More Benefits of Flax (Especially for those of us who are post-menopausal)

An article in Women's Health (July/August 2009) I read gave me more great news about the benefits of flax.

Flax has more lignans (a unique group of phytochemicals (plant chemicals) known as phytoestrogens, estrogen-like compounds that also act as antioxidants) than any other food. This is good because the estrogenlike compounds help reduce appetite and help shrink fat cells.

When you are post-menopausal your bodies estrogen production drops 40 or 60 percent. Eating a diet rich in healthy foods (and regular light to moderate exercise like walking) can improve your health and over all well being. By including more soy and flax in the diet as well as eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, seeds, nuts, and healthy oils, and decreasing animal fat intake, you can help work thru the regular symptoms of menopause and also improve you overall sense of well-being.

You can buy flax seed at most grocery stores. Great ways to get more flax in your diet is to sprinkle it on cereal or oatmeal, add it to your yogurt or smoothies. Also look for the ingredient in multigrain bread and cereals. Kashi has several choices of cereal containing flax (Honey Almond Flax Cereal).

These estrogen like compounds are also found in sesame seeds, hummus, and dried fruits.