Flaxseed for Gout

Flaxseed for Gout

Flaxseed is a rich source of compounds called ligins, in fact it's the richest, having more than any other plant  food. It would be necessary to consume around 60 cups of broccoli to get the same amount of ligins that are in 1/4 cup of flaxseed meal. Flaxseed s must be ground in order to get the benefits, whole flaxseeds are indigestible, and no benefit will be gained from their consumption.

Due to the huge increase in consumption of omega-6 fatty acids as a direct result of  the increased intake of vegetable oils such as corn, safflower, canola, sunflower, soya and cottonseed, ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 ranges from around 14:1, instead of the traditional range of 5:1 . Studies indicate that such a high intake of Omega-6 fatty acids poses a higher risk for blood clotting and consequent heart attacks. Omega-3 EFAs have been shown in studies to have an anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, hypolipidemic, and vasodilatory properties. Positive effects have been demonstrated in patients with heart disease, hypertension, type2 diabetes, renal disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and the list goes on. The anti-inflammatory effect will be quickly demonstrable in patients with gout, and arthritic complaints.

Flaxseed for Gout

There are three important Omega-3 fatty acids, alpha-linolenic, ALA, this is found in flaxseed, hempseed, pumpkin seed oil, unrefined walnut oil, and unrefined soybean oil. The other 2 omega-3 are EPA and DHA, these are found in cold water fish, and as long as alpha-linolenic acid is present in the diet, EPA and DHA can be manufactured in the body, however, this process is inefficient and does not provide enough for a healthy diet. The only reliable source of this fatty acid is cod liver oil.Flaxseed is used to treat diseases with an inflammatory or allergic component in them, such as psoriasis, skin problems, arthritis, gout, and asthma, with much success.

Make sure that the flaxseeds you buy are fresh and vacuum packed, once the pack has been opened it is important to keep the seeds refrigerated to prevent rancidity. Grind the seeds as needed in a coffee grinder, do not grind more seeds than you need for one serve, this insures that the seeds remain fresh.

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