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[RC] Flaxseed - Ridecamp GuestPlease Reply to: Joy Axten@xxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== I found this information helpful.... North Dakota State University Fargo, North Dakota 58105 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FLAXSEED as Functional Food for People... and as Feed for Other Animals Prepared by Jack Carter, Professor Emeritus Department of Plant Sciences -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FLAXSEED for food contains . . . Large amounts of OMEGA 3 fatty acid, alpha linolenic acid (ALA) an ESSENTIAL FATTY ACID, (EFA), that our bodies can't make from other foods . . . and Very high amounts of DIETARY FIBER, both SOLUBLE and insoluble, similar to dietary fiber in other GRAINS, for example, oats, wheat, corn, rice, dry beans, soybeans, etc. the PHYTOCHEMICALS, called LIGNANS, having apparent anticarcinogenic action in animals....and other NUTRIENTS such as proteins, carbohydrates, minerals flaxseed is very HIGH IN POTASSIUM and Flaxseed has a pleasant, nutty flavor TASTES GOOD!! Total Dietary Fiber Content (%) of Certain Plant Seeds* ------------------------------------------------------- Fiber Flax Oat Oat Wheat Corn Rice Component Seed Bran Meal Bran Bran Bran ------------------------------------------------------- Total dietary fiber 40 17 11 49 78 75 Soluble fiber 10 8 5 5 3 4 Insoluble fiber 30 8 6 43 76 71 ------------------------------------------------------- *All data are from Dietary Fiber Guide, and/or Cereal Foods World 38(10):755-59.1993 Some Apparent Health Benefits to people consuming flaxseed are reported in the scientific literature*: Reduction of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides . . . and may reduce heart arrhythmia during "coronary events" (Bierenbaum and Alexander) Anti-inflammatory effects . . . (Zurier and Kelly) Natural laxative effects of the dietary fiber . . . (Cunnane) Helps glucose control in diabetics . . . (Cunnane) Softens skin and improves coat (fur) of animals . . . (Simopoulos) Reduces some psoriasis in people and other animals . . . (Simopoulos) Ameliorates renal disease (Lupus nephritis) with favorable effects on plasma lipids and blood pressure (Clark, Parbtani) *Citations available if requested. Where to Get Flaxseed and Prepare It for Food What is a Daily "Dose"? Flaxseed and cold-pressed flaxseed oil may be purchased at most "HEALTH FOOD STORES" in the United States, or see North Dakota sources in this publication. Flaxseed must be GROUND to get maximum benefits of the OMEGA 3 oil and dietary fiber. One can grind flaxseed with a coffee grinder the Braun Model KMM30 is a very good grinder with both an inlet and outlet. Ground flaxseed may be kept for many months in the refrigerator or deep freeze. Whole flaxseed keeps for several years in clean, dry storage at below zero F to 80 F. A DAILY DOSE of ground flaxseed is about ¼ cup or 35 grams or 3 heaping tablespoons, depending on fineness of grind. Ground flaxseed can be stirred into orange or other juices, into SMOOTHIES, or added to about any baked product, See RECIPES. A daily DOSE of flaxseed oil is 1 to 3 tablespoons. The omega 3 alpha linolenic acid, ALA, in flaxseed is an ESSENTIAL FATTY ACID for humans which is used in the body in neural tissues, retina of the eye, in cell walls of brain and other neural tissue. Dietary fiber in flaxseed adds bulk to waste products in the gut and increases bile movement in the gastrointestinal system. FLAXSEED OIL is another product from flaxseed which is COLD-PRESSED with a screw press at temperatures not to exceed 100 F. No external heat is used and NO SOLVENT is used to extract oil left in the seed after screw pressing. http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/plantsci/flaxseed.htm ===========================================================You don't have to be a 100-mile rider or a multi-day rider to be an endurance rider, but if you want to experience the finest challenges our sport has to offer, you need to do both of those. ~ Joe Long ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ===========================================================
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