By: HR January 31, 2010
Flax Seeds
Diabetes is a debilitating disease for many people and although you can’t control everything about the disease, you can control what you eat. Adding the right food item to your diabetic food list can help in your efforts to maintain low blood glucose and that can help you better manage your diabetes.
This article is one of a series describing particular supplementary food items that are thought to be effective in lowering blood glucose as well as providing other health and nutritionally related benefits.
Flax seeds, what are the benefits?
Flax seeds are tiny seeds that provide an extreme nutrition payload. A small amount of flax seed provides many benefits. Flax seeds are high in several key nutrients, including magnesium, manganese, and most B vitamins. That alone makes them healthy, but there is much more to flax seeds than that.
Flax seeds are very high in fiber. Fiber in the diet helps to regulate blood sugar, and it also helps to lower cholesterol. Fiber also helps to regulate intestinal functioning. The high fiber in flax seeds is part of what makes it such a great food for diabetics. Because of the high amount of fiber in flax, it’s best to slowly increase the amount of flax seeds in your diet.
Flax seeds are a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are vital to any diet, and this important fatty acid has been shown to help with such chronic diseases as cancer, diabetes, depression, and heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish, walnuts, and flax seeds, and it is recommended to utilize all three sources.
Another benefit to flax seeds is that they are high in phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are chemicals found in plants that are beneficial to the body. Because of the phytochemicals, flax seeds are full of antioxidants, they boost the immune system, and there are many other health benefits. The phytochemicals in flax seeds may also help prevent diabetes and help control it. This is yet another reason why flax seeds are one of the best foods for diabetics.
How do you eat Flax seeds?
Flax seeds don’t provide the health benefits if they are not ground up. The whole seeds just pass through the body without releasing the nutrients. A regular coffee grinder will serve the purpose of grinding up the flax seed, the best way to use it. Flax seed oil also doesn’t provide the full nutritional benefit.
The ground-up flax can be used in many ways. You can sprinkle it on salads, breakfast cereals, yogurt, and shakes. It can also be cooked into foods such as casseroles, meatloaf, and pasta. A few tablespoons of flax can also be added to baked goods such as muffins, bread, and pizza crust. The possibilities are endless for adding flax seeds into your diet.
Make sure to store flax seeds properly, as they can go rancid quickly. When whole, flax seeds should be stored in a dry, dark, cool place. Flax meal stored in the refrigerator or freezer will keep for several weeks.
Flax seeds are one of the diabetes foods that provide tremendous benefits to your health. Not only does it help with controlling diabetes and lowering blood sugar, but it can also help with a myriad of other health concerns. Begin adding flax to your diet slowly and enjoy the health benefits of this super food.
Return to Introduction Page and Articles List
No related posts.
Tags: diabetes, diabetes foods foods for diabetics, diabetic, Diabetic food list, flax seeds