A simple seed, but so many benefits. If flax is not part of your diet, you are missing out whether you have diabetes or not. For diabetics, there is an amazing connection between flaxseed and diabetes for those looking for a natural cure (type 2 diabetes) or a way to control blood sugar levels naturally.
The many health benefits of flaxseed
Before cotton became affordable, linen (Linum usitatissimum) Also known as linseed, it has a fibrous stem that was woven into cloth and is still used in this way today despite the prevalence of cotton, but the oil that was produced from linseed has been used medicinally for thousands of years. years. It wasn’t until about a thousand years ago that people started eating flaxseed for their health and well-being. The health benefits of flaxseed include but are not limited to;
1. Cancer
Flaxseed contains the highest amount of lignans compared to other plants. The amount of lignans in flax is about 7 times higher than its closest competitor (sesame seeds) and up to 3,200 more than peanuts.
Lignans contain very powerful antioxidants that are crucial in preventing the damaging effects of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that, to stabilize or “heal” themselves, “steal” particles from healthy cells, but this only ends up creating more free radicals. The effects of free radicals in the body are believed to increase the risk of developing various diseases and chronic conditions, including cancer.
Lignans are particularly beneficial in reducing the risk of breast cancer. Estrogen, which is the female hormone, can stimulate cancer growth, but lignans, in addition to antioxidant benefits, also contain (plant) phytoestrogens, which mimic the action of estrogen produced by the body but are less potent.
These chemically weaker phytoestrogens bind to estrogen receptors in the body and this helps stop the effects in the body of the much stronger estrogen produced by the body which allows excessive amounts of this much stronger estrogen to be removed from the body, which helps reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Studies have shown that women who consumed lignans reduced their risk of developing breast cancer by approximately 62 percent compared to women who did not consume lignans.
Lignans are also beneficial to combat prostate cancer as shown in various research studies.
Other cancer-fighting properties of flaxseed come from polyunsaturated fats, including omega-3 fatty acids and the fiber it contains. These compounds, in addition to lignans, help promote health and wellness and reduce the risk of developing various diseases, including cancer. Flaxseed’s anti-inflammatory properties also help protect against cancer and many other chronic diseases.
2. Heart attack
Lignans not only provide antioxidant benefits, but, as mentioned above, they are also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, of which alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is the main type and ALA can reduce risk. of having a fatal heart attack.
3. Cholesterol
Flaxseed can also lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is dangerous and can lead to heart disease. Flaxseed is rich in a type of soluble fiber beneficial to the body that is known as mucilage. This mucilage is related to the cholesterol-lowering properties of flaxseed.
4. Kidney disease
Research has shown that the lignans and omega-3 fatty acids contained in flaxseed can reverse the damage to the kidneys caused by lupus, which is an autoimmune disease.
5. Hot flashes
The lignans or phytoestrogens contained in flaxseed can be beneficial for women facing the various symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes. The estrogen levels of women going through menopause generally begin to decline, and instead of undergoing hormone therapy, phytoestrogens are a natural alternative, as they can be used to replace some of this estrogen that is no longer produced by it. body because estrogen can help reduce the severity of hot flashes and phytoestrogens can help with this.
Flaxseed and diabetes
Soluble fiber in abundance
The connection between flaxseed and diabetes is related to the mucilage that was discussed earlier, which is soluble fiber that is available in large quantities in flaxseed. Several studies have shown that this soluble fiber can lower blood sugar levels, which is important not only for managing diabetes, but also for curing it naturally.
Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough of the hormone insulin or the insulin produced becomes ineffective and / or ineffective (insulin resistance), leading to the accumulation of glucose or sugar in the blood. Insulin is supposed to remove this glucose from the blood and transfer it to the various cells of the body where it is used as fuel or energy for daily activities.
When insulin cannot perform its functions, this accumulation of glucose in the blood can increase the risk of developing diabetes or lead to diabetes-related complications (heart and kidney disease, limb amputations, diabetic coma, etc.).
One aspect of managing diabetes naturally is following a personalized diabetic diet to help control the amount of glucose deposited in the blood.
This is the amazing thing about flaxseed and why it is so important for the natural treatment of diabetes. The soluble fiber in flaxseed helps to slow down digestion, which means that the digestion of carbohydrates and sugars in the food we eat and the conversion of this to glucose for deposit in the bloodstream will slow down, which helps prevent spikes. blood sugar. This shows the importance of flaxseed for the natural treatment of diabetes.
If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, one of the ways to prevent type 2 diabetes is to increase your intake of this soluble fiber.
Weightloss
Another connection between flaxseed and diabetes is weight loss. Many people with diabetes, especially those with type 2 diabetes, are overweight. Controlling your weight is an important aspect of natural diabetes treatment and this is another area where flaxseed can help.
In addition to soluble fiber, flaxseed also contains insoluble fiber (fiber). Both types of fiber are important for weight loss because they help you feel fuller faster and keep hunger pangs at bay for longer, which can help you eat less and help you reach your weight loss goals. Overweight diabetics trying to lose weight should always increase their fiber intake for the reasons discussed and flaxseed can help with this.
It is also important to remember that many people with type 2 diabetes also suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, heart disease, etc. And, as mentioned above, flaxseed can also help with these various health problems.
The connection shown above between flaxseed and diabetes makes this amazing seed a crucial and important part of any diabetic diet.
Making the most of
1. Flaxseed oil and diabetes
Flaxseed oil is produced from the seeds and many people skip the seeds and search for the oil, but you may want to think again. You may want to consider going through the oil first because you won’t get the most important fiber, and second, because while the oil may contain some health properties, most of the lignans, proteins, and minerals are found in the real seeds and not in the oil. Since you need fiber as a diabetic, skip the oil and look for the seeds instead.
Flaxseed oil is also easily perishable and should be stored in the refrigerator once opened.
2. Must be processed
Flax is available in two varieties, namely brown flax and golden flax (also known as yellow flax) which generally have similar nutritional compositions.
While some people love sprinkling whole flax seeds on salads or freshly baked bread, the body cannot process whole flax seeds. They will just pass through the body undigested, which means you won’t get all the benefits of flaxseed, including soluble fiber.
Flaxseed needs to be processed, but ground flaxseed goes rancid very quickly, so store it in the refrigerator, but don’t use it after about 30 days. While you can find ground flaxseeds easily in grocery stores, it is not as fresh as freshly ground flax seeds, so think about buying a cheap coffee or spice grinder or other seed grinding tool so you can grind two. tablespoons or more of whole flaxseed and have it. fresh to use every day to add to smoothies, oatmeal, sprinkle on hot or cold cereal, sprinkle on salads, etc.
While ground flaxseed (flaxseed meal) lasts no more than 30 days when stored in the refrigerator, whole flaxseed can last 6 to 12 months or 1 to 2 years if stored in the refrigerator.
Safety precautions
Flaxseed is generally safe, but it contains a small amount of cyanide which is not enough to harm an adult, but could harm an unborn child or baby, so avoid flaxseed if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and do not give it to younger children. two years. .
The minimal amount of cyanide in flaxseed shouldn’t be harmful to most people if you only eat the recommended daily allowance, which is 2 to 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed. It is also important to remember that there are generally very small amounts of cyanide that are constantly present in human tissue and are constantly being metabolized, so the cyanide in flaxseed should not be a cause for concern. Other plants, such as cruciferous vegetables, also contain small amounts of cyanide.
One tablespoon of flaxseed contains around 5 to 6 milligrams of cyanide, but for cyanide to be dangerous to the human body, it would have to be in amounts of at least 1,000 milligrams.
Other precautions with flaxseed are related to allergic reactions. Some people may be allergic to flaxseed and if so, stop using it or reduce the dose.
Some people may also experience bloating and flatulence when they start consuming flax seeds. If so, start with small amounts and gradually increase.
