A recent study that is more good news for those of us that love flax seed in our food suggests that it may be helping our gut bacteria prevent obesity by improving metabolic health!
If you are not familiar with the gut microbiome, you’ll want to learn much more about how important a healthy bunch of bacteria in your guts contributes to your digestion, immune system and energy levels. Our guts contain trillions of microbes (flora, bacteria, and bugs!) that are not only good for you, but they are also essential to your well-being. Not having the right amount of good “bugs” in our gut negatively impacts our physical and mental health.
In this new study mentioned here, researchers put mice on four different diets. A standard diet with soy-based fiber, a high-fat diet with no fiber, a high-fat diet with 10% indigestible cellulose fiber, and a high-fat diet with 10% flaxseed fiber.
The researchers then checked the amount of oxygen consumed, the amount of carbon dioxide produced, the amount of food and water consumed, the energy expended, and glucose tolerance.
The results and takeaway from the study? The flaxseed group was more physically active and had less weight gain than the other high-fat diet groups. Flaxseed fiber supplementation affects host metabolism by increasing energy expenditure and reducing obesity as well as by improving glucose tolerance. Mice that got the flaxseed also had higher levels of beneficial fatty acids and showed better glucose control.
“When examining the cecal contents, the research team found evidence that the bacteria present ferment fibers from the thick, glue-like layer of the flaxseed shell. The bacteria that perform fermentation then produce more beneficial fatty acids.”
This is exciting news indeed, and even more of a reason for you to get your flaxseed habit on! Order up some farm-fresh flaxseed, grind it up, and sprinkle it on fruit smoothies, yogurt, or mixed into your butter.
If a healthy gut doesn’t get you excited, how about an awesome blueberry flax muffin recipe?
Ingredients:
- ½ cup water, lukewarm
- 1 egg
- ½ cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp coconut oil, melted but not hot
- 1 ¼ cup combination of spelt, buckwheat, or whole wheat flour
- ¼ cup ground flax seeds
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
- You can also cook with flaxseed oil.
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°.
- Combine water, egg, honey, vanilla, and coconut oil in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
- In a separate bowl combine flour, ground flax, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing just until moistened.
- Fold in blueberries; pour into greased muffin tins.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.
There you go! Great info and a great recipe to help you get started on your new healthy lifestyle that includes regular consumption of the amazing flax seed from your friends here at North American Nutrition!
