Some call it one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet.

The picture shows one tablespoon of flax seed before and after grinding it in a coffee grinder (that's all we use it for, no coffee). This is the amount I consume daily.

There’s some evidence it may help to protect you from cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, lung disease, prostate cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, reduce cholesterol, blood sugar...
Essential fatty acids in flax seed helps in the transmission of nerve impulses. Flax seed oil is useful for numbness and tingling as well as for preventing serious nerve ailments like Asthma, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Flax seed is also good at fighting inflammation.

I started using flax seed in 2003 when I was diagnosed with colitis from the Multiple Sclerosis I’d had since 2001. The first attack, I passed out because the pain was so bad and the second time I had to be taken to the hospital because of the fear of passing out again. I started on flax seed and have not had an issue with the colitis, stomach or intestinal issues ever since.

My wife had high cholesterol for several years and was told when she’s tested next time if it's still high they would put her on medicine. Carol started on flax seed and at the next test had dropped 50 points into the safe zone.

Three main ingredients of flax seed are: Omega-3 essential fatty acids (1 tablespoon contains 1.8 grams of plant omega 3s), Lignans (with antioxidant qualities), Fiber (soluble and insoluble types).

The plant omega-3s may help with the cardiovascular system by the anti-inflammatory action and normalizing the heartbeat. By the same token I have to wonder if the anti-inflammatory possibilities then would also help me and others with their inflammation from Multiple Sclerosis. ALA and lignans in flax seed may reduce the inflammation that happens in illnesses mentioned.

I do for myself what I feel is good for my MS (despite hard evidence to support flax seed helps MS). There is however known science that says flax seed is good for my body in general.

Another benefit of taking flax seed the way Carol and I take it is we take the actual seeds and grind them in a coffee grinder and Carol eats it and washes it down with grape juice. I grind it and put it in my oatmeal for breakfast.

It can be used to help with food cravings. It expands in the belly giving you the full feeling so you tend not to have as many food cravings. If you let the ground flax seed set in fluid for like 5 minutes it expands and turns to a mud like consistency. Also letting it set more then 30 minutes after grinding allows the flax seed to start losing it’s nutrients.

In my opinion grinding flax seed is the most beneficial. It comes in other forms such as an oil, meal, capsule, already ground and maybe others too.

How much to take: the current recommendation is 1-2 tablespoons of ground flax seed a day suggested by the Flax Council of Canada. I take a little over one tablespoons per day. When starting out just use a little or you will have intestinal discomfort so work your way up to the daily dose you plan to take.

Flax seed can be added to many foods, there are even cookbooks with flax seed recipes. Freshly ground flax seeds are great sprinkled over yogurt or your breakfast cereal.

Carol and I buy food grade flax seed in 50# bags and when it’s shipped to us we break it down into 5# zip lock freezer bags and put them in the freezer.

Remember there is no magic bullet to perfect health whether it’s drugs or healthy food. Whats important is making healthy choices when choosing what to eat and making it a part of your lifestyle, not a temporary diet.

Happy & Healthy,
Yoga Chuck