Flaxseed
I ran across more information on flaxseed and included are some quotes from the site. For new readers, flaxseed oil is one of the two chief components of the Dr. Budwig Diet.
Seems
like flaxseed may be the heavyweight champion of the herb world. While
Flaxseed Oil is used, along with cottage cheese, as the foundation of
the famous Dr. Budwig Diet, the rest of the seed has other very
medicinal qualities. The seed can detoxify the colon, has antiviral
properties, is a gentle laxative, is rich in minerals and vitamins, and
has a plant-based estrogen.
I bought a bag of flaxseed (400 grams, that's a little less than a pound) at
a grocery store yesterday and paid a buck for the bag. Today I'm
thinking that if flaxseed were invented by a pharmaceutical corporation
the cost would be more like $100.00 a bag. Come to think of it, that
estimate might be on the low side.
Because
there is a possibility the flaxseed might pass through the body
unaffected by the digestive process, I use an inexpensive ($15) coffee
grinder to break open the seeds. Then I add the fine flour-like result
to the Budwig Diet ingredients.
"the fiber and mucilage
in flaxseed (and flaxseed oil) help cleanse the colon of waste products
and toxins. Think of it as a natural, gentle laxative. Flax fiber is
also a good food source for the friendly bacteria in your colon, which
keeps bad organisms in check."
"...flaxseeds, particularly ground flaxseeds, are high in a substance called lignans.
Lignans are known for their ability to ward off viral, bacterial and
fungal infections. They are also potent anti-cancer substances."
"... flaxseeds are a rich source of alpha linolenic acid,
which provides the body with essential omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. There
is a lot of documentation to support the idea that essential fatty
acids reduce your risk for certain types of cancer."
"Flaxseed is excellent for people who suffer with bowel problems
such as constipation or diarrhea. The flaxseed moves through the
digestive tract quickly and, because it is a fiber, results in normal,
softer stools. It is important to drink water directly after consuming
flaxseed, since the substance can absorb about a dozen times it's
weight in liquid."
"Flaxseeds are also rich in other minerals, vitamins and protein. The best way to get flaxseed benefits is to crush up the seeds and sprinkle them on your favorite foods."
"Ladies, a plant-derived estrogen is found in flaxseeds.
This added benefit may lessen hot flashes, anxiety and irritability
associated with menopause. The type of estrogen in flaxseeds does not
promote breast cancer and, in fact, may even reduce your risk of it."
Those
are compelling reasons to add flaxseed to the flaxseed oil and
cottage cheese mix if you are doing the Dr. Budwig Diet.
10:03:36 AM 
|
