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FALL 2004 Traveling back into ancient cultures 5,000 years ago, we find the Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans all treasuring the very health promoting flax seed. This almost sacred seed contains a wealth of life supporting fiber, and essential fatty acids. This fiber is better known as lignans. In a modern society, can we benefit from this ancient food? The answer is YES! Perhaps, the most well known fact today, about flaxseed is that it is a phytoestrogen, which weakly mirrors the female sex hormones made by the human body, in both women and men. Phytoestrogen may rival for a receptor sites with the body own estrogen, when levels are elevated or even low. These plant estrogen come up against xenoestrogen, a bad girl estrogen, which is from the environment , such as chemicals and pesticides. The fiber in this wonder seed help shield us from those mutiny of cells, giving rise to cancer. That is just one reason why eating from the plant kingdom is so wise. Did you know that every year more than 1,000 new and exotic chemicals are added to our stockpile of 60,000 to 70,000 industrially chemicals (J. Robert Hatherill, Ph.D, Eat to Beat Cancer, p 33.)? Flax Seeds or flax seed supplements are balancing to the body. If the levels of estrogens in the bloodstream are too high, they will reduce it. If the estrogens levels are too low, such as women in menopause, this remarkable seed will have a rising effect on blood levels. Flax seed supplements are the easy way to help women battling this mid-life struggle. This fabulous flax seed can change hats and be a weak estrogen or an antiestrogen, blocking out the harmful carcinogens. Thus flaxseed is an aggressive defense and protection against breast, prostate and colon cancers. And gives antioxidant activity, helps reduce the havoc of menopausal symptoms , (without harmful side effects), and promotes solid bone mass, and supports the heart. Men, too can benefit from flax seed consumption. One pilot clinical trial showed a reduction in the markers of prostate cancer, along with a lower change of cardiovascular risk. And men can feel safe, knowing that flax seed does not effect their manly testosterone levels. Flax seed may have a role in the immune response factor. Research has suggested that because of the antioxidants contain in this seed, it tends to decrease tumor-induced angiogenesis (growth of blood vessels). It simpler words, it interferes with the tumor's ability to live and divide. Dosage and Safety The only group that perhaps should not supplement with LARGE AMOUNTS of flax seed are pregnant women. No harm has ever been found, but LARGE AMOUNTS of flax seed may alter the hormonal levels. In menopause, flaxseed consumption of 40 grams for four months, was just as effective as hormone replacement, with harmful side effects. Only health giving benefits. If you elect to take this large amount, supplements would be a more effective route to take. Another wonderful fact ladies, that women taking flaxseed had a marked reduction in breast tenderness before and doing their menstrual cycle. No toxicity or fatal dose has been found in this ancient seed. "The vast majority of breast cancers are not the genetic ones. Only about 10 percent of breast cancers have family history behind them." Marlys Schuh, surgical oncologist *EAT TO BEAT CANCER* P. 119 J. Robert Hatherill, Ph. D. "Man cannot live by bread alone."
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