Flax seed has been around for quite some time, but it wasn’t until recently that many people realized just how beneficial it was for athletes. Flax seed contains high amounts of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), a type of Omega-3 fatty acid that is converted in the body to hormone-like compounds that play an important role in construction of healthy cell walls, transportation of oxygen to body cells, proper growth of tissues such as muscle, and metabolism of energy for the heart muscle. The proper metabolism of these fatty acids is especially beneficial for athletes participating in endurance sports to allow the athlete to continue on after their glycogen stores are used up.

ALA also plays a valuable role in inflammation and swelling that usually accompanies serious training as well as helps in muscle repair at the cellular level by improving the speed and quality of tissue repair.

Not only does flax provide these essential fatty acids, but flaxseed is an excellent source of protein which is usually an important component of an athlete’s diet. Flax is a very easy to add into any diet and works well in a daily protein drink where you can receive all the nutritional benefits of flax by adding about 1 tablespoon of milled flax. You can also try adding flax as a salad topper as you would sunflower seeds or croutons or mixed in with oatmeal or yogurt.
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