A lot has been written in the past few years about the importance of getting healthy fats in your diet. Your body does need some fat. In fact, fat is necessary for normal brain development. Fat also provides energy and supports growth.
The problem is that, after about two years of age, your body only needs small amounts of fat. And in the average North American diet, fats can be much more prominent than this — especially the bad kinds of fats.
Make sure that the small amount of dietary fat you need each day is the healthy variety. Eat meals that contain polyunsaturated fatty acids as opposed to saturated fatty acids. What’s a good source of polyunsaturated fatty acids? Flaxseed.
Whole flaxseed contains 28% dietary fiber, 40% fat (73% of it being polyunsaturated fatty acids), and 21% protein. Flaxseed also contains vitamins E and B, sterols, and mineral nutrients such as calcium, iron and potassium.
What makes flaxseed particularly beneficial for you? More than 50% of the fat in flaxseed is an essential fatty acid called omega-3 fatty acid (i.e. alpha-linolenic acid or ALA ). This makes flaxseed the richest plant source of omega-3 fatty acid. Flaxseed is also rich in antioxidants, and other phenolic molecules.
This tiny seed packs a powerful punch when it comes to boosting your good health. The essential fatty acids in flaxseed have been found by medical researchers to offer protection against Alzheimer’s. Other benefits include: improved cognitive function, depression prevention, and use as a shield against dementia. Many who take flaxseed every day also report that feelings of irritability and confusion disappear after adding the seeds to their diet.
So the next time you’re at the grocery store, pick up some ground flaxseed (the nutrients are much easier to digest in this form.) You’ll be getting a natural source of ALA. ALA has been shown in clinical trials to be a potent protector of the brain. In one study, animals treated with ALA showed lower neuronal death, and fewer seizures and hippocampal lesions.
ALA can be found in seed oils, such as flax, as already mentioned, and walnut, canola, kiwi and hemp. You can also get ALA from green leafy vegetables. Alternately, you can take ALA in supplement form.
Flaxseed is relatively inexpensive, needs no preparation, and can be added to most meals.