Ground Flax Seeds In Your Green Smoothies! A Very Good Thing To Do!

What are the functions of omega 3 fatty acids?

Every cell in our body is surrounded by a cell membrane composed mainly of fatty acids. The cell membrane allows the proper amounts of necessary nutrients to enter the cell, and ensures that waste products are quickly removed from the cell.

Promoting Healthy Cell Membranes

To perform these functions optimally, however, the cell membrane must maintain its integrity and fluidity. Cells without a healthy membrane lose their ability to hold water and vital nutrients. They also lose their ability to communicate with other cells. Researchers believe that loss of cell to cell communication is one of the physiological events that leads to growth of cancerous tumors.

What can high-omega-3 foods do for you?

Reduce inflammation throughout your body
Keep your blood from clotting excessively
Maintain the fluidity of your cell membranes
lower the amount of lipids (fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides) circulating in the bloodstream
decrease platelet aggregation, preventing excessive blood clotting
inhibit thickening of the arteries by decreasing endothelial cells' production of a platelet-derived growth factor (the lining of the arteries is composed of endothelial cells)
increase the activity of another chemical derived from endothelial cells (endothelium-derived nitric oxide), which causes arteries to relax and dilate
reduce the production of messenger chemicals called cytokines, which are involved in the inflammatory response associated with atherosclerosis
reduce the risk of becoming obese and improve the body's ability to respond to insulin by stimulating the secretion of leptin, a hormone that helps regulate food intake, body weight and metabolism, and is expressed primarily by adipocytes (fat cells)
help prevent cancer cell growth

Flax Seeds are an excellent source of Omega 3

Flaxseed Reduces Hot Flashes Almost 60%

Researchers recruited 29 postmenopausal women who had suffered from at least 14 hot flushes each week for at least one month, but would not take estrogen because of a perceived increased risk of breast cancer. After taking 40 grams (1.4 ounces) of crushed flaxseed each day for six weeks, the frequency of hot flashes decreased 50%, and the overall hot flash score decreased an average 57% for the 21 women who completed the trial. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2007 Summer;5(3):106-12.

Eating about an ounce of ground flaxseed each day will affect the way estrogen is handled in postmenopausal women in such a way that offers protection against breast cancer but will not interfere with estrogen's role in normal bone maintenance.
In addition to lessening a woman's risk of developing cancer, the lignans abundant in flaxseed can promote normal ovulation and extend the second, progesterone-dominant half of the cycle. The benefits of these effects are manifold. For women trying to become pregnant, consistent ovulation significantly improves their chances of conception. For women between the ages of 35 and 55 who are experiencing peri-menopausal symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, breast cysts, headaches, sleep difficulties, fluid retention, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, weight gain, lowered sex drive, brain fog, fibroid tumors, and heavy bleeding, a probable cause of all these problems is estrogen dominance. Typically, during the 10 years preceding the cessation of periods at midlife, estrogen levels fluctuate while progesterone levels steadily decline. Flaxseed, by promoting normal ovulation and lengthening the second half of the menstrual cycle, in which progesterone is the dominant hormone, helps restore hormonal balance.

So there you have some of it! For more info go to http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=81 and read about all the benefits of flax seeds.

If you have a coffee griner/spice grinder you can simply grind the flax seeds up and add them to your smoothie. I think a tablespoon or so is enough.

Tags: flax, good, seeds, smoothies

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Raw Warrior on September 25, 2008 at 2:30pm: Hey Goony, Yes, love flax seeds in smoothies and sprinkled on salads too. Can be added to many foods. Also hemp hearts are excellent to add and they're high in protein and calcium.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Goony on September 27, 2008 at 10:43am: Hemps, yes I have heard they are good, but not so easy for me to find.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kristen's Raw on September 25, 2008 at 5:17pm: I love ground flax seeds too. I make my raw crackers and bread from them.

I also love hemp for my omegas since they provide an optimal ratio of omega 6 to omega 3. Read more here.

Cheers,
Kristen; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tina! on September 29, 2008 at 1:24pm: Kristen,

Me too! I do both - every day I have 3 TBS of hemp seeds and 1 TBS flax oil, and most days I also have 2 TBS ground flaxseed.

For those just starting ground flaxseed, beware! Start slowly....like perhaps 1 TBS and build up. It will have a very laxative effect if you start with too much and will not be comfortable! Even for those high fiber gals!!

Hugs, Tina; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Goony on October 1, 2008 at 9:03am: Kristen, I have a question regarding the omega 6. Last night I was reading that it is believed that omega 6 is thought to actually increase your risk of cancer, possibly cause cancer. What are your thoughts on this?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ALZ on October 1, 2008 at 3:29pm: Yikes! Really??; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Goony on October 1, 2008 at 9:56pm: yea. I don't know if it's true or not, but I was reading that new book by Suzanne Somers called Breakthrough and 2 doctors in her book have said that omega 6 raises your risk of cancer. I was kinda shocked to read that. I did a quick google and it came up with an increased risk of prostate cancer I think but I'd like to know more.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Austin from Earth! on September 25, 2008 at 5:25pm: I'm so trying this soon!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ALZ on September 26, 2008 at 2:31pm: I do this too! It's great! Make sure you grind them up or get "flaxmeal" so they can be digested.

Thanks for all the facts on flax! Super food!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Goony on September 27, 2008 at 10:44am: yes, grind them up girl! I just got a coffee/spice grinder and it works great.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kristen's Raw on September 26, 2008 at 3:23pm: I'm throwing ground flax seeds into my smoothie today in honor of you :)

Cheers,
Kristen; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Goony on September 27, 2008 at 10:44am: ha, well thanks!; ▶ Reply to This

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