Does Flaxseed Really Work?
Many people are interested in the health
benefits of flaxseed. But does
flaxseed really work for
high cholesterol or other conditions? This article addresses the effectiveness of flaxseed for several different uses, including:
Flaxseed is not exactly the same as
flaxseed oil, which does not contain some of the active components of flaxseed. The information in this article does not apply to flaxseed oil.
Does Flaxseed Work for Constipation?
There really isn't much scientific evidence backing up the claim that flaxseed works for constipation, but it is reasonable to assume that it probably is effective for this use. Like all other fiber, flaxseed should be taken with plenty of water and can probably be used to both prevent and treat constipation.
Does Flaxseed Work for High Cholesterol?
Preliminary studies have demonstrated that various forms of flaxseed (such as raw flaxseed and flaxseed in baked goods) can help
lower cholesterol, although the evidence is not conclusive. Larger, more carefully designed studies are necessary before it can be said with certainty that flaxseed lowers cholesterol.
Specifically, early research suggests that flaxseed may lower total cholesterol and
LDL cholesterol ("
bad cholesterol"). It does not seem to have much effect on
HDL cholesterol ("
good cholesterol") or
triglycerides, although partially defatted flaxseed (which is flaxseed that has some of the fat removed) may actually increase triglycerides.
