Flaxseed Purchase & Information
Alternative Names
Aliviraaii, Alasi, Brown-Seeded Flax, Brown Flaxseed, Common Flax, Echter Lein, Flachssamen, Flachs, Flax Seed, Flax Hull, Flax, Flax Meal, Flax Lignans, Golden Flax, Gemeiner Flachs, Graine de Lin, Keten, Kattan, Lignanes de Lin, Leinsamen, Lin, Lignans, Lin Oléagineux, Lin Commun, Linaza, Lin Textile, Linho, Lini Semen, Lino Comune, Lint Bells, Lino, Lino Usuale, Lino Mazzese, Linseed Flax, Linseed, Linum, Malsag, Phyto-œstrogène, Phytoestrogen, Saatlein, Tisii, Winterlien, Ta Ma CAUTION: Please refer to separate listing for Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), Alpha Linolenic Acid, Mountain Flax (Linum catharticum), Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA), Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA), Flaxseed Oil, Fish Oil
Scientific Name
Linum Usitatissimum
Why Do People Use Flaxseed?
Orally - The use of oral preparations of Linum usitatissimum (Flaxseed), like flaxseed powder, has several benefits. Flaxseed or flaxseed powder can be used for lung cancer, diarrhea, to treat laxative-induced colon damage, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, enteritis, coronary artery disease, colon cancer, diverticulitis, gastritis, ulcerative colitis. Other uses of flaxseed are for diabetes, mastalgia, menopausal symptoms, hypertriglyceridemia, atherosclerosis, prostate cancer, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, breast cancer, obesity, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), osteoporosis and weight loss. Flaxseed powder has also been utilized for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), depression, malaria, nephritis cystitis, upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), pharyngitis, rheumatoid arthritis and as a cough suppressant and expectorant.
Topically - Few of the topical uses of flaxseed are for skin burns, as a poultice for skin acne, eczema, boils, general skin inflammation and for psoriasis treatment.
Ophthalmological - For ophthalmic purposes, Linum usitatissimum is utilized for the removal of foreign bodies from eyes.
Is It Safe To Use?
Possibly Safe - Appropriate and oral consumption of flaxseed is considered safe. There are some clinical experiments that suggest that a particular extract of flaxseed lignin i.e. made of Jarrow Formulas and Flax Essence, is likely safe when utilized for consecutively 12 weeks.
Likely Unsafe - Unripe and raw flaxseed is considered unsafe when utilized orally. Raw flaxseed contains potentially toxic cyanogenic glycosides (linamarin, neolinustatin and linustatin). However, these glycosides are not found after flaxseed is baked in muffins.
Likely Unsafe in Pregnancy - In pregnancy, flaxseed powder is considered unsafe when utilized orally. It may have minimal estrogenic impacts. This may have adverse effect on pregnant females.
Lactation - Linum usitatissimum should be avoided by breastfeeding women because there is insufficient reliable information that could support the safety of its use in such conditions.
How Effective Is Flaxseed?
Flaxseed powder is possibly effective in following conditions:
• Diabetes
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Menopausal Symptoms
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Nephritis
Flaxseed is possibly ineffective in following conditions:
• Osteoporosis
Nothing can be said about the effectiveness of Linum usitatissimum for following conditions due to the lack of reliable information:
• Breast cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Colorectal cancer
• Constipation
• Endometrial cancer
• Lung cancer
• Mastalgia
• Obesity
• Prostate cancer
How Flaxseed Works?
The most effective parts of Linum usitatissimum are its seed and seed oil. Seed cover gum is the main source of fiber in flaxseed, which is a combination of polysaccharides like rhamnose, galactose, glucuronic acids, xylose and arabinose. 10 grams of entire flaxseed contains 44 to 50 kilocalories, 4 grams fat, 2 grams protein and 3 to 4 grams dietary fiber.
Fiber present in flaxseed abates emptying of stomach, increases bulk in the small intestine, prolongs the nutrient absorption phase and also increases the satiety sensation. Because of its satiety effects, there is interest toward utilizing flaxseed for weight reduction.
Flaxseed oil is an important source of fatty acids. It consists of 18% monounsaturated fatty acids, 70% polyunsaturated fatty acids and as much as 9% saturated fatty acids. Approximately 55% of fatty acids found in Linum usitatissimum are of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) variety, which is an omega-3 fatty acid. This reason makes flaxseed one of the most important food sources of alpha-linolenic acid ALA.
Flaxseed is utilized for atherosclerosis because it can lessen serum cholesterol level and platelet aggregation. In some animal models, supplementation of flaxseed powder appears to decrease the potential risks of aortic atherosclerosis. High fiber in flaxseed powder enhances fecal disposal of bile acids, which enhances synthesis of primary bile.
Flaxseed contains alpha-linolenic acid, which may also be effective in lowering serum cholesterol. It can also suppress the aggregation of platelets.
Linum usitatissimum may also have hypoglycemic properties. Flaxseed also appears to lower insulin levels in postmenopausal females.
In animal models, dietary flaxseed represses breast tumor metastasis and proliferation in both estrogen receptor negative and positive breast cancers. But, it doesn't appears to be beneficial in preventing the recurrence of breast cancer.
What Are The Side Effects /Adverse Reactions of Flaxseed?
Under normal conditions, flaxseed powder is well-tolerated. Combination of flaxseed with normal diet maybe responsible for digestive side effects including flatulence, bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, constipation and nausea. Higher amounts of flaxseed maybe responsible for severe gastrointestinal reactions. In some cases, use of flaxseed can even cause obstruction of bowel.
In some instances, anaphylactic and allergic side effects have been reported in some individuals after ingestion of flaxseed oil or flaxseed powder. Processing of Linum usitatissimum may further enhance the risk of hypersensitivity.
Unripe and raw form of flaxseed consist of possible toxic cyanogenic glycosides (linamarin, neolinustatin and linustatin), which can increase blood pressure levels and also thiocyanate urinary discharge in some individuals. But, these glycosides have not been isolated in baked flaxseed.
How Flaxseed Interacts With Other Herbs and Supplements?
Following are some drug, herbs & supplement that may show variable degree interactions with flaxseed powder:
• Antiplatelet or Anticoagulant Supplements & Herbs
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Antibiotic Drugs
• Antidiabetes Drugs
• Estrogens
• Furosemide (Lasix)
• Metoprolol (Toprol)
• Oral Drugs
How Flaxseed Interacts With Drugs?
Not known.
How Flaxseed Interacts With Foods?
There is no known interaction between flaxseed powder and various food items.
How Flaxseed Interacts With Lab Tests?
Following are some lab tests which may get affected by the use of flaxseed powder:
• Glucose
• Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
• Triglycerides
How Flaxseed Interacts With Diseases and Conditions?
People with following should avoid the use of Linum usitatissimum:
• Bleeding Disorders
• Diabetes
• Gastrointestinal Obstruction
• Hormone Sensitive Cancers or Conditions
• Hypertriglyceridemia
What Should Be the Dose/Administration of Flaxseed?
ORAL
• For type II diabetes, a particular preparation of flaxseed lignin (J arrow Formulas and Flax Essence) should be utilized three times every day in a dose of 600 mg.
• For hypercholesterolemia, 40-50 grams flaxseed on daily basis.
• For obesity, flaxseed fiber can be consumed in the form of tablets or as a drink in a dose of 2.5 grams.
• For menopausal irregularities, crushed flaxseed 40 gram per day.
• For mastalgia, 25 grams flaxseed per day for 3 months.
• For breast cancer, 25 grams flaxseed on daily basis.
• For prostate cancer, 30 grams flaxseed daily.
• For SLE, 15 grams grounded flaxseed, twice daily.
Comments
Flax has blue flowers, which contain seeds that are reddish brown to golden yellow in color.
General Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Specification sheet links below are a standard copy of the COA less the batch or lot number and manufactures dates. Specification sheet can be dated and should only be considered as a general information. Please contact and request an up to date COA if needed for specific updated information before placing order by filling out the contact form with product name and SKU number. If ordering quantities of twenty five kilos or more contact for availability.
