Flax seeds contain high up to 57%** omega-3 fatty acids and is a rich source of lignans. Certain studies have shown that these acids may be helpful for certain people with breast, colon and prostate cancers*. Also it’s possible that flax can lower cholesterol, especially in women*.

 

Canada is the world’s largest producer of flax seeds, producing 34% of world production in 2007, followed by China (25%) and India (9%). Flax is a crop that can be used as part of a crop rotation exercise and does particularly well in fields that were previously planted with cereals. On the other hand it’s not fond of soils previously inhabited by potatoes or sugar beets.

 

According to the Flax Council of Canada, 5 grams of flaxseed oil or 8 grams of milled flax will provide enough omega-3 oil to meet daily requirements. Flax is particularly beneficial to vegetarians, and the vegetarian diet is particularly healthy and Zen. Both shortening and eggs can be replaced in recipes by flax seed oil (Recipes and examples).

 

Other sources of omega-3 oils are fish, hempseed, walnuts and krill. Fish and krill are problematic from a health point of view in that they are animal products and are exposed to pollutants in the sea and the effects of fish factory farming. Hempseed and walnuts contain less omega-3 than flaxseeds, but can add diversity to the diet which is a good thing.

Fun flax factoid: flax is also known as linseed oil, which has traditionally been used to varnish cricket bats to keep them hard!

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flax (accessed 10th March 2010)
** http://www.flaxcouncil.ca/  (accessed 10th March 2010)

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nick-od/3731812321 and http://www.flickr.com/photos/alza06/3692484256/