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Just a seed, but so many benefits. If flaxseed is not part of your diet, you miss whether you have diabetes or not. For diabetics, there is an amazing link between flaxseed and diabetes for those looking for a natural cure (type 2 diabetes) or a way to naturally manage blood sugar levels.
The many health benefits of flaxseed
Before cotton became available, flax (Linum Society also known as flaxseed, it has a fibrous stem that has been woven into fabric and is still used that way today, despite the spread of cotton, but the oil produced from flaxseed has been used as medicine for thousands of years. . It was only about a thousand years ago that people began eating flaxseed for health and well-being. The health benefits of flaxseed include, but are not limited to;
1. Cancer
Flaxseed contains the most lignans compared to other plants. The amount of lignans in flaxseed is about 7 times more than in its closest competitor (sesame seeds) and 3200 more than peanuts.
Lignans contain many powerful antioxidants that are crucial in preventing the harmful effects of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that, in order to stabilize or “cure”, “steal” particles from healthy cells, but this ultimately only creates more free radicals. The effects of free radicals on the body are thought to increase the risk of developing various chronic diseases and conditions, including cancer.
Lignans are especially useful for reducing the risk of breast cancer. Estrogen, which is the female hormone, can stimulate the growth of cancer, but lignans, in addition to antioxidant benefits, also contain phyto (plant) estrogens, which mimic the action of estrogen produced by the body, but are less powerful.
These chemically weaker phytoestrogens bind to estrogen receptors in the body and this helps to stop the effects on the body of much stronger estrogen produced by the body, which allows excessive amounts of this much stronger estrogen to be eliminated from the body. which helps reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Studies show that women who consume lignans reduce their risk of developing breast cancer by about 62 percent compared to women who do not consume lignans.
Lignans are also useful in combating them prostate cancer as shown in various studies.
Other anti-cancer 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 well-being and reduce the risk of developing various diseases, including cancer. The anti-inflammatory properties of flaxseed also help prevent cancer and many other chronic diseases.
2. Heart attack
Lignans not only provide antioxidant benefits, but as mentioned above, are also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, of which alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is the main type and ALA is able to reduce the risk of fatal heart attack. .
3. Cholesterol
Flaxseed is also able to lower cholesterol levels with low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is dangerous and can lead to heart disease. Flaxseed is rich in a type of soluble fiber that is good for the body, known as mucus. This mucus is associated with the properties of flaxseed to lower cholesterol.
4. Kidney disease
Studies have shown that lignans and omega-3 fatty acids contained in flaxseed are able to reverse kidney damage caused by lupus, which is an autoimmune disease.
5. Hot flashes
The lignans or phytoestrogens contained in flaxseed can be useful for women who are dealing with various menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes. Estrogen levels in menopausal women usually begin to decline, and instead of undergoing hormone therapy, phytoestrogens are a natural alternative, as they can be used to replace some of the estrogen that is no longer produced by the body. as estrogen can help reduce the severity of hot flashes and phytoestrogens can help with this.
Flaxseed and diabetes
Plenty of soluble fiber
The link between flaxseed and diabetes is related to the mucus that was discussed earlier, which is the soluble fiber that is available in high amounts in flaxseed. Various studies have shown that these soluble fibers can lower blood sugar levels, which is important not only for the management of diabetes, but also for its natural treatment.
Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce any or all of the insulin insulin or the insulin produced becomes ineffective and / or ineffective (insulin resistance), leading to an accumulation of glucose or sugar in the blood. Insulin is thought to remove this glucose from the blood and transfer it to various cells in the body, where it is used as fuel or energy for daily activities.
When insulin is unable to perform its duties, this accumulation of glucose in the blood can increase the risk of developing diabetes or lead to complications related to diabetes (heart and kidney disease, limb amputations, diabetic coma, etc.). .
One aspect of the natural management of diabetes is by following a personalized diabetic diet to control the amount of glucose deposited in the blood.
Here’s what’s so amazing about flaxseed and why it’s so important in the natural treatment of diabetes. The soluble fiber in flaxseed helps slow digestion, which means that the digestion of carbohydrates and sugars in the food we eat and their conversion into glucose to be deposited in the bloodstream will slow down, which helps prevent spikes. of blood sugar. This shows the importance of flaxseed for the natural treatment of diabetes.
If you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, one way to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes is to increase your intake of these soluble fiber.
Weight loss
Another link 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 (roughage). Both types of fiber are important for weight loss because they help you feel fuller faster and keep you hungry for longer, which can help you eat less and help you achieve your goals. for weight loss. Overweight diabetics who are trying to lose weight should always increase their fiber intake for the reasons discussed, and flaxseed can help.
It is also important to remember that many people with type 2 diabetes also suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, etc., and as discussed earlier, flaxseed can also help with these various health problems.
The link between flaxseed and diabetes shown above makes this amazing seed a crucial and important part of any diabetic diet.
Getting the most out of it
1. Flaxseed oil and diabetes
Flaxseed oil is made from seeds and many people miss the seeds and reach for the oil, but you may want to think again. You may want to consider switching to butter, firstly because you will not get all the important fiber and secondly because although butter may contain some health properties, most lignans, proteins and minerals are found in actual seeds and not in butter. . Since you need fiber as a diabetic, pass on the oil and reach for the seeds instead.
Flaxseed oil is also perishable and should be stored in the refrigerator after opening.
2. Must be processed
Flaxseed is available in two varieties, ie. brown flax and golden flax (also known as yellow flax), which usually have similar nutritional compositions.
While some people like to sprinkle whole flax seeds on salads or freshly baked bread, the body cannot process whole flax seeds. They will simply pass through the body undigested, which means that you will not get the full benefits of flaxseed, including soluble fiber.
Flaxseed needs to be processed, but ground flaxseed rots very quickly, so store it in the refrigerator, but don’t use it after 30 days or more. Although you can easily find ground flaxseed in grocery stores, it is not as fresh as freshly ground flaxseed, so consider a cheap spice grinder or coffee or other seed grinder so you can grind it. two tablespoons or more whole flaxseed and have it fresh to use every day to add to smoothies, oatmeal sprinkled on hot or cold cereals, sprinkled on salads and more.
As long as ground flaxseed does not last more than 30 days or more when stored in a refrigerator, whole flaxseed can last 6 to 12 months or 1 to 2 years if stored in a refrigerator.
Precautions
Flaxseed is generally safe, but contains a small amount of cyanide, which is not enough to harm an adult, but can harm a fetus or baby, so avoid flaxseed if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and do not give it to children. under two years.
The small amount of cyanide in flaxseed should not be harmful to most people if you consume only the recommended daily amount, which is 2 to 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed. It is also important to remember that there are usually very small amounts of cyanide that are constantly present in human tissue that are constantly 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 about 5 to 6 milligrams of cyanide, but for cyanide to be dangerous to the human body, it must be in quantities 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 first start eating flaxseed. If so, start with small amounts and gradually increase.
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Source by Terry Robbins