What is flax seed? Calorie content of the product, its properties, benefits and contraindications will be considered in the materials of this article.
general information
Flax is one of the oldest cultures. It began to be actively cultivated by our ancestors during the emergence of a new craft at that time - weaving. In the process of development of medicine, the plant has become even more important due to its medicinal properties. Flax seed, whose calorific value is low, is attributed to pharmacopoeia. Modern medicine very often uses this product to treat various groups of diseases. The same applies to traditional medicine.
Flax Seed: Calories
Surely there are no such people who would doubt the benefits of flaxseeds. According to experts, this is a concentrate of proteins, minerals, vitamins and biologically active substances such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, lignans and fiber. It is to these components that the product in question owes its healing properties.
Is it possible to get fat by eating flax seed? The calorie content of this product is so low that in order to gain weight you have to eat a lot of it. One large spoon of this herbal ingredient contains only 37 energy units. Also, flax seeds include 1 gram of protein, 2 - carbohydrates, 3 - fat.
Chemical composition
What does flax seed contain? The composition of this product is known to few. The seeds of the mentioned plant contain about 30-48% of a drying fatty oil, proteins, organic acids, carbohydrates, up to 12% of mucus, sterols and linocinamarin.
What other ingredients does flax seed include? The composition of the product in question is as follows: glycerides of linolenic, stearic, palmitic and oleic acids. As for the seed coat, methyl P-hydroxy-p-methylglutaric acid ester and linamarin glucoside were found in them. It should also be noted that flax is the record holder for omega-3 fats. And they are very useful. At the same time, the content of omega-6 fats in the seed is not very high.
Flax seed: medicinal properties and contraindications
Due to its unique composition, the product in question is very often used for therapeutic purposes. So, for what diseases is the use of flax seeds indicated? Here is a list of them:
- Crayfish. Studies by scientists have confirmed that the product is able to protect the mammary and prostate glands, as well as the colon, from oncology. How does this happen? Omega-3 fatty acids slow down the development of tumors and formations, as well as various inflammatory processes. According to experts, such seeds affect only those formations that are sensitive to hormones. The drug Tamoxifen has the same effect. By the way, it is often used for chemotherapy for breast cancer. Flax seed lignans block enzymes involved in hormonal metabolism, and also inhibit the spread and growth of cancer cells.
- Vascular and heart diseases. What else do flax seeds treat? Due to the content of omega-3 fatty acids, such a product normalizes blood pressure, reduces the deposition of cholesterol in blood vessels and restores the elasticity of arteries. In addition, this component supports the natural rhythm of the heart, and also works well in the treatment of heart failure and arrhythmias.
- Diabetes. How and what is flax seed treated? Daily use of this product improves blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Fiber contained in the seed prevents the intensive absorption of glucose in the small intestine, thereby protecting the patient's body from its sudden changes in the blood. Thus, sugar from food enters the systemic circulation evenly and slowly.
- Inflammatory processes. Flaxseed components such as lignans and omega-3 fatty acids can block and suppress the inflammatory processes that accompany many diseases, including asthma and Parkinson's disease.
In addition, flax seed, the medicinal properties and contraindications of which are presented in this article, contains docosahexaenoic acid. It is extremely necessary for the body to reduce the manifestations of depression, normal functioning of brain cells, reduce anxiety, insomnia and the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. As for contraindications, the product in question has practically none. About when you should not eat flax seeds, we will tell below.
Harm of plant product
There are many warnings about eating flax seeds. For example, this product is forbidden to use for lactation, inflammation of the prostate, pregnancy, as well as fibrocystic formations in women. However, official sources do not give any indications in this regard. Therefore, many people consider them fiction. This is partly true. But it should be noted that treatment with flaxseed preparations should be carried out only after consulting a doctor. The only confirmed contraindication of this product is acute diarrhea. This is due to the fact that flaxseeds have a strong laxative effect.
Application Tips
Use the product in question should be extremely careful. This is due to the fact that it contains cyanogenic glycosides, which, when subjected to heat treatment or overdose, can cause serious harm to health. Therefore, it is recommended to use such seeds according to the following instructions.
You need to start therapy with flax fruits from the minimum dosages. On the first day of treatment, a serving of product should not exceed 1 dessert spoon. On the second day, the volume can be increased to two spoons, on the third - up to 1 large spoon, and on the fourth - up to 20 g. When using flax seeds, you must carefully monitor your body. If even small digestion problems begin, and the general condition of the patient worsens, then it is better to refuse to continue taking the product. Remember the basic tips for using the product:
- The optimal dosage of this product is 2 large spoons per day, and the maximum is 3.
- Cooking flax seeds is unacceptable. Their content in buns, muffins and bread can be very harmful.
- Due to the fact that flaxseed contains a lot of fiber, introducing it into your diet, you should definitely increase the amount of fluid consumed.
- All funds made on the basis of the product in question must be consumed fresh. It is forbidden to leave them in storage
To summarize
Now you know what flax seed is. The benefits of how to take this product have also been described above. Subject to all recommendations, flaxseeds can be used without any fear. This will allow you to get rid of many painful conditions, and also feel much better.