What about flaxseed?

[Shirley Martin]

Somebody mentioned flaxseed on the old SOC last year. I had never heard of it. I looked it up. I found it helps with digestion, i.e., constipation. I started eating it. It absolutely does help prevent constipation. BUT one side effect is flatulence. Which can lead to a very red face. I never eat it if I have to be out and about the next day. The package suggests mixing it with smoothies. I don't drink smoothies, so I just sprinkle it on sandwiches or whatever I'm eating. It's pretty good on a banana sandwich with mayonnaise.

It also supposedly has other health benefits.

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Uses & Effectiveness
Possibly Effective for

Constipation. Flaxseed is a good source of dietary fiber. Eating flaxseed in muffins or other foods seems to increase bowel movements in young adults and people with diabetes.

Diabetes. Taking flaxseed by mouth might slightly improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. Benefits seem to be greatest with ground flaxseed and when used for at least 12 weeks.

High cholesterol. Taking flaxseed by mouth seems to help reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol. It seems to work the best in people with high cholesterol and in people who are overweight. It's unclear if taking flaxseed improves triglyceride levels. Taking flaxseed doesn't seem to improve high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good") cholesterol levels.

High blood pressure. Taking flaxseed by mouth may slightly reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.

Breast pain (mastalgia). Eating a flaxseed muffin daily for 3 months or taking flaxseed powder by mouth daily for 2 months seems to reduce breast pain that occurs at the start of the menstrual cycle.

Obesity. Taking flaxseed by mouth may help reduce body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist size in adults who are overweight or obese. Taking at least 30 grams of flaxseed daily for at least 12 weeks seems to work best. Flaxseed mucilage may also help to reduce weight, although flaxseed lignan extract doesn't seem to help.

Swelling (inflammation) of the kidneys in people with lupus. Taking whole or ground flaxseed by mouth seems to improve kidney function in people with SLE.

Possibly Ineffective for
Weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis). Taking flaxseed by mouth doesn't seem to help bone density in people with osteoporosis.
There is interest in using flaxseed for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

 

[Marie Miller]

Soak it in water and add to bread dough. If you are a member of the fridge soaked oats tribe - add it to your oats.

I add it to home made crackers. It is a crunchy addition. It is part of “all bagel “.

 

[Jacob Petersheim]

I add ground flaxseed to things like oatmeal and even pancake batter and... meatloaf and meatballs! There is also more nutritional value in it than just fiber too.

I keep it in a dark, dry, cool location but I think when I buy more I'll start keeping it in the freezer.

 

[Don Alaska]

Shirley, I think you may have to deal with the flatulence for a while. You can reduce your intake and gradually increase it to allow your gut flora to adjust to the increase in fermentable fiber. Usually the flatulence will reduce as time goes on.

 

[Jacob Petersheim]

That or look for a small rubber duck keychain that you can pull out and honk to show that it wasn't you.

 

[Faye Fox]

I not only eat flaxseed and take the oil capsules, but I also have a flaxseed microwave heating pad.

I haven't experienced flatulent from it or any bad side effects. It is a win win for me. I did have the walking farts recently while at the hospital, but that was from drinking a double shot mocha on a mostly empty stomach. I wasn't embarrassed about my walking farts, until I got on a crowded elevator, headed to the 10th floor, and the farts started again.