Did you know that some plant foods contain powerful compounds that can help us balance our own hormones? One of the foods I’m most impressed with is -
FLAXSEEDS
Flaxseeds (or linseeds) pack a powerful nutritional punch for a such a small seed! Here’s why;
- Fibre - rich in soluble fibre, they can help fill you up, balance your blood sugar and improve elimination. All good for weight loss!
- Lignans - a sort of phytoestrogen, lignans are really great for helping to regulate our own oestrogen levels. In fact several studies have shown that consuming lignans reduces the risk of oestrogen dependent cancers such as breast, prostate and ovarian cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
- Omega 3 fats - flaxseeds are rich in alpha linoleic acid (ALA), a plant based Omega 3 fat. Omega 3’s are essential for our cell membranes, which control the traffic of nutrients (and hormones) in and waste out.
- Vitamins & Minerals - a rich source of vitamins and minerals
You can buy them milled already (Linwoods are a good brand) however you do need to keep them in the fridge once opened, as they are easily oxidised on contact with the air. Best to get them whole (brown or golden) and grind them yourself in a coffee grinder or you can put them in your blender.
If you eat them whole they tend to go through you undigested, so best to grind them first. Flaxseed oil is a good source of ALA but won’t contain the lignans.
A couple of tablespoons a day is all you need to get these nutrients - sprinkle on porridge, yoghurt, smoothies or salads.
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