FLAXSEED OIL

Hey....I published this on Associated Content about a year ago. Thought you may like to add it too your blog. I found it very interesting that if people are taking other medications it is best to take this hours prior or hour after they take their regular meds. Because of its Fiber content it can make other meds hard to absorb, making their regular meds. maybe not so effective.

Flaxseed and Its Nutritional Benefits:
Before following my fitness trainers request to add Flaxseed to my diet I first wanted to do some research. I had heard of Flaxseed but did not really know what it was. I wanted to find out about its nutritional value and if it had any health benefits. These are some things that I have learned thus far.

Flaxseed has been a part of human and animal diets for thousands of years in Europe, Asia, Africa, and more recently in North America and Australia, says Kaye Effertz, executive director of AmeriFlax, a trade promotion group representing U.S. flaxseed producers. As flax gained popularity for its industrial uses, however, its popularity as a food product waned, but it never lost its nutritional value. "Today flax is experiencing a renaissance among nutritionists, the health conscious public, food processors, and chefs alike," says Effertz.

WebMD.com states "Flaxseed is very high in omega-3 essential fatty acids. It's the omega 3s "good" fats that researchers are looking at in terms of their possible effects on lowering cholesterol and stabilizing blood sugar, lowering the risk of breast, prostate, and colon cancers, and reducing the inflammation of arthritis, as well as the inflammation that accompanies certain illnesses such as Parkinson's Disease and asthma". Studies so far with flaxseed contributing with the above have shown mixed results.

In addition to the omega-3s, another component of flaxseed is fiber. It is being studied for its health benefits as well, says Diane Morris, PhD, RD, spokesperson for the Flax Council of Canada. Improved regularity has been a reported benefit associated with flax oil. On a personal level, this really caught my attention. As I have gotten older I have experienced constipation and bloating off and on. I have started taking one flax oil capsule every morning. I have also increased my exercise to at least 3 times a week and increased my water intake to one gallon per day. Since I have started this new regimen I am more regular than ever. Flaxseed, like any supplemental fiber source, should be taken with plenty of water; otherwise, constipation could worsen. **On bing.com it is suggests that Flaxseed not be taken at the same time as other medications because of its fiber content it may lower the body's ability to absorb other medications when taken together. So, I always take it about 3-4 hours after other vitamins or other medications.

Whole or crushed flaxseed can be mixed with water or juice and taken by mouth. Flaxseed is also available in powder form. Flaxseed oil is available in liquid and capsule form. You can purchase it at a nutritional store or many convenient stores carry it near their vitamins and herbal supplements.

The flaxseed oil supplement for me has been well tolerated with no bad side effects. As with any "new" health regimen it is always good to ask your health provider.