Are you getting enough fiber in your diet? For most of us, the answer is no. Having enough fiber in your diet can help reduce the risk of colon cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, constipation, diverticulitus and diabetes. Since the average American consumes only 15 grams a day, which is half of what we need, you need to look at deliberately including more fiber in your diet.
This is where flax seed comes into play. It's amazing how much fiber is packed in a flax seed. Just a 1/4 cup of ground flax seed delivers as much fiber as 1 1/2 cups of cooked oatmeal.
Flax seed will also lower the harmful kind of cholesterol (LDL's) and raise the good kind (HDL's). In addition, flax seed is also a major source of Omega-3 fats which are extremely important to our health. Omega-3 is a good fat that we need in our diets. It helps prevent heart attacks, autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, severe menstrual cramps and depression.
As a comparison, flax seed is about 50% Omega-3 while canola oil is about 10% Omega-3.
The taste of flax seed is "nutty", so you can sprinkle it on cereal, mix it in yogurt, soup or fruit juice. You need less than 1/4 cup per day. Start with only 1/4 teaspoon as a few people may be allergic to flax. If nothing happens, simply sprinkle more on.
Not bad for all this to be packed in a little seed. Let flax seed bloom in your life.
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