What often overlooked super-food has been shown to have potential benefits against diabetes and certain cancers?
Flaxseed.
Flaxseed contains several biologically active components, including a high percentage of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and plant lignans. Lignans are one of the major classes of phytoestrogens, which are estrogen-like chemicals and also act as antioxidants. They have been the focus of a great deal of research and debate over the past decade.
Most of the debate that I have seen regarding the use of flaxseed by those with estrogen-sensitive cancers is that lignans are classified as phytoestrogens. This term scares a lot of people, medical and lay-persons alike.
When many people here the term ‘phytoestrogen’ they immediately thing of ‘estrogen’, which for many brings up all the negative research done on synthetic estrogen compounds (such as Premarin®). However, research has shown that plant lignans, such as those found in flaxseed, assist in cancer and heart disease prevention and help maintain bone strength.
Research backs flaxseed as a cancer-fighter
Recently, an international group of researchers from Canada, England and China summarized the health benefits of flaxseed. Their paper stated that the lignans in flaxseed have shown promise in reducing growth of cancerous tumors, especially hormone-sensitive ones such as those of the breast, endometrium and prostate.
They concluded that “flaxseed lignans could be a significant part of a treatment regimen for cancer based on the large number of small scale studies”. Therefore, flaxseed may provide a great way to augment current cancer therapies for those with hormone-sensitive cancers.
The research currently indicates that lignans operate as selective estrogen receptor modulators (or SERMs), which means they can operate in one or two beneficial ways.
The first way is that they can weakly engage estrogen receptors, figuratively flipping certain cellular ‘switches’ on or off. Translated, this means they are strong enough to bind to estrogen receptors, but not strong enough to elicit a negative response from the receptor.
This is why they’re beneficial in hormone-dependant cancers: They essentially block the receptor from firing, which inhibits the growth of the cancer.
Flaxseed lignans deliver the one-two punch
A second way lignans can have a beneficial effect is that research has recently discovered several different types of estrogen receptors, including alpha- and beta- receptors. Activation of the alpha-receptors is associated with many of the detrimental effects attributed to estrogen and synthetic estrogen medications. However, it has been discovered that activation of the beta-receptor counteracts these negative effects and offers many beneficial effects.
Lignans have been found to bind preferentially to the beta-receptors which provides protection against many types of cancers, in addition to cardiovascular disease and improved bone health.
In addition, research indicates that the manner in which they bind to those receptors may also initiate a process which increases apoptosis, or programmed cell death, of certain types of cancer (including prostate cancer). It makes the plant lignans in flaxseed a great 1-2 punch in the fight against cancer.
Blood Sugar Buster
Research has also shown that flaxseed reduces the blood sugar response after a meal, reduces insulin resistance and causes a reduction of blood sugar over time with regular consumption. All that, and it tastes a lot better than Metamucil®!
Most of the research looked at providing 30-50 grams/day of flaxseed – that’s about 2-3 Tbsp. Freshly ground flaxseed tastes great in smoothies, on salads, over steamed vegetables and in cereal or oatmeal. I suggest not cooking with flaxseed, as high heat will destroy much of the beneficial oils in the seeds.
The research on the positive effects of flaxseed lignans is encouraging news. In the ongoing battle against cancer, we welcome any tools which can help combat the deadly disease – especially one that goes great with salads and smoothies.
Original article/research:
Review backs flaxseed lignans’ cancer fighting potential