Flax seeds: benefits and harms

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Flax is a plant that has found application in many areas of human life. From the stems, fabric is obtained, which is used everywhere in everyday life. Linen fabric is characterized by high strength and wear resistance, it is environmentally friendly.

Also, valuable oil is obtained from the plant - a dietary product rich in healthy fats and a large amount of nutrients. Flax seeds are also unique in their composition and action, the benefits and harms of which will be discussed by us in this article.

The chemical composition of flax seeds

Flax seeds are one of the most used foods in human history. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that, in terms of its chemical composition, it is not inferior to meat in terms of protein content, therefore, these seeds were used during periods of shortage of meat food to replenish the lack of protein. Flax seed protein contains almost all amino acids essential for the human body. For example, these are amino acids such as leucine, lysine, valine and others.

Seeds also contain polysaccharides - complex carbohydrates that the human body uses as a source of energy.

This is easy to find: if you soak the seeds in water, you can see a colorless mucus that will cover them. These are carbohydrates. At the same time, there is no starch in the composition of the seeds.

The seeds also contain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are healthy fatty acids essential for human health. The uniqueness of the seeds is that they practically do not contain saturated acids - these are fats that are undesirable for the human diet. The seeds are rich in Omega-3 acids, which are beneficial in helping to eliminate bad cholesterol from the body. Linoleic acid (Omega-3) also helps to stabilize blood pressure, relieve vascular spasms, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Flax seeds are a good alternative to fish and seafood for those who, for some reason, have excluded them from their diet.

Benefits of flax seeds

Flax seeds have a cleansing effect: they promote the binding and removal of heavy metals from the body, remove parasites and their waste products. They are unique in that they contain more polyunsaturated fatty acids than, for example, fish oil, but these acids are necessary for the full development of a young body, for the well-coordinated work of all systems of an adult body.

Thus, Omega-3 acids are essential for the cardiovascular system. They have a blood-thinning effect, and this is the prevention of heart disease, as well as thrombosis, atherosclerosis.

Those who eat a lot of carbohydrate foods (we are talking about simple carbohydrates) are often deficient in the trace element selenium. And this element is very important for the health of the cardiovascular system, it also reduces the risk of cancer.

There is a lot of potassium in seeds, which makes them an excellent tool for replenishing the lack of potassium. Moreover, in terms of the content of this element, they bypass even bananas. The oil contained in the seeds reduces the content of "bad cholesterol" in the blood, improves the elasticity of blood vessels.

Benefits of seeds for the intestines and stomach

The seeds are high in fiber, so they help those who suffer from chronic constipation. Thanks to fiber, the work of the intestines improves, its mucous membrane is restored. The colorless mucus, which covers the seeds when they are immersed in water, has an enveloping effect on the mucous membrane, so they have a beneficial effect on the stomach and intestines, and are indispensable in the treatment of stomach ulcers and gastritis.

The mucus of the seeds reduces the inflammatory processes of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, and since it prevents the absorption of substances taken orally, it helps with poisoning, increases the duration of the action of drugs.

Please note that in order to preserve the maximum amount of polysaccharides in the raw material, it is undesirable to grind them. Therefore, make an infusion of seeds with mucus from whole raw materials.

Harming flax seeds

Speaking about flax seeds, what are their benefits and harms, it should be noted that there are no contraindications to taking seeds as such. However, there are certain recommendations for their use. So, it should be borne in mind that this product has a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, therefore, using it in large quantities, you can exceed their recommended daily allowance and load the liver with a large amount of fat.

You should not eat seeds that taste altered. So, for example, if you feel a specific smell and taste of rancidity, then you should not use such seeds. It is recommended to grind them before direct consumption so that they do not oxidize.

How to consume seeds

Now let's look at how to take seeds for the intestines and stomach. You can use them with kefir, in the form of a decoction, infusion, jelly. For example, if you follow a diet recommended for a sick stomach, then seeds with kefir can be taken for breakfast: for this, 1 teaspoon is added to 100 ml of kefir and drunk on an empty stomach.

How to take for the intestines and stomach to cleanse them? To do this, you can make a decoction - it helps to cleanse the body, improves the condition of the skin. To prepare the broth, 1 tablespoon of raw materials is poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water, boiled for 30 minutes on low heat. After that, the broth must be cooled, drink it warm on an empty stomach twice a day.

To cleanse the intestines, as well as to relieve inflammation of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, you can make an infusion with an enveloping effect. For this, 3 tablespoons of raw materials are poured into a thermos and poured with boiling water.

It is necessary to insist for three hours, then strain and squeeze the cake. Take the infusion before meals for 30 minutes.

In the treatment of gastritis, peptic ulcer, constipation, intestinal disorder, jelly helps. It is prepared according to the principle of infusion - 1 tablespoon of raw materials is poured with 0.5 liters of boiling water, but it should be adjusted within 8 hours. You can add honey to the resulting jelly. However, this drink is not recommended for the acute stage of pancreatitis.