A Spoonful of Flax

by WiredBerries Editors — July 21, 2008

You've heard about it from nutrition and health mags, but perhaps you haven't really considered adding flax to your diet. You should! What is flax? Flax is a blue-flowered plant that grows in the cool, northern climates of the western Canadian prairies and northern U.S. It is an ideal, functional food ingredient. It is added to many products on today's grocery shelves because of the omega-3 fats, lignans, and fiber found in the seed, which all help deliver an extra health boost to food's original nutrient content. Flax also adds a mild, nutty flavor and provides a powerful health punch to your favorite foods. Its primary health benefits include:

• Flax's healthy fatty acid profile is one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids, ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), a polyunsaturated fat that offers unique heart health benefits including lowering cholesterol level
• Flax is one the best plant sources of lignans, natural antioxidants that helps prevent cancer and may reduce the activity of cell-damaging free radicals that slow the aging process
• Flax is an excellent source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, providing three grams of fiber per tablespoon; the fiber in flax is good for heart, colon, and digestive health, and can ease the effects of type-2 diabetes.

Tune in this week for easy ways to add flax to your regular diet!