Ground Flaxseed Benefits

With our hectic lifestyle, eating healthy is something that most of us neglect. One significant way in which you can boost your health is by adding seeds like flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds to your diet. These seeds might look small, but they pack quite a punch. One of the best though is flaxseed.

It is cultivated from flax plants, and is widely grown in India and the Mediterranean region. It can be eaten either whole in its seed form or after grinding it. Eating ground flaxseed is recommended by most nutritionists, as it is easily absorbed and you get its full nutritional benefits.

Ground flaxseed is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants. Regular consumption will help in reducing the level of LDL cholesterol that leads to the formation of plaque in the arteries of the heart. It is rich in the antioxidant lignan, which can help in preventing various forms of breast cancer.

Benefits also include its ability to strengthen the immune system, and prevention of inflammatory disorders like rheumatic arthritis and psoriasis.

Women who are suffering from menopausal syndromes like night sweats and hot flushes can get relief by including ground flaxseed in their diet. This is because, it contains phytoestrogens that helps stabilize hormonal levels that fluctuate during menopause.

Since it is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, it is great for vegetarians who otherwise do not get their required dose of omega-3. Omega-3 essential fatty acids help reduce the occurrence of cardio vascular diseases, diabetes, and high blood pressure. They also help prevent constipation and other gastro intestinal diseases.

If you are a person who is watching your weight, then sprinkling ground flaxseed in your breakfast cereal will help you. It contains a high amount of dietary fiber that fills you up and also stabilizes blood sugar levels.

It is high in vitamin B12 and magnesium, which makes it an ideal food for people suffering from vitamin deficiency and who do not get enough necessary nutrients.

It is always best to have ground flaxseed instead of whole flaxseed, because whole flaxseed is sometimes not digested by the intestine and it just passes through. Therefore, it gives your body no nutritional benefits. Ground flaxseed is easy to digest and contains enough fiber to meet your dietary requirements. Whenever you purchase ground flaxseed, make sure that it is organic.

Since ground flaxseed gets more easily absorbed by our body than the whole variety, you can grind it in a grinder before consumption. Just add a tablespoon or two to your breakfast cereal or add it to regular flour. To store it, place it in an airtight container and put it inside the refrigerator. It goes rancid quickly, so make sure that you use it quickly, or then grind up a smaller batch.