Flaxseeds are commonly known as a superfood. For my psychology project I delved deeper into this claim to see if it truly was a superfood. Flaxseed is claimed to have many health benefits including lowering blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, reducing risks of cardiovascular problems such as strokes and heart attacks, and reduce in mental health problems such as depression.
After looking through media about flax seeds I do see mixed reviews. Although the websites and articles that say flax seed is beneficial are more popular, there are still many that oppose the food.
The beneficial claims are supported through research and experiments. Experiments have been done that show flax seeds prevent heart attacks and strokes related to cholesterol, they lower symptoms of depression, they increase muscles while decreasing fat. All of this information supports the claim that flax seed is indeed a super food.
You may be asking yourself.. Then why are there people that speak out against flax seed use?
The use of flaxseeds in every day home lives is questionable. Flaxseeds can offer great benefits if used correctly. It must be used in moderation because excess can make you very sick. Flaxseeds should also be used as just that.. seeds! Using flax seed as oil is not only less beneficial (turning the seeds into oil takes a lot of the nutrients away) but it can also make the flax become rancid. A lot of oil is prepared in such a way that as soon as the bottle of oil is opened it can become rancid and cause health problems. So if you are using flax seeds use them in seed form and in moderation and they can very well be a super food!