Flaxseeds may be the smallest seeds you will find in any health food store, but there is nothing little about their enormous contribution to our overall health. Discovered in 5,000 BC, these little brown seeds were worshiped for their magical properties, such as healing the intestines, skin conditions, improving energy, and overall health.

Here are ten great reasons to eat flaxseeds every day:

1) Packed with minerals
Minerals not only build your bones, but give you energy. Flaxseeds contain 7 times more potassium than a banana and more calcium than a cup of skim milk! Consuming about a cup of flaxseeds per day will provide you with 831mg of Potassium, 236mg of Calcium, 431mg of Magnesium, and 112mcg of folic acid.

2) Help prevent cancer
Flaxseeds are rich in lignans, which have been researched and documented to have anti-cancer properties, especially in hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast, prostate, and endometrium. Lignans help excrete dangerous estrogens, which cause breast cancer, and they also help prevent estrogen-caused tumor growth. In addition, lignans prevent testosterone binding, which in turn helps prevent prostate cancer. The active ingredient in lignans, SDG, inhibits new tumor growth and development as well as the growth of established tumors. A cup of flaxseeds contains 53 mg of lignans, way more than fruits and veggies which contain about 0.001 mg.

3) Improve immune system strength
From HIV to the common cold, Omega 3s and lignans within flaxseeds help strengthen the immune cells. Research shows that this type of immune modulation has been helpful for auto-immune conditions such as Lupus and Rheumatoid arthritis.

4) Enhance brain development in infants
The omega 3s in flaxseeds have been shown to significantly improve brain and retina development in unborn infants and the infants of lactating mothers. This research recently allowed for the makers of infant formula to include this essential fat.

5) Loaded with healthy Omega 3 fat
Aside from fatty fish, flaxseeds are one of the only foods containing large amounts of the incredibly beneficial Omega 3 fat, which nourishes your brain and gives your skin and hair a healthy glow. A 1/2 cup of grounded seeds will give you up to 50 grams of Omega 3, which is a good daily dose.

6) Help you burn body fat
Our cells are loaded with unhealthy fats from fries and junk food, which slow down our metabolism and contribute to obesity. Adding in healthy Omega 3 fats and fiber gets your metabolism burning at a higher rate. In addition, flaxseeds are high in fiber and protein which help you feel fuller faster.

7) Eliminate constipation
Since flaxseeds are 30% fiber and 40% healthy fat, a cup of seeds daily provides 27 grams of fiber and 50 grams Omega 3s which work together to heal the intestines and provide constipation relief. This amount of fiber also meets the US National Cancer Institute recommendations for daily intake.

8) Improve hypoglycemia and diabetes
The fiber and protein in the seeds help keep blood sugar more stable throughout the day, because fiber slows the release of insulin.

9) Decrease risk of heart disease, coronary artery disease, and strokes
Flaxseeds are documented to decrease tryglicerides, increase good HDL, and decrease platelet reactivity, all of which are critical for keeping your heart and arteries healthy.

10) Decrease inflammation
Inflammation causes migraines, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, lupus, MS, psoriasis, and allergies. The omega 3s in flaxseeds inhibit inflammation by lowering inflammatory cytokines.

Incorporate flaxseeds in your diet today! You can find flax recipes and more info at http://www.RockwellNutrition.com.

Two excellent flax products are: FiPro Ground Flax Seeds by Oakmont Labs: http://www.rockwellnutrition.com/product.asp?itemid=782
Pure Organic Flaxseed Oil by Pharmax: http://www.rockwellnutrition.com/product.asp?itemid=44

Annika Rockwell

Annika is a Certified Nutritionist. She completed her B.A. at Swarthmore College, PA, in a Psychology Pre-Medical curriculum. She later attained her Nutrition Certification (CN®) through American Health Sciences University, CO. Since 1995, she has been working in the nutrition industry and as a nutritionist.

Since June 2000, Annika has owned and operated Rockwell Nutrition, Inc., offering top of the line, professional brand nutritional supplements, as well as private consultations to individuals requiring customized eating and supplement plans for their health concerns and goals. She has become skilled at using diagnostic tests including diet analysis, food allergy testing, blood tests, and hair analysis to help assess the best treatment options for women's health and conditions including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, low energy, and gastrointestinal ailments. Annika's specialty is her customized health programs which are unique for each client.

Annika has been serving as a consultant to several nutritional supplement companies including Millennium Nutritionals and the AHCC Research Association; providing assistance with technical support, nutritional research, product development, and marketing.

From 1996-2000, she was a nutrition researcher for Designs For Health Institute (DFHI), based in Boulder, CO., and trained under Robert Crayhon, CN, MS, acclaimed speaker, author, and nutrition expert. Annika is a Certified Designs For Health® Associate Nutritionist. She has completed several DFHI Advanced Training programs in Clinical Nutrition, which are the most comprehensive and scientifically based seminars related to macro- and micro-nutrition. In this capacity, she has for many years, been advising medical doctors and other practitioners on technical and other issues related to incorporating diet and use of nutritional supplements in their practice. Annika regularly attends nutrition and health seminars, including those hosted by Crayhon Research and IAACN, to keep up to date on the latest scientific findings and clinical tools to help her clients