The fiber in flaxseed is found primarily in the seed coat. When you buy flaxseed oil you don’t get the fiber or the lignans. The main qualities of flaxseed: fiber, lignans and ALA produce flaxseed benefits and side effects.

Each tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains about 1.8 grams of plant omega-3s, ALA (different from animal omega 3 fats, EPA and DHA, the bio-available omega 3 your body needs in order to be assimilated into your cells).

Lignans, which are plant estrogen and have antioxidant qualities. Flaxseed contains 75- 800 times more lignans than other plant foods.

Fiber. Flaxseed contains both the soluble and insoluble types.

Flax Seed Side Effects - Flax Seed Benefits

The number of scientific studies about flax seed is not big and some of the benefits claimed here are assumed because of its omega 3 fats content. The only problem with that is that these benefits of omega 3 can only be applied when the omega 3 fats are supplied in the EPA and DHA chemical form, not when it is in the ALA form, like in the flaxseed case. Read more about this important point below.

People buy flaxseed for conditions like:

• Gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including constipation.
• Colon damage due to laxatives, diarrhea, inflammation of the lining of the large intestine (diverticulitis), irritable colon.
• Inflammation of the lining of the stomach (gastritis), and inflammation of the small intestine (enteritis).
• High cholesterol.
• “Hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis).
• High blood pressure(hypertension).
• Coronary artery disease.
• Acne.
• Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Kidney problems in people with a disease called systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Symptoms of menopause.
• Breast pain.
• Diabetes.
• Obesity and weight loss.
• HIV/AIDS.
• Depression
• Bladder infections.
• Malaria.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Some people use flaxseed to lower their risk of getting weak bones (osteoporosis) and to protect against breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer.
• Flaxseed is sometimes applied to the skin for acne, burns, boils, eczema, psoriasis, and to soothe inflammation.

Flax Seed Side Effects and Warnings

• Increase the risk of cell damage from oxidative stress. Studies report conflicting results in this area.
• Flaxseed or flaxseed oil taken by mouth may cause mania or hypomania in people with bipolar disorder.
• The laxative effects of flaxseed (not flaxseed oil) may cause diarrhea, increased number of bowel movements, and abdominal discomfort. Laxative effects are reported in several studies of people taking flaxseed or omega-3 acids.
• Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are reported in two individuals shortly after taking flaxseed products by mouth; these reactions may have been caused by allergy.
• Large amounts of flaxseed (not flaxseed oil) may cause obstruction of the intestines, especially when is taken with too little fluid. If you have narrowing of the esophagus or intestine, ileus, or bowel obstruction should avoid flaxseed (not flaxseed oil).
• People with diabetes should not take flaxseed as the omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed and flaxseed oil may increase blood sugar levels.
• Menstrual period may be altered in women who take flaxseed powder daily. Due to the possible estrogen-like effects of flaxseed ( not flaxseed oil
• Patients with hypothyroidism may have their thyroid affected by flaxseed.,
• Increased risk of prostate cancer in men taking alpha-linolenic acid (which is present in flaxseed). There is contradictory information on this area.
• Flax seeds may affect your estrogen balance which is not recommended for women in pregnancy, post menopause or men of all ages.

Flax Seed Side Effects - The Real Source Of All This Confusion

These days flaxseed is found in all kinds of foods, from all types of crackers to frozen waffles to oatmeal. Every day, there are many products launched by the food industry that contain flaxseed. Not only has consumer demand for flaxseed gone up, agricultural use has also increased -- to feed all those chickens laying eggs that are higher in omega-3 fatty acids. You wonder why, millions of dollars involved.

Big industrial interest affects the results of some of these studies regarding flaxseed. They are trying to add some ”healthy” ingredient to most unhealthy processed foods in order to sell them with the label “omega 3”. But the truth is, it not accentually an ”active”omega 3, it is just a gimmick to sell or to add “value” to a product.

They need products like this, with the “healthy tag”, in order to make money out of something that can stand long periods in inventory without damaging the products it have been added to. This is flaxseed, cheap and “healthy”.

Similar confusing information has been pumped on the public about products like soy as a health product, but the reality is quite different, Read more at Soy Side Effects

Flax Seed Side Effects - The Reality Of Flax Seed – Bad Source of Omega 3 Fats

This conversion is very poor, only 5 -15%, and as you get older you lose the possibility of making any EPA and DHA out of ALA. Read more at Fish oil Supplements, Fish, or Flaxseeds?

To get the same amount of omega-3 from eating 3 ounces of salmon, for example, you'd have to drink gallons of flaxseed oil.

The other problem is if you buy it as milled flax seed. Once the flax seed is milled it only takes a short time for the omega 3 in the bag to get oxidized (rancid), so you end up adding a lot of oxidation to your body. Bad for everything.

If you have a mill and do it yourself just before ingesting it, you have the low conversion problem mentioned above. An exercise in futility at the best

Flax Seed Side Effects - Final Words On Flaxseeds

Although omega-3 fats have been linked with improved cardiovascular function, the evidence from human trials is confusing regarding the efficacy of flaxseed products for coronary artery disease, high cholesterol, high triglycerides or any other benefits related to fish oil omega 3.

The lignan part of flaxseed (not flaxseed oil) has in vitro anti-oxidant and possible estrogen receptor agonist/antagonist properties, producing theories of efficacy for the treatment of breast and some other cancer. However, there is not sufficient evidence to make a recommendation.

In large doses, or when taken with inadequate water, flaxseed may precipitate bowel obstruction via a mass effect. The effects of flaxseed on blood glucose levels are not clear, although hyperglycemic effects have been reported in one case series.

Don’t forget your daily omega 3 for your entire family. You can find omega 3 in Cod Liver Oil, Krill Oil and Fish Oil,molecularly distilled, free of impurities sent anywhere in the world at low reasonable price, Omega 3 Store

Related Pages:

• Omega 3 Supplements vs Fish vs Flaxseeds
  
• Flaxseeds: Confused About Fish OIl Or Flax Seed
  
• Flaxseed Oil Capsules vs Omega 3 6
  
• Foods High In Omega 3: How to Add Fish Oil to Food
  
• Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements: When Do you Need Them?