How much flaxseed is too much

The amount of flaxseed you should consume each day depends on a variety of factors, and your physician may be the best person to determine it. Because whole flaxseed mostly passes through your system undigested, it must be ground into fine particles to unlock its benefits.

Although it tends to last longer than the traditionally milled variety, all freshly ground flaxseed is nutritionally comparable. One tablespoon of ground flaxseed supplies just over 35 calories and about 1 gram of protein, 3 grams of mostly polyunsaturated fat and 2 grams of carbohydrates, nearly all of which comes from dietary fiber.

It also provides small but appreciable amounts of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc and several B vitamins.

Although a genetically modified flaxseed variety was developed in the s, the variety has been deregistered and ordered destroyed. Can I eat too much flaxseed? A: While flaxseed provides numerous health benefits, it is possible to get too much of a good thing. Cooking or baking with flaxseed is a perfectly safe practice. However, when raw flaxseed is added in large quantities to diets that do not contain a healthy mix of foods, health problems can develop.

Like thousands of other plant seeds, flaxseed contains moderate amounts of natural compounds called cyanogenic glucosides. In an unbalanced diet containing too much uncooked flaxseed, cyanogenic compounds can build up in the body, leading to unpleasant and, on occasion, life-threatening reactions.

Such a buildup has been documented in populations relying solely on a staple such as cassava in their diet. In these cases, the illness-causing deposits were not blocked by enzymes supplied by other foods in the diet. In addition, cyanogenic compounds are made harmless by cooking. I am on blood thinners. Since warfarin can interact with some foods and over-the-counter supplements, it is important to tell your doctor about any other medications or supplements that you take. Vitamin K is one of the nutrients with which warfarin can interact.

For people taking warfarin, better control of blood clotting is achieved when dietary vitamin K intake remains fairly constant from day to day. Flaxseed contains 4. The omega-3 alpha-linolenic content of flaxseed oil has also been suggested to affect the international normalized ratio INR; a measure of blood clotting when taking warfarin. However, the research is limited and the amount that may pose a risk is uncertain. If you are taking warfarin, it is best to keep your diet as consistent as possible each day.

Flaxseed is a healthy addition to the diet of patients taking warfarin, but should be consumed in moderation and a similar amount should be eaten daily. Patients on warfarin are encouraged to have their INR monitored regularly and to speak with their healthcare professional before making any substantial dietary changes.

I have diverticular disease. A: Diverticulosis is the formation of tiny pockets, called diverticula, in the wall of the large intestine. Many people with diverticulosis do not even know that they have it. However, some people experience symptoms due to diverticular bleeding or diverticulitis infection of the diverticula. In the past it was recommended that people with diverticulosis avoid seeds, nuts, corn, and popcorn because it was believed these foods might get caught in the diverticula.

However, research shows that these foods may actually protect against diverticulitis. Thus, flaxseed is generally considered safe for people with diverticular disease.

A high fibre diet is recommended for people with diverticulosis. Increasing dietary fibre will not result in adverse symptoms in people with existing diverticula and is associated with a decreased risk of developing more pockets. However, fibre will not repair diverticula that are already present.

As a fibre-rich food, flaxseed can help boost fibre intake for people with diverticular disease. Increased fibre intake should go hand-in-hand with increased fluid intake. Treatment of acute diverticulitis depends on the severity of the symptoms that may include a low fibre, high fluid diet, but once symptoms improve, dietary fibre intake usually is recommended to be gradually increased.

Does flaxseed help with prostate health? A: Prostate cancer is a leading type of cancer diagnosed in men. Sex hormones estrogen and testosterone play key roles in the development and progression of prostate cancer by increasing production of new cancer cells, spreading the cancer to other organs, and promoting the growth of new blood vessels that support the spread of the cancer.

The lignans in flaxseed are a type of phytoestrogen, which can affect the activity of estrogen and testosterone in our bodies and may help to prevent cancers such as prostate cancer.

Flaxseed is a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid ALA. Some research has suggested that diets high in ALA are associated with increased risk of prostate cancer, but more recent studies have not found this link. More research is still needed to confirm if flaxseed can help to prevent prostate cancer or provide additional therapeutic benefit for men undergoing prostate cancer treatment.

If you have prostate cancer or may be at risk of developing the disease, it is advisable to speak to your healthcare professional before increasing sources of plant based omega-3 fatty acids. Is flaxseed or flaxseed oil safe to consume during pregnancy? A: The lignans in flaxseed have the potential to exert mild estrogenic effects during pregnancy.

Limited evidence from animal studies suggests adverse effects in the offspring of pregnant animals fed diets high in flaxseed. Flaxseed is a good source of alpha-linolenic acid ALA , an essential nutrient for women during pregnancy. Until more information is known, a sensible recommendation is for pregnant women to limit their daily intake of flaxseed and flaxseed oil to amounts that achieves the Adequate Intake for alpha-linolenic acid during pregnancy.

Approximately 15 ml 1 tbsp, 7 g of ground flaxseed provides 1. Does flaxseed contain trans fat? A: Trans fat increases the risk of heart disease and should be avoided. Trans fat is created when liquid vegetable oils are made into solid fats by a process called hydrogenation. Hydrogenated oils are often used in processed foods because they improve the taste and texture of the food and help keep the food fresher for longer. Flaxseed oil may contain a very tracer level of natural trans fats that do not cause heart disease as associated with synthetic trans fatty acids.

Most of the fat in flaxseed is polyunsaturated, including the heart healthy omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid. Should I take fish or flaxseed oil supplements? A: There are solid health benefits attributable to both fish and flaxseed oils.

It is ideal to consume fish and flaxseed as whole foods rather than supplements so that you receive the benefits from the oils as well as the other nutrients found in these foods. In addition to the omega-3 fatty acids, fish provides high quality protein, and flaxseed has lignans and fibre. However, fish and flaxseed oil supplements are good alternatives if the whole foods are not an option due to allergies, taste preference, or convenience.

Contamination of fish oils is less of a concern these days with modern refining practices. Good fish oil supplements actually are safer to consume than whole fish which have detectable levels of heavy metals and other contaminants. Extraction of oils from fish eliminates water soluble heavy metals.

Which is healthier — flaxseed or chia seed? A: Chia seed is a whole grain that has been used by humans for centuries. The below table shows the nutrient content of chia seed and flaxseed from the Canadian Nutrient File. On a weight basis, flaxseed is higher in omega-3 fatty acids from ALA and protein, whereas chia seed is higher in total dietary fibre.

Flaxseed is a richer source of lignans than chia, which act as potent antioxidants in the body. The large body of research showing the heart-health benefits of flaxseed has led Health Canada to approve a health claim for flaxseed.

No such claims have been approved for chia. Both seeds are healthy additions to your diet, though flaxseed may have some unique advantages. Flaxseed is a plant-based food that has its origin in southern Europe and Asia. These golden-yellow to reddish-brown seeds have also been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. The seeds are considered healthy, as they provide good fats, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and fibre.

Furthermore, flaxseeds are rich in lignans, and have both estrogen and antioxidant properties. However, just like everything, flaxseeds too have side effects, if not consumed in moderation! These include constipation, allergic reactions , bleeding disorders, and much more. There is a high chance you may have an allergy to flaxseeds and flaxseeds oil. Once ground, eat them within 14 days — get creative and add them to your smoothies, soups, salads, and cereal.

The taste is also off.