Melrose Organic Golden Flaxmeal 500g

Increasingly consumers are seeking "functional foods" like flax meal to promote health benefits as part of their regular diets. Flaxseed meal is a convenient way of obtaining many of the nutritional benefits of flax seeds, including omega 3 fatty acid, (ALA), dietary fibre and lignans.

Omega-3 fatty acid.

About 42% of flax seed is oil, and more than 70% of that oil is polyunsaturated fat, a healthy fat. Flax also contains 57% of the important omega-3 fatty acid, ALA.

Fibre

Flax seed contains soluble and insoluble fibre. Soluble fibre can lower blood cholesterol levels, while insoluble fibre moves the stool through the colon more quickly, helping bowel movements.

Lignans

Flax seed is also one of the richest plant sources of lignans, providing up to 800 times more lignans than most other foods in a vegetarian diet. Lignans are phytoestrogens - compounds that have been shown in laboratory studies of animals to help protect against certain kinds of cancer, particularly cancers of the breast and colon, by blocking tumour formation.

Health Benefits of Flax

The omega-3 fatty acids have a balancing role in the diet. They correct imbalances in modern diets that lead to health problems. Nutritionists caution that the amount of omega-3 fatty acids eaten in Australia no longer meets our bodies' needs. You can balance your consumption of fatty acids by adding flax to your diet. Current research shows eating flax seed provides health benefits.

A lower risk for heart disease. Nutritionists advise paying attention to the kinds of fats eaten. They suggest you eat less saturated fat and trans fats, and more polyunsaturated fat - which flax provides. Studies show a diet high in ALA reduces the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol and by preventing the buildup of harmful deposits in arteries. In other studies, where scientists studied large groups of people to find disease trends, increasing the ALA content of the diet corresponded to a decrease in risk of stroke and heart disease.

Prevention of some forms of cancer. The link between diet and cancer is well-known. Flax contains dietary fibre and omega-3 fat in the form of ALA, which can reduce the risk of cancer. Furthermore, studies showed the ALA in flax slowed inflammation which led to cell growth in cancer. Another study on women newly diagnosed with breast cancer showed a slowing of tumour growth with the addition of flax to their diet.

Treatment of immune disorders

The lignans and ALA in flax help prevent inflammation that affects the body's immune system. Flax in the diet may be useful in the treatment of such immune disorders as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and lupus.

Diabetes

Studies show flax lowers blood glucose in healthy, young adults. The effect of flax in the diets of people with Type 2 diabetes is currently being investigated.

Relief from constipation

Studies in older adults show eating flax helps increase the frequency of bowel movements. What makes flax stand out above other whole grains is its mix of fibre. Rather than containing large amounts of one type of fibre, flax seeds contain generous quantities of both soluble and insoluble fibre. Flax tastes good and adds all the fibre of whole grains to foods: 1 Tbsp of milled flax contains as much total dietary fibre as 1 slice of whole wheat bread or 1/4 cup of cooked oat bran. Flax is also one of the richest sources of lignans in the plant kingdom. Researchers are particularly interested in the cancer-fighting ability of lignans.

Soluble fibre

Most of the soluble fibre in flax seeds is mucilage, a thick, sticky substance. Few studies have looked at the direct effects of mucilage on health. But studies show that eating flax (baked into muffins and breads) can lower blood cholesterol levels.

Since it is well known that soluble fibres - fruit pectin, oat bran or mustard seed mucilage - are effective cholesterol-lowering agents, it's likely that the soluble fibre in flax seeds is no exception.

Insoluble fibre

Not surprisingly, studies show that the insoluble fibre in flax, like that in wheat bran, is helpful for regulating bowel movements and preventing constipation. Because flax's insoluble fibre components have the capacity to hold water, they help soften the stool and allow it to move through the colon more quickly.

Lignans

When bacteria in the digestive tract act on plant lignans these compounds are converted into potent hormone-like substances. Research with animals suggests that the newly formed compounds may be capable of blocking the action of certain cancer-causing substances in the body, substances that can contribute to the formation of tumours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I add Flax Meal to my diet?

Flax adds a pleasant, nutty taste to foods. You can buy flax by the scoop, vacuum pack, bottle or capsule, or find it in some favourite foods. Here are some ways to use flax.

Whole seeds

Whole flax seeds add colour and crunch to foods. You can sprinkle flax seeds on top of home baking or mix them into dough. However, to obtain benefit from flax, you should first grind flax seeds because whole seeds will pass through your system undigested.

Milled flax

Grinding whole seeds breaks their tough outer skin, creating a light- coloured powder. Milled flax is sold in a vacuum package, or you can prepare it yourself in a coffee grinder. You can sprinkle milled flax on cereal, or add it to dough's, batters, casseroles and other cooked foods.

How can I add Flax Meal to my diet? How Much Flax to Eat?

Like any fibrous food, flax can upset your digestion if you add too much, too quickly. In a balanced diet, 8 g (1 tablespoon) of milled flax daily provides enough ALA to meet dietary needs. 8 g of milled flax daily provides enough ALA to meet dietary needs.

How many calories are in flax seed?

100 grams of flax seed has approximately 450 calories.

Does flax contain gluten?

Flax contains no gluten.

How do I store Flax?

Whole flax seed. You can store whole flax seed, which is clean, dry and of good quality, at room temperature for up to a year.

Milled flax seed. To keep flax fresh, you should grind it as you need it. You can keep milled flax refrigerated in an airtight, opaque container for up to 30 days.