Phytoestrogens
in Flaxseed May Halt Cancer
If
you don’t currently enjoy flaxseeds as a part of your healthy diet, they are
one superfood that is definitely worth a try. These tiny seeds possess a warm,
mild, slightly nutty flavor, are great on their own or as an addition to any
salad or smoothie, and pack a huge nutritional punch.
Additionally,
research suggests that flaxseeds may be able to slow the growth of certain
hormonally-based cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer.
Flaxseeds
contain a higher amount of essential, heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids than
any other vegetarian food source, with a whopping 38,325 milligrams in a 168
gram (just under six-ounce) serving.
This same serving size
contains 46 grams of fiber, 31 grams of protein, and an abundance of minerals
including calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, iron,
zinc, copper and selenium. They also contain B-vitamins, vitamin E and vitamin
K.
The
effect of flaxseeds on hormonally-based cancers may be attributed to their
unique phytoestrogens, which have been found to help alleviate symptoms of
hormonal imbalance, such as hot flashes in women. Byproducts of flaxseed also
have antiestrogenic properties, which means they can bind to estrogen receptors
and block more powerful estrogens from taking over.
A 2005 study performed at the University of Toronto in
Ontario, Canada, gave breast cancer patients either a muffin containing 25
grams of flaxseed or a placebo muffin every day for just over a month.
Researchers
observed an increase in apoptosis, or “programmed cell death,” in the tumors of
the patients that had eaten the flaxseed muffins. This led the authors to
conclude that, “dietary flaxseed has the potential to reduce tumor growth in
patients with breast cancer.”
Another study, performed in 2008 at the University of Texas,
tested the effects of flaxseeds on pre-surgery prostate cancer patients for a
period of 30 days. The researchers noticed a slower growth in the tumors of
those who had been given the flaxseeds and concluded: “Findings suggest that
flaxseed is safe and associated with biological alterations that may be
protective for prostate cancer.”
The
benefits of eating flaxseeds regularly are innumerable. Besides their exciting
potential anti-cancer benefits, their wealth of vitamins, minerals,
antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids should definitely earn them a spot on your
next grocery list.
-The
Alternative Daily
No comments:
Post a Comment