Flaxseed But no one is suggesting you eat bird-sized portions; the recommendation is to eat the same food as our feathered friends – seeds.
Researchers from Iowa State University's Nutrition and Wellness Research Center found that cholesterol levels were reduced by 10% when male study participants took flaxseed lignan tablets daily for three months. For men who experience side effects when taking cholesterol-lowering drugs this is really good news.
Cholesterol medication can usually bring levels down between 10 and 20%, which makes flaxseed a genuine alternative to medication for some individuals. The tablets given to the study participants are equivalent to three tablespoons of flaxseeds (also known as linseed). But the researchers point out that whole seeds are not easily digestible, so ideally they should be ground before being eaten.
The study was undertaken on people who had already been diagnosed with high cholesterol levels and no side effects were reported.
Although women also took part in the study, they did not experience the same drop in cholesterol levels as the men. The researchers are unsure as to why this would be and plan further research.
First published April 6, 2010