal preparation.

  7.Modern uses:

 An important article in modern botanic practice. Its use goes back to earliest times. Flax seeds were found in Egyptian tombs. The seeds are soothing and laxative, because of the oil and rnucilage that they contain. In bronchitis a poultice is made from the powdered seeds, to which a little mustard can be added. For boils powdered Lobelia seed is added instead.

 The infusion of the seeds- i Oz (28 9) to I Pt (568 ml) of boiling water is taken in doses of 2 fl oz (56 ml) for inflammatory bowel disease, such as colitis, and urinary tract inflammation, such as cystitis. Linseed oil can be applied to burns and scalds. It is a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids.

 

  8.The Facts on Flax: A New Addition to Good Health:

 Because of its link to good health, flaxseed is fast becoming a new food in many diets. Bakers and commercial food companies use flaxseed as a unique ingredient in everything from yeast breads, to bagels and cookie mixes. Not only do muffins and breads baked with flax taste great, but studies also find that these foods provide health benefits. Flaxseed adds a pleasant flavor to many basic foods, but its unique blend of goodness also packs a strong nutritious punch.

 Flaxseed is rich in dietary fiber and alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega-3 fat which may protect against heart disease and cancer. Flaxseed also provides a plentiful supply of lignans - cancer blocking components, which animal studies show reduce the formation of tumors. Recent scientific reports point out that flaxseed can have a positive influence on everything from blood cholesterol levels to laxation, from cancer to diseases of the heart, and immune systems such as arthritis and lupus.

 Part of the reason fats and oils have earned such a bad reputation in recent years is because people eat too much fat, particularly too much saturated fat. Saturated fats raise blood cholesterol levels and increase the risk for heart disease.

 Although about 42% of flaxseed is oil, very little of that fat is saturated. More than 70% of the fat in flaxseed is of the healthy polyunsaturated type. In fact, a unique feature of the polyunsaturated fats in flaxseed is the high ratio of alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fat) to linoleic (an omega-6 fat). Nutritionists consider alpha-linolenic and linoleic fatty acids as essential because the body cannot manufacture them from any other substance. That means you must eat them as part of your diet.

 Another positive aspect of flaxseed is that it contains both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber rather than large amounts of one type of fiber. Studies show that the soluble fiber in flaxseed can lower your blood cholesterol levels while the insoluble fiber, like that in wheat bran, is helpful for regulating bowel movements and preventing constipation.

 Flaxseed is also one of the richest sources of lignans in the plant kingdom, providing up to 800 times more plant lignans than most other food found in vegetarian diets. Lignans are phytoestrogens - compounds which have been shown in laboratory animals to help protect against certain kinds of cancers, particularly cancers of the breast and colon. Research with animals suggests flaxseed, with its high lignan content, may be capable of blocking the action of certain substances that can contribute to the formation of tumors. Long-term studies of the effects of flaxseed in women with breast cancer are now underway.

 Lignans and alpha-linolenic acid found in flaxseed help regulate the immune system. Because these components help prevent the formation of compounds that cause inflammation, flaxseed may be useful in the nutritional management of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and lupus in which the immune system becomes overstimulated.

 Add flaxseed to your baked goods for a pleasant nutty taste. Flaxseed not only adds flavor, but also extra texture and good nutrition to your breads and other home-baked goodies. You can also use flaxseed as a substitute for some or all of the oil or shortening called for in a recipe. Cooks recommend a 3 to 1 substitution ratio. For example, 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed added to a recipe can replace 1 tablespoon of the butter, margarine or cooking oil. When flaxseed is used instead of oil, baked goods tend to brown more rapidly. Flaxseed mixed with water can also replace an egg in selected recipes like pancakes, muffins and cookies. Each egg in the recipe would be equivalent to 1 tablespoons of ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons of water. Test a recipe first to determine if it meets your expectations.


  Scientific References:

  1.What is Flaxseed?Natural source of ALA,Omega-3 EFAs,lignans,benefits and utility uses...