FLAXSEED is more of a food supplement than a tummy-filling food.

A tablespoon of flaxseed daily, either well-chewed or ground in a coffee grinder—to break open the hard seed coat that would otherwise prevent the grains from being digested—provides the daily requirement of alpha-linolenic acid, one of the essential Omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol. Its soluble fiber levels have been shown to reduce triglyceride levels and blood pressure. Flaxseed is of special benefit to women. It provides lignan, a plant source of the female hormone estrogen, which is thought to inhibit the onset of estrogen-stimulated breast cancer. Flaxseed oil is used by menopausal women to help balance hormone levels. One teaspoon a day is enough. Tasty ways to incorporate flaxseed into your diet include mixing ground flaxseed into fruit smoothies, or sprinkling it on top of cold cereals. Cooking destroys some of the benefits of flaxseed oil.