Flaxseed oil potential functional food source
                     Flaxseed oil 
potential 
functional food 
source.
Flaxseed also commonly referred to as flax seed or linseed 
can be a nutritious addition to your diet. The small golden 
or brown seeds are high in heart-healthy fiber and fatty 
acids. They can be eaten whole or used to make
 flaxseed oil, extracts, flour, and food products like salad 
dressing. Flaxseed has been promoted as a healthful and 
sometimes medicinal substance for thousands of years, 
dating back to Hippocrates.
Flaxseed may play a role in treatment for ovarian cancer, cardiovascular 
disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, asthma, and inflammation.
Flaxseed can be beneficial for the heart in at least two ways: It helps 
lower blood pressure, and (at least in animals) it can slow the 
progression of atherosclerosis.
Experiments in both animals and humans show that dietary flaxseed can 
reduce the risk of breast cancer and of dying from breast cancer.

There is some (limited) evidence to support including flaxseed in your 
diet if you are trying to manage prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
Flaxseed allergy is rare, but a few anaphylactic reactions have been 
reported in the medical literature. There is also potential cross-
reactivity between flaxseed and other allergens, including other seeds 
and legumes.
● Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Early research 
suggests that taking flaxseed oil in combination with vitamin C 
might improve attention, impulsiveness, restlessness, and self-
control in children with ADHD.
● Breast cancer. Women who have higher levels of alpha-linolenic 
acid in their breast tissue seem to be less likely to get breast 
cancer. Flaxseed oil contains alpha-linolenic acid, so it might 
protect against breast cancer.