Flax is a blue flowering annual herb that produces small seeds that vary from golden yellow to reddish brown color. Glycerin is a clear, colorless, and syrup-like liquid used as a carrier and preservative instead of alcohol. The origin of flax seeds dates back thousands of years, and more recently, they have been deemed a superfood with much scientific research to back this claim up.
Although tiny in size, flaxseeds provide healthy doses of plant protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids, along with being rich in vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B1, vitamin B6, Calcium, Folate, Magnesium, Iron, Phosphorus, and Potassium. Though flax seeds contain many health benefits, they are mostly well revered for their alpha-linolenic acid, lignans and dietary fiber.
Flaxseeds are a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is one of the two primary sources of omega-3 fatty acids in a vegetarian diet. Fatty acids serve as an essential nutrient for humans; but, because the body lacks the enzymes required to synthesize them, these fatty acids need to be consumed through the diet. In animal studies of heart disease, it has been shown that the anti-inflammatory properties of ALA decreased the progression of plaque buildup in the arteries induced by high cholesterol/trans fat content. Supplementation of flaxseeds have also been found helpful to humans experiencing symptoms of cardiovascular disease by decreasing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Along with this, a review of 27 studies involving more than 250,000 people found that ALA was linked to a 14% lower risk of heart disease.
Another important key nutrient in flaxseeds are lignans, which are plant compounds containing phytoestrogens. Epidemiological studies on diets rich in phytoestrogens have been shown to reduce the risk of various hormone dependent cancers, heart diseases and osteoporosis. Flaxseeds contain more than 800 times more lignan than other plant foods and serve as a great source of antioxidants.
Flaxseeds serve as a rich source of dietary fiber which plays an important role in the treatment of constipation, IBS, weight loss, and many gastrointestinal disorders. Through studies, it has been found that individuals who have high intakes of dietary fiber appear to be at a lower risk for developing coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and obesity to name a few. Fiber has also been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
With all of this being said, it is evident that flaxseeds play a crucial role in our health, which is why we chose to use organic flaxseed glycerin as the carrier in our new biodynamic product, Adrenal Supertonic.
