Hippocrates was the pioneer in the healing properties of flaxseed, which opened the world with a useful recipe for flaxseed decoction, which helps with stomach diseases. And already in later times in Kievan Rus and the East, flaxseed was used in folk medicine because of its emollient, bactericidal and cleansing properties.
And in the 80s. last century, nutritionists from different countries began to deeply and actively study the properties of flax seed, as an extremely useful and natural product for human health. Well, already in the 21st century. seed began to play a significant role in dietary nutrition, thereby taking a direct part in the prevention and treatment of a number of diseases.
The discoverer of the healing properties of flaxseed was Hippocrates, who told the world a useful recipe for flaxseed decoction, which helps with stomach diseases. And already in later times in Kievan Rus and the East, flaxseed was used in folk medicine because of its emollient, bactericidal and cleansing properties.
And in the 80s. last century, nutritionists from different countries began to deeply and actively study the properties of flax seed, as an extremely useful and natural product for human health. Well, already in the 21st century. seed began to play a significant role in dietary nutrition, thereby taking a direct part in the prevention and treatment of a number of diseases.
Flaxseed: a rich composition of a healthy product
Flaxseed in its composition has 3 types of valuable, irreplaceable fatty polyunsaturated acids - omega-3, 6 and 9, which favorably affect all processes in the life of our body. In terms of omega-3 acid content, flaxseed exceeds all vegetable edible oils (moreover, this product has three times as much acid as fish oil).
Seeds are an excellent source of plant fiber, with an increased content in the products of which the risk of cancer and a positive effect on immunity is reduced.
And due to the content of polysaccharides in large quantities, a decoction of flaxseeds has a bactericidal and enveloping effect in case of stomach ulcers and gastritis.
Lignans, which are one hundred times more in these seeds than in other plant products, are known as excellent antioxidants that prevent the development of cancer. In addition, they have an antibacterial and antiviral effect.
Vitamins F, A, P, E, B. Flaxseed is an excellent external source of vitamin F extremely important for our body, which is actively involved in cholesterol and fat metabolism; This vitamin is not synthesized in our body. And vitamins A and E (called "vitamins of youth") have a very beneficial effect on the skin - thanks to them, seeds are widely used in many cosmetic recipes.
In addition, seeds are a rich source of selenium, which prevents the development of tumors, cleanses our body of heavy metals, and helps improve brain activity and vision. The rich flaxseed is also incredibly beneficial for us with lecithin.
Flaxseed: application
1. Diseases of blood vessels and heart. It was mentioned above that flax seeds in large quantities contain polyunsaturated Omega-3 acid. And its presence in the body, in turn, helps to lower blood pressure and cholesterol in our blood. This has found application in the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis, heart attack, coronary heart disease, stroke and many other disorders that are associated with impaired blood flow, thrombosis, cancer of different localization.
2. Diseases of the digestive system. Flaxseed decoction due to the softening and enveloping effect has a protective effect on the mucous membrane of the stomach and esophagus, it is used to treat gastritis and stomach ulcers.
Fiber, which is rich in flaxseed, activates the activity of our intestines, helping to cope with the problem of chronic constipation. Such a laxative effect of the product is associated with the fact that the seeds, swelling in the human intestines, increase the volume of contents and, thus, stimulate emptying. For chronic constipation, you need to take 200 grams of unprotected infusion of flax seed daily at night, prepared in the proportions: teaspoon of the seed per glass of boiling water.
And daily intake of 50 g of seeds for 2 weeks is an effective remedy for the treatment of intestinal diseases, which is successfully used even by elderly people with their weak immunity. Regularly using flax seeds, you can significantly improve the functioning of the liver, slow down the absorption of toxins, cleanse the body of toxins.
3. Oncological diseases. Flaxseeds contain 2 essential components that significantly reduce the risk of hormone-dependent cancerous diseases - these are lignans and omega-3 acid.
4. Diabetes mellitus. The enhancing effect of insulin in flax seeds is widely used in the treatment of diabetes and its prevention.
5. Purification from radionuclides. Flaxseeds - a powerful sorbent, not inferior in its properties to activated carbon. They, unlike artificial sorbents, do not affect the destruction of the cells of our body. This is precisely the basis for the use of seeds in the treatment of radiation sickness.
6. Inflammatory diseases. Omega-3 acid, contained in flaxseeds, increases the overall immunity of the human body, preventing this from occurring and the development of inflammatory processes. Seed compress softens abscesses and boils. It finds application in the treatment of joint diseases, decoctions and tinctures from seeds are used in the treatment of inflammatory processes of the throat, gums and oral cavity.
Since mature seeds have the ability to well excrete copious mucus, they have a softening, enveloping and anti-inflammatory effect, they are used for inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract and digestive tract. The mucus taken internally stays on the mucous membranes for a long time, thus protecting them from irritation with harmful substances, since such mucus is not affected by the gastrointestinal tract juice. It is used for hoarseness, inflammatory diseases of the bronchi (as a good expectorant), as well as for gastritis, chronic colitis, peptic ulcer, inflammation of the kidneys or bladder.
In addition to this, regular consumption of flaxseed alleviates asthma attacks, significantly alleviates the course of allergic diseases, improves kidney and thyroid function, and also normalizes hormonal balance in the female body (especially during menopause).
Flaxseed: contraindications
Experts believe that a safe dose of seed is up to 2-3 tablespoons daily. When consumed in large quantities, in some cases unpleasant sensations in the liver are possible (due to the high content of linseed oil).
Especially large doses should beware of pregnant and lactating women, with exacerbations of cholecystitis, pancreatitis, colitis, with stones in the urinary or gall bladder (because flaxseed has a strong choleretic effect).
You need to start using this product with a small amount (about a teaspoon), slowly increasing the serving.
And yet, you need to remember that flax seed is fiber, soluble and insoluble. Therefore, when introduced into the diet, the amount of fluid consumed per day should be increased.
Good health to you!