Nov 6, 2009 8:09 pm US/Eastern
Go! NY Report: Nutritional Benefits Of Flaxseed
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
It's a nutritional super-seed that has some real benefits, but before you jump on the bandwagon, there are some things you should know about flaxseed.
Lori Dowdle is making her son's favorite breakfast on his eighth birthday.
"Let's make birthday pancakes this morning," Lori says.
Picky eater Mathias has no problem with the secret ingredient – flaxseed.
"You don't really taste it, but you can put it in a lot of things," Mathias says.
And his mother does. On this morning, it's in the muffins, smoothies, and peanut butter.
"I can throw it in everything," Lori says.
Some call flaxseed the most powerful plant on the planet. There's evidence that it lowers the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.
The seed has been around since the Middle Ages, but now it's found all over store shelves, in breads, chips granolas, and several other foods.
"It's a little bit of a craze, but a craze based in some credible science," nutritionist Regan Jones says.
Jones says flaxseed's benefits come from fiber and Omega-3 fatty acids.
"Universally, health experts agree Omega-3 fatty acids are healthy for us," she says.
Some studies are showing that flaxseed benefits breast and prostate cancer patients as well.
"There is evidence that flaxseed did have a positive impact in the biology of prostate cancer in about a month of use – that's quite remarkable," Dr. Vitaly Margulis, of UT Southwestern, says.
Jones says it's how you take your flaxseed that matters.
"I think it's a terrible misconception that people think they buy this, sprinkle it in muffin batter, and they're getting all the Omega-3 fatty acids," she says.
Whole seeds may not do much good – you need to grind them. A tablespoon of milled flaxseed is the best way to get your daily allowance.
"We have lots of history of blood pressure and heart disease, so I'd like to fight against that early on," Lori says.
There's no dispute that's happening at the Dowdle's table.
"I really like it, it's yummy," Mathias says.
Flaxseed has a nutty flavor, but when mixed with many foods will have no taste at all.
The shelf life for milled flaxseed and oil is six to 12 months, and it should be refrigerated. Cooking with flaxseed doesn't deplete its nutritional benefits.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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