There are various ways women can benefit from flax seed, including decreasing the occurrence of hot flashes and helping to prevent the risk of breast cancer. But is there any reason why men should add more flax seed to their diet? Indeed there is! In fact, there are several reasons men may want to eat more flax seed.
First, flax seed contains many nutrients that are beneficial to both men and women, and these are reason alone to consume flax seed. Flax includes the Omega-3 fatty acid alpha linolenic acid, and more. Flax seeds also contain fiber and antioxidants. Our bodies need all of these to be healthy, especially the Omega-3 fatty acids. Many people believe these fatty acids can only come from fish, but they actually appear in several other types of foods as well. By adding flax seed to your diet, you add another source of Omega-3 fatty acids. This is a great way for those who do not enjoy eating fish to get these essential nutrients.
However, these are benefits that both genders can enjoy. What does flax seed offer men exclusively? Well, the main reason men may want to add flax seed to their diet is that flax seed can help prevent prostate cancer and prostate tumor growth. In one study, men consumed 30 grams of flax seed every day for a month before having surgery for prostate cancer. These men were then compared to a group of men who had the same surgery but did not consume flax seed. The men who added flax seed to their diet had many fewer complications and had an easier time with the surgery overall. Researchers believe this was because the Omega-3 fatty acids in flax seed actually stopped cancer cells from clinging to other cells, while the lignans slowed the blood supply to the tumor.
Like many studies, further research is necessary to confirm these effects. However, it appears that flax seed is very beneficial to those with prostate cancer and may, in fact, help prevent prostate cancer in men.
Great post, very informative!
Flax seeds are good for both men and women.
Here is more information about flax seeds:
http://nutraprointl.com/2009/12/10/why-eat-omega-3-fattyacid-from-flax-seeds/
Why eat omega-3 fatty acids from flax seed?
Dietary deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids can cause long term damage to human health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized the importance of omega-3 to public health and their importance to coronary health.
Here is a problem:
The omega-3 in American diet has decreased gradually over time with the increased consumption of processed foods. On the other hand dietary levels of Omega-6 fatty acids have increased due to consumption of oils that are rich in omega-6 fatty acids. This dietary imbalance of omega fatty acids has created unfavorable ratio of omega 3:omega 6 in our body.
It is not just the amount of omega-3 consumed but the amount of omega-3 in relation to the amount of omega-6 oils consumed that is important to keep the ratio to a favorable level of 1:4 (omega 3:omega 6).
Solution:
Flaxseed provides one of the only non-animal sources of omega-3 that contains significantly more omega-3 than omega-6. About 57% of total oil in flaxseed is in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an Omega-3 fatty acid that is essential for human health. To improve omega-3 levels and ratio between omega 3 and Omega 6, it is important to consume foods that contain significantly higher levels of omega-3 than omega-6. There are very few foods that do that – Flaxseed is one of them.
The ALA is converted by the body into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3s that are found in fish oils. The EPA and DHA are also essential omega-3 fatty acids for human health. The conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA is not a very efficient process in body but remember a diet rich in flax seed, will provide all three omega-3 fatty acids that are essential to healthy human health.