Careful With That Flaxseed!

Image by KeRmo

Brrrrr! It is unusually cold weather here in the Pacific Northwest. My family back in the Midwest would probably call me a real wimp for making that comment, and they would be right. I remember those below zero days all too well, so our temperatures in the teens probably sounds balmy to them. However, now that I am completely acclimated to our milder temps here, this nippy weather takes some getting used to. I am running our fireplace every day and have clicked the thermostat up a few degrees. The air in our house is becoming much drier, too, since our furnace is running more. 

My eyes are really feeling the drop in humidity in this heated air. Time for me to review those things that help my poor scratchy eyes feel better. One strategy in particular, is increasing my intake of omega 3 fatty acids, both by eating fish such as salmon, but also by taking flaxseed oil supplements, as suggested by my doctor and also MayoClinic.com. Notice that the recommendation is made for flaxseed oil. 

When my doctor made this suggestion, I got on my trusty laptop and did a little research. I was surprised to read that whole flaxseed and ground flaxseed are rich in the precursor to omega 3 acids, but the whole and ground seed may cause unwanted symptoms in the intestines and other potential problems such as decreased clotting times and interference in hormone cycles for women. Again, these effects are caused when taking excess amounts of flaxseed, not flaxseed oil. This excerpt was taken from the Mayo Clinic's website: 

.....flaxseed or flaxseed oil taken by mouth may cause mania or hypomania in people with bipolar disorder. In theory, the laxative effects of flaxseed ( not flaxseed oil) may cause diarrhea, increased number of bowel movements, and abdominal discomfort. Laxative effects are reported in several studies of people taking flaxseed or omega-3 acids. People with diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, or inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) should avoid flaxseed due to its possible laxative effects. Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are reported in two individuals shortly after taking flaxseed products by mouth; these reactions may have been caused by allergy.

Large amounts of flaxseed by mouth may cause the intestines to stop moving (ileus). People with narrowing of the esophagus or intestine, ileus, or bowel obstruction should avoid flaxseed ( not flaxseed oil). Individuals with high blood triglycerides should avoid flaxseed and flaxseed oil due to unclear effects on triglyceride levels in animal research. People with diabetes should use caution if taking flaxseed products by mouth, as the omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed and flaxseed oil may increase blood sugar levels. 

One study reports that the menstrual period may be altered in women who take flaxseed powder by mouth daily. Due to the possible estrogen-like effects of flaxseed ( not flaxseed oil), it should be used cautiously in women with hormone sensitive conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine fibroids, or cancer of the breast, uterus, or ovary. Some natural medicine textbooks advise caution in patients with hypothyroidism, although little scientific information is available in this area. Flaxseed and flaxseed oil may increase the risk of bleeding, based on early studies that show decreased clotting of blood. Caution is advised in patients with bleeding disorders, in people taking drugs that increase the risk of bleeding, and in people planning to undergo medical, surgical, or dental procedures. Dosing of blood-thinning medications may need to be adjusted. In animal studies, flaxseed has increased the number of red blood cells.