Breast health tip - Flaxseeds for breast health

The National Institute of Health and Medical Research in Villejuif, France, evaluated the relationship between the amount of plant lignans in a woman’s diet and breast cancer. The follow up study over seven years showed that the women with the highest amount of lignans in their diet had a 17 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer compared with women having the lowest dietary lignan levels.
The study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on March, 2007.

Fruits, vegetables and whole-grain cereals are products rich in lignans.

Flaxseeds are a rich and easily available source of plant lignans. The phytoestrogens in plant lignans are secoisolariciresinol (SECO) and matairesinol. These phytoestrogens are converted in the intestine to weak estrogens. These weak estrogens stimulate the production of progesterone receptors, which helps in the protection from breast cancer. The lignans in flaxseed also influence estrogen metabolism helping to decrease the harmful estrogens while increasing the protective estrogen. The plant lignans are primarily in the seeds.
Flaxseeds are readily available at your local health food store. Buy organic flaxseeds if possible. Grind them daily in a small coffee grinder just prior to consumption so that the oil in the seeds does not become rancid. The ground flax can then be used in baked goods, cereal, sprinkled on salads or added to shakes. Try and eat 2 tablespoons daily for an inexpensive and easy proactive health solution.

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