Linseed, often known as flaxseed, maybe a healthy addition to your diet. They may be consumed whole or used to create items like flour, salad dressing, extracts, and oil. Since the time of Hippocrates, it has been marketed as a healthy and occasionally therapeutic food.
Let us have a look at the nutritional facts of flax seeds:
Nutritional facts
The USDA provides the following nutritional data for 1 tablespoon (10g) of whole flax.
55 calories
Fat: 4.3g
Salt: 3.1 mg
3g of carbohydrates
2.8g of fibre
0.2g of sugars
1.9g of protein
- Carbs
Flax has two different kinds of carbohydrates. Fibre makes up the majority of its carbohydrates (almost 3 grams). In addition to improving digestive health, fibre also lowers blood cholesterol and increases satiety or the sensation of being full after eating.
Sugar makes up the remaining carbohydrates in it, however, it only makes up a very minor portion of the total naturally occurring sugar.
It is thought to have a glycemic load of zero. Glycemic load estimates a meal or beverage’s effect on your blood sugar by taking into consideration the serving size. When picking meals based on their impacts, is thought to be more beneficial than only utilizing the glycemic index.
- Fat
A tablespoon of intact seeds has little more than 4 grams of fat, whereas a tablespoon of ground seeds contains somewhat less. The majority of the fat in it is polyunsaturated fat, which is regarded as a “healthy” fat. When less healthy lipids (like saturated fat) are replaced in your diet with polyunsaturated fat, your heart health may improve.
- Protein
Although not significantly, including it in a salad or smoothie can assist you in increasing your protein consumption. 2 grams of protein per tablespoon of flaxseed is around 4% of your daily need (if you consume a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet).
- Minerals and vitamins
Important micronutrients are present in flaxseed. The nutritional boost you receive from eating the seeds will, however, only make a minor hole in your daily vitamin and mineral requirements because the serving size is often minimal.
- Calories
A serving of these seeds (1 tablespoon) has around 55 calories.
Health Advantages
Flax seed organic is full of nutrients, particularly soluble and insoluble fibre. It is a high source of alpha-linolenic acid, often known as ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid. The same beneficial compounds present in fish oils are converted from ALA by the body into DHA and EPA. But lignans, plant substances that provide multiple health advantages, could be the true flax seed superstar. The #1 dietary source of lignans is flax seed, which has seven times as much as the #2 food, sesame seeds.
Many diseases are said to be helped by or even cured by these seeds and their oil. Additionally, a lot of individuals think of buying flax seeds-based products which might lower their chance of contracting certain ailments. These claims have some scientific backing, but these seeds are not a panacea for all ailments.
1. Strengthens Heart Health
According to research, it may aid the heart in at least two ways: it lowers blood pressure and, at least in animal studies, it may inhibit the development of atherosclerosis.
2. Helps to prevent certain cancers
Studies on both humans and animals suggest that eating flax may lower your chance of developing breast cancer and dying from it. Studies on it concerning malignancies of the prostate, lung, colon, ovary, and liver have also been encouraging.
3. Could Facilitate Better Blood Sugar Control
Some (limited) data suggests it should be a part of your diet if you’re attempting to control your type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.
4. Gut Wellness
According to research, it may be useful in the management of constipation. It has a lot of fibre, which may help with digestion.
Constipation is avoided by the insoluble fibre in flax seed, which gives stool volume. Additionally, studies have demonstrated that diets high in fibre hasten the passage of food waste through the colon. Some toxins may be reabsorbed into the body if waste remains in the colon for an extended period. Colon cancer and diverticulitis are two illnesses brought on by the slow passage of food through the gut.
5. Could Help With Weight Loss
Due to its impact on satiety, adding whole flax seeds organic to your diet may aid in weight control and weight loss, according to earlier research.