Features of the composition of linseed oil
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As you might guess, flaxseed oil is obtained from dried flax seeds by pressing. The finished product has a slightly yellowish tint and a pleasant, sweetish taste.
Flaxseed oil is rich in fatty acids such as:
- palmitic acid;
- stearic acid;
- arachidonic acid;
- oleic acid;
- linoleic acid;
- alpha-linolenic acid.
The calorie content of one tablespoon (14 g) is 126 kcal.
The benefits of flaxseed oil for the male body: 7 main effects
Disclaimer: Below are the positive effects of flaxseed oil that have been found in various studies. However, the findings do not mean that flaxseed oil alone can cope with any diseases. Do not self-medicate and if you have any health problems, consult a doctor.
Flaxseed oil, like other herbal products, can be part of treatment, but should not become a complete replacement for qualified medical care.
Lower blood pressure
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According to Rosstat, over 10 years the number of people with high blood pressure (hypertension) in Russia has increased by 57 percent, and in 2021 there were more than one and a half million.
Moreover, this problem is relevant not only for the elderly, but also for young people. Thus, specialists from the National Medical Research Center for Children’s Health of the Russian Ministry of Health called hypertension “one of the most common diseases” among schoolchildren.
You can read about what pressure is normal for your age in a separate article.
- FAQs Normal blood pressure by age in men: everything you need to know about this vital indicator These numbers you need to know.
Fortunately, according to Greek researchers, flaxseed oil may help those suffering from high blood pressure. In their 12-week study, 59 middle-aged men found that consuming flaxseed oil resulted in a significant reduction in blood pressure readings.
Fighting depression
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According to a Japanese study, simply adding flaxseed oil or flaxseeds to your diet may be beneficial in fighting this serious disease.
A study by scientists from the Land of the Rising Sun found that patients with depression often have lower levels of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentanoic acid—the same acids found in various foods such as fish, walnuts and flax.
Improved Gut Health
In a Brazilian study of 50 patients, adding 4 ml of flaxseed oil daily helped relieve constipation. In addition, flaxseed oil also improved symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), reducing inflammation in 40 patients with the condition in a study conducted at King's College London.
It is currently unclear which components of flaxseed may be responsible for these effects, so further testing is needed.
Preventing skin cancer
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Research by Polish scientists has shown how harmful regular tanning is to our skin. But if you can't resist sunbathing or spend a lot of time outside in the summer, then it might be worth applying a little flaxseed oil over your sunscreen.
Large-scale studies have not yet been conducted in humans, but the Omaha scientists found that mice given flaxseed supplements had a reduction in the risk of developing melanoma tumors by as much as 63 percent.
Source of Omega-3
In flaxseed oil you can find an impressive amount of mega-healthy substances. So, in one tablespoon of flaxseed oil with a volume of 15 ml - almost half of the volume (namely 7.196 mg) is Omega-3 fatty acids.
As a reminder, Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation, improve heart health, and protect the brain from aging. Another important source of Omega-3s is fish and fish oil, but if for some reason you don't want or can't include them in your diet, then flaxseed oil is an excellent plant-based alternative.
Prevention of prostate cancer
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Another exceptional benefit of flaxseed oil for men is its ability to help fight prostate cancer. One American study of 161 prostate cancer patients found that flaxseed appeared to significantly reduce the rate of cancer cell formation.
How so? Another study suggests that this is likely due to the fact that flaxseed has the ability to interfere with the events that lead to the production of cancer cells.
Reduced inflammation
In a study of 100 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, which is characterized by long-term pain and numbness in the fingers, participants reported an improvement in their symptoms after topical application of flaxseed oil. After just a month of applying this oil to problem areas, inflammation and pain have noticeably decreased.
In rats, injections of flaxseed oil under the skin helped reduce inflammation by preventing blood vessels from dilating.
Why and how to drink oil on an empty stomach
It is recommended to get acquainted with the information about why you drink flaxseed oil:
- For weight loss. Any diet includes vegetable oils. It could also be flaxseed. It is seasoned with vegetable salads and used as an additive to porridge. The product helps reduce appetite, because it saturates the body with nutrients, cleanses the body of harmful substances and has a laxative effect, which also helps to get rid of extra pounds.
- For treatment. Flax oil, taken orally on an empty stomach, normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. But you shouldn’t expect the same effect if you use it at other times of the day or at the same time as other oily foods.
- For prevention. The drug, taken regularly for preventive purposes, helps to avoid colds and prevents the development of cardiovascular pathologies. It helps those who experience seasonal hair loss and helps get rid of brittle nails.
- During pregnancy. The ability of a flax seed product to normalize hormonal levels makes it useful during pregnancy. The oil saturates the body with useful substances and prevents the appearance of stretch marks. You should consult your doctor before taking it.
- Women. Flax seed oil supports women's health. It is recommended during the treatment of gynecological diseases, such as endometriosis. During menopause, oil helps cope with mood swings and sleep disturbances.
- For children. Oil promotes the physical and intellectual development of the child. They can replace fish oil, which most children do not like. Oil can be added to non-hot porridges, cottage cheese and yogurt.
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The doctor you should contact for advice will tell you how to drink flaxseed oil correctly, since there are several ways to take it. The most popular is the following. In the morning, 20-30 minutes before breakfast, you should take 1 tsp. After 2 weeks, the norm increases to 2 tsp. Duration of treatment: 2 months. After completing the course, you must take a month's break, after which the therapy is repeated. But you can immediately take 2 tsp.
In accordance with scheme 2, the oil is consumed 2 times a day - morning and evening. In the morning - 1 tsp. 20 minutes before breakfast, and in the evening - 1 tsp. 2 hours after dinner. The duration of treatment is 2 months, then a break of 1 month is taken.
It is recommended to drink the oil with water, or you can eat a piece of black bread. These recommendations will help those who do not like the taste of the product. Some people experience nausea while taking it. A slice of lemon will help you cope with it.
How to take flaxseed oil for men
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One of the main advantages of flaxseed oil is its versatility! Season any vegetable salads, stews and pasta with this oil, sprinkle flaxseeds on food (they will add piquancy to any dish), use it to prepare various sauces. Alternatively, you can drink a tablespoon of this oil every day on your own (for example, on an empty stomach).
However, we do not recommend using it for frying, as it produces a lot of smoke and can form harmful compounds when heated.
Flaxseed oil is also often used for cosmetic purposes, applied to hair to stimulate growth and create a healthy shine. In addition, as we mentioned above, in the summer it can be applied to the skin on top of sunscreen before going outside.
Harm of flaxseed oil for men
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At the moment, there is no universal dose of flaxseed oil recommended for daily use by men. Also, no overdose from flaxseed oil has been recorded.
We recommend using flaxseed oil instead of sunflower and olive oil for variety.
Just don’t forget to pay attention to the quality of the oil you purchase! We recommend buying it from stores you trust, paying attention to the quality of the label and the uniformity of the liquid in the bottle. Also be sure to check the bottling date.
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Please note that flaxseed oil has a very short shelf life; it becomes rancid in just a couple of weeks, so always purchase freshly pressed oil in small glass bottles.
It is also worth mentioning that when taken in too large quantities and without enough water, flaxseed oil can cause such unpleasant consequences as:
- bloating;
- increased gas formation;
- diarrhea.
Sometimes the use of flaxseed oil causes an allergic reaction. Therefore, if itching, swelling, discomfort when swallowing or nausea occurs, you should stop taking this oil immediately.
- FAQ: 7 non-obvious but important allergy symptoms (one is even related to libido)
Because flaxseed oil may reduce blood clotting, it is recommended that you stop using flaxseed oil completely two weeks before your scheduled surgery.
Storage rules
Sun rays negatively affect the composition of this product. For protection, manufacturers bottle it in dark glass containers. If you purchased a product packaged in plastic bottles, you must pour it into a glass container. The oil should be stored in a tightly closed container in the refrigerator.
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Interaction of flaxseed oil with various drugs
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Anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs and supplements
These types of medications and supplements reduce blood clotting. Flaxseed oil may also reduce blood clotting. It is possible that taking them at the same time as flaxseed oil may increase the risk of bleeding.
Medicines to lower blood pressure
Taking this oil with medications, herbs and supplements that lower blood pressure can cause your blood pressure levels to drop significantly.
Diabetes medications
Flaxseed may lower blood sugar levels. Taking flaxseed oil with glucose-lowering medications, herbs, or supplements with hypoglycemic potential can significantly lower blood sugar levels.
Benefits and harms, vitamin content
Vitamin A in the oil improves the elasticity of blood vessels, which reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack, helps in the fight against hypertension, has a positive effect in the prevention of the formation of gallstones, atherosclerosis and thrombosis, a good remedy for improving the functioning of the digestive tract, which helps normalize fat exchange and talk about losing weight. According to some studies, there is evidence that flaxseed oil slows down the growth of tumor cells.
Have you ever taken flaxseed oil for weight loss?
Not really
The oil helps in solving problems of the endocrine system, lowers the level of “bad” cholesterol in the blood, reduces blood viscosity, which is positive for the prevention of varicose veins, helps solve constipation problems, very well and noticeably improves the condition of the skin and hair, helps improve blood supply to the brain, an assistant in restoration of hormonal levels in men and women. Vitamin K helps in the process of hematopoiesis.
The oil is sold in dark glass containers, as light quickly deteriorates and loses its positive properties. Only unrefined oil can be considered useful and can be used both externally and internally.
It must be stored only in the refrigerator, even room temperature is not suitable for this, especially for oil purchased in pharmacy chains in gelatin capsules; it is comfortable to take for people who cannot stand the smell of oil. If the oil is spoiled, it smells like fish oil and tastes like burnt seeds. Incorrectly stored oil can bring not only benefit, but rather significant harm to your health. The oil should not be taken with additives as this will not increase its benefits.
Flaxseed oil must be included in our diet; as has already been said, it has a positive effect on metabolism, removes waste, toxins and other harmful substances from the body, helps normalize digestion, provides necessary vitamins, and helps relieve swelling. Taking flaxseed oil is very often used for weight loss. But you should not think that the result will appear instantly.
Diet and weight loss with flaxseed oil
A diet based on the consumption of flaxseed oil lasts up to three months and is divided into two stages:
It is necessary to “accustom” your body to regularly taking oil. The oil should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening before bed, starting with a teaspoon 30-40 minutes before meals, and then after 15-20 minutes drink a glass of water and gradually, by the end of the seven days, increasing the portion to a tablespoon. From the eighth day everything remains the same as the first week, but the intake of oil is added during the day with its consumption in any non-hot dishes.
You can also use flax seed for weight loss. 1 tablespoon is enough. The seed can be consumed in its pure form with water or added to salads, meat and other dishes. The rules for taking flax seeds are the same as for taking oil.
