Freshly ground flaxseeds are a source of dietary fiber. Fiber from flaxseeds may help lower cholesterol and reduce constipation for some people. The gut microflora bacteria in your stomach and intestines can affect everything from our moods to how well cancer treatments work.

We've learned that it's possible to change the number and diversity of bacteria in the digestive system through our diets, and flaxseed may have a role in this process.

A diet high in fiber correlates with healthier gut microflora. Fiber, including the fiber in flaxseeds, acts as a prebiotic, feeding the gut bacteria , maintaining beneficial bacteria, and keeping the bad bacteria in check.

Recent studies have found that how well a person responds to cancer immunotherapy treatment is related to a healthy diversity of the gut microflora. Flaxseeds and sesame seeds are both sources of lignans , a plant-based estrogen. Lignans may act as a weak estrogen, binding to estrogen receptors on cells in breast and endometrial tissues.

This action may protect cells that are susceptible to cancer-associated damage from estrogen exposure. Alphalinolenic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid, that is not made in your body—it must come from food. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that help reduce inflammation.

When omega-3s are part of a well-balanced diet—which includes vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and selenium—the combination of nutrients may help reduce breast cancer-associated inflammation.

If you're taking flaxseed as a laxative, drink plenty of water to avoid constipation or intestinal blockage because the seeds expand during digestion. Your body needs time to absorb the components of flaxseed, so wait a while before taking any other supplements or medications.

Avoid flaxseed oil if you are allergic to flax or if you are pregnant or nursing. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have diabetes or if you're on blood thinners; flaxseed can lower blood sugar and may increase bleeding. If you've had estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer, check with your doctor before using flaxseed products.

You can add flaxseed to muffins, cookies, add ground flaxseed to cereal, yogurt, or a smoothie. Sometimes flaxseed has a distinct taste that may be a little bitter, especially in baked goods. Adding flavors like banana, chocolate chip, cinnamon, and cranberry-orange can help with this.

Flaxseed is a small dietary ingredient, but it contains many chemicals and properties that may help improve health. Research studies are examining whether it could potentially help fight cancer.

Before adding it to your diet, talk with your healthcare provider. Flaxseed should not be used as a replacement for any medication or treatment, and it may have negative effects for some people. Flaxseed may help with gut health and weight loss because of its high fiber content; it also might help relieve constipation for some people.

It may have beneficial effects on heart health and blood pressure. There is no official recommendation for daily intake. No more than 1 to 2 tablespoons is a generally accepted healthy daily amount. You should not use flaxseed if you are pregnant or nursing. Flaxseed may interfere with bleeding and blood sugar levels so if you have diabetes or a bleeding disorder, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about whether flaxseed is safe for you to take.

Before anyone starts incorporating flaxseed into their diet, checking with your healthcare provider is always a good idea. The possible benefits are being studied because flaxseed contains lignans.

Certain components of lignans have antiestrogen properties and may also reduce cancer cell growth. She also believed that the oil could stop cancers from growing. Flax is a plant grown in many parts of the world. Pressing its seeds produces flaxseed linseed oil to use in cooking or as a food supplement.

The seeds contain high levels of fibre and many vitamins and minerals. As well as flaxseed and cottage cheese, the Budwig diet is rich in fruit, vegetables and fibre. Dr Budwig also asked her patients to sunbathe and take walks in nature.

They had to do this for 20 minutes a day. She believed that the sun supplied the body with vitamins. The vitamins strengthened the immune system. And she believed that it also helped to balance blood pressure, cholesterol and pH levels in the body.

People with cancer use the Budwig diet because flax seed contains omega Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids have some effect on cancer cells. The omega-3 reduces the levels of certain chemicals associated with cancer.

Flax seed also contains substances called lignans and phyto estrogens. They have anti-cancer and hormonal effects. But researchers are still investigating this. There is not enough evidence to say that this diet can prevent or treat cancer in humans.

Dr Budwig wrote books and papers. In these, she gave evidence of people that had been treated with her diet. She also explained how the diet works to kill cancer cells. But she did not publish clinical trials in medical journals. You make the mixture of cottage cheese, flax seed oil and some low-fat milk.

You can have it as part of a muesli made from ground or whole flax seeds. You can also add some fruit, nuts and honey to the seeds. There have also been reports of a few allergic reactions.

Taking high doses of flaxseed without enough water can cause bowel blockages obstruction. Flaxseed may interact with some medicines. It can stop the absorption of some drugs. That is if you take them with flaxseeds. Talk to your doctor if you are thinking of trying the Budwig diet. They might tell you not to have it if you have one or more of the following conditions:.

Eating plenty of vegetables and fruit is part of a healthy diet. But restricting your diet might not be right for you. However, because antibiotics kill these bacteria, lignans might not be formed as usual. This might alter the effects of flaxseed. Flaxseed can act like the female hormone estrogen.

It might compete with drugs that contain estrogen. Flaxseed might make these estrogen-containing drugs less effective. Flaxseed might lower blood sugar levels. Taking flaxseed along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low.

Monitor your blood sugar closely. Flaxseed might lower blood pressure. Taking flaxseed along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.

Flaxseed might slow blood clotting. Taking flaxseed along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding. Are there any interactions with herbs and supplements? Information on this website is for informational use only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Always check with your doctor or other medical professional before making healthcare decisions including taking any medication and do not delay or disregard seeking medical advice or treatment based on any information displayed on this website.

All rights reserved. Skip to content. Flaxseed Share. NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Possibly Effective for … Constipation. Flaxseed is a good source of dietary fiber. Eating flaxseed in muffins or other foods seems to increase bowel movements in young adults and people with diabetes. Taking flaxseed by mouth might slightly improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.

Benefits seem to be greatest with ground flaxseed and when used for at least 12 weeks. High cholesterol. It seems to work the best in people with high cholesterol and in people who are overweight.

Iron plays an important role in producing hemoglobin — the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Many cancer survivors have low hemoglobin levels caused by their type of cancer treatment. Examples of iron-rich foods include proteins like lean ground beef, eggs and shrimp.

Grains like oatmeal and brown rice also have iron. Other iron rich examples include spinach, beans and peanut butter. When it comes to staying healthy after cancer, the most important thing is to eat a well-balanced, plant-based diet.

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Outreach Programs Outreach Programs Outreach Programs Home Project ECHO Observer Programs Comparative Effectiveness Training CERTaIN. Cancerwise 08 3 nutrients cancer survivors should know. Jump To:. August 09, Omega-3 fatty acids Omega-3 fatty acids have several health benefits.

Flaxseed Although flaxseed is classified as an omega-3, it has additional health benefits. Iron Iron plays an important role in producing hemoglobin — the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.

Topics Nutrition Survivorship. Read More by Molly Adams. Request an Appointment. Coronavirus Precautions. Help EndCancer. Give Now. The cadmium and copper content of flaxseed are the reason we recommend consuming flaxseed in moderation. Flaxseed oil does not have the significant B vitamin, fiber, lignan or heavy metal content of flaxseed.

Instead, it incorporates concentrated levels of the omega-3 fatty acid ALA found in flaxseed. One study comparing flaxseed with sesame seeds also high in lignans came to the conclusion that the breast cancer protective qualities of flaxseed were due to its high ALA content as much as its lignan content.

Another study concluded that the lignan component of flaxseed appears to be most beneficial throughout the promotional phase of carcinogenesis whereas the oil component is more effective at the stage when tumors have already been established. Refined cold pressed flaxseed oil has almost no heavy metal content.

Consumption of ALA is associated with reduced breast cancer risk. Flaxseed oil is among the best sources of this plant-derived omega-3 fatty acid. ALA is partially converted during metabolism into eicosapentaenoic acid EPA and docosahexaenoic acid DHA found in abundance in fatty fish , which have been reported to have chemopreventive effects in numerous studies.

However, note that the conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA can be blocked in the presence of vegetable oils with high omega-6 fatty acid content e. Therefore, flaxseed and flaxseed oil should be consumed separately from such oils. Flaxseed does not contain compounds known to interact and directly interfere with drugs used in breast cancer treatments.

In fact, various flaxseed components and flaxseed itself have been shown to enhance the treatment effects of various types of breast cancer therapies. Enterolactone has been found to increase the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to radiation , thereby potentially enhancing the treatment effects of radiotherapy.

Flaxseed itself has been shown to protect the lungs during radiotherapy for lung cancer without reducing the efficacy of the treatment. Flaxseed, flaxseed oil, and the lignan secoisolariciresinol each have been shown to reduce tumor size in combination with tamoxifen more than tamoxifen alone in animal models of breast cancer.

Because of the high nutrient content of flaxseed, it is subject to spoilage and must be stored and handled properly.

Make sure the market where you purchase flaxseed whether prepackaged or from bulk bin has frequent product turnover. Check for moisture before buying flaxseed and discard any flaxseed stored at home if there is any evidence of moisture or a rancid smell.

Whole flaxseed can safely be stored in an airtight container in a dry, dark, and cool place for several months. Ground flaxseed is also available; the nutrients in ground seeds are more easily absorbed. However, ground flaxseed is more subject to oxidation and spoilage than whole flaxseed and should be kept refrigerated.

Flaxseed oil should be stored refrigerated in an opaque container. It is best used at room temperature rather than in frying. In other words. flaxseed oil should be added to foods after they have been heated, if desired, or used in salad dressings or cold sauces prepared without heating.

Flaxseed oil is used in stir-frying in parts of Asia, but this is not optimal. One study that examined the effects of using flaxseed oil in stir-frying found that pan-heating caused a significant loss of important nutrients, as well as increases in undesirable oxidation products.

The information above, which is updated continually as new research becomes available, has been developed based solely on the results of academic studies. Clicking on any of the underlined terms will take you to its tag or webpage, which contain more extensive information.

Below are links to 20 recent studies concerning this food. For a more complete list, including less recent studies, please click on flaxseed.

Li J, Gao P, Qin M, Wang J, Luo Y, Deng P, et al. Long-term cadmium exposure induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells by activating CYP1B1-mediated glutamine metabolic reprogramming in BT cells and MMTV-Erbb2 mice.

Science of The Total Environment. Elsevier BV; ; Kauser S, Hussain A, Ashraf S, Fatima G, Ambreen , Javaria S, et al. Flaxseed Linum usitatissimum ; phytochemistry, pharmacological characteristics and functional food applications.

Food Chemistry Advances. Fernández-Martínez NF, Rodríguez-Barranco M, Huerta JM, Gil F, Olmedo P, Molina-Montes E, et al. Breast cancer risk for the joint exposure to metals and metalloids in women: Results from the EPIC-Spain cohort.

Coradduzza D, Congiargiu A, Azara E, Mammani IMA, De Miglio MR, Zinellu A, et al. Heavy metals in biological samples of cancer patients: a systematic literature review. Springer Science and Business Media LLC; ; Ojha PK, Poudel DK, Rokaya A, Maharjan S, Timsina S, Poudel A, et al. Chemical Compositions and Essential Fatty Acid Analysis of Selected Vegetable Oils and Fats.

MDPI AG; ; Wang J, Li J, Liu J, Chan K, Lee H, Lin KN, et al. Interplay of Ferroptosis and Cuproptosis in Cancer: Dissecting Metal-Driven Mechanisms for Therapeutic Potentials. Matthew KA, Getz KR, Jeon MS, Luo C, Luo J, Toriola AT. Associations of Vitamins and Related Cofactor Metabolites with Mammographic Breast Density in Premenopausal Women.

The Journal of Nutrition. Jamali M, Zarezadeh M, Jamilian P, Ghoreishi Z. The effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on inflammation status in cancer patients: updated systematic review and dose- and time-response meta-analysis.

van Die MD, Bone KM, Visvanathan K, Kyrø C, Aune D, Ee C, et al. Phytonutrients and outcomes following breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

JNCI Cancer Spectrum. Oxford University Press OUP ; ; Wu D, Thompson LU, Comelli EM. Cecal microbiota and mammary gland microRNA signatures are related and modifiable by dietary flaxseed with implications for breast cancer risk. Microbiology Spectrum. American Society for Microbiology; ; Grudzińska M, Galanty A, Paśko P.

Front Nutr. Liu K, Lu C. Gut microbes modulate host response to immune checkpoint cancer immunotherapy. Translational Cancer Research. Freitas RDS, Campos MM. Protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids in cancer-related complications. doi: Rajavi SD, Samy KK. Flax seed and climacteric symptoms - a review.

Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences. By Jaime R. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance.

Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. Herndon, MS, MPH. Medically reviewed by Arno Kroner, DAOM. Frequently Asked Questions What is flaxseed good for?

How much flaxseed should you have per day? Who should not eat flaxseed? Is flaxseed good for estrogen-positive breast cancer? Foods That May Help Fight Cancer. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.

Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Originally written by Pam Stephan. See Our Editorial Process. Meet Our Medical Expert Board. Information on this website is for informational use only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Always check with your doctor or other medical professional before making healthcare decisions including taking any medication and do not delay or disregard seeking medical advice or treatment based on any information displayed on this website. All rights reserved.

Skip to content. Flaxseed Share. NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Possibly Effective for … Constipation. Flaxseed is a good source of dietary fiber. Eating flaxseed in muffins or other foods seems to increase bowel movements in young adults and people with diabetes. Taking flaxseed by mouth might slightly improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.

Benefits seem to be greatest with ground flaxseed and when used for at least 12 weeks. High cholesterol. It seems to work the best in people with high cholesterol and in people who are overweight.

High blood pressure. Taking flaxseed by mouth may slightly reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. Breast pain mastalgia.

Eating a flaxseed muffin daily for 3 months or taking flaxseed powder by mouth daily for 2 months seems to reduce breast pain that occurs at the start of the menstrual cycle. Taking flaxseed by mouth may help reduce body weight, body mass index BMI , and waist size in adults who are overweight or obese.

Taking at least 30 grams of flaxseed daily for at least 12 weeks seems to work best. Swelling inflammation of the kidneys in people with lupus. Taking whole or ground flaxseed by mouth seems to improve kidney function in people with SLE. Possibly Ineffective for … Weak and brittle bones osteoporosis.

When taken by mouth : Flaxseed is likely safe for most adults. Adding flaxseed to the diet might increase the number of bowel movements each day. It might also cause side effects such as bloating, gas, stomachache, and nausea.

Higher doses are likely to cause more side effects. Taking raw or unripe flaxseed by mouth is possibly unsafe. Thompson LU, Rickard SE, Cheung F, et al. Variability in anticancer lignan levels in flaxseed.

Nutr Cancer ; Serriano M, Thompson LU. The effect of flaxseed supplementation on early risk markers for mammary carcinogenesis. Cancer Lett ; Rickard SE, Yuan YV, Thompson LU. Plasma insulin-like growth factor I levels in rats are reduced by dietary supplementation of flaxseed or its lignan secoisolariciresinol diglycoside.

Adlercreutz H, Fotsis T, Bannwart C, et al. Determination of urinary lignans and phytoestrogens metabolites, potential antiestrogens and anticarcinogens, in urine of women on various habitual diets.

J Steroid Biochem ; The effect of flaxseed supplementation on the initiation and promotional stages of mammary tumorgenesis. Rose DP. Dietary fiber and breast cancer. Lee J, Cho K. Flaxseed sprouts induce apoptosis and inhibit growth in MCF-7 and MDA-MB human breast cancer cells.

In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim ;48 4 Sung MK, Lautens M, Thompson LU. Mammalian lignans inhibit the growth of estrogen-independent human colon tumor cells. Anticancer Res ; Chen J, Stavro PM, Thompson LU.

Dietary flaxseed inhibits human breast cancer growth and metastatis and downregulates expression of insulin-like growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor. Wang L, Chen J, Thompson LU. The inhibitory effect of flaxseed on the growth and metastasis of estrogen receptor negative human breast cancer xenografts is attributed to both its lignans and oil components.

Int J Cancer ; Chen J, Wang L, Thompson LU. Flaxseed and its components reduce metastasis after surgical excision of solid human breast tumor in nude mice. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. Chen J, Hui E, Ip T, Thompson LU. Dietary flaxseed enhances the inhibitory effect of tamoxifen on the growth of estrogen-dependent human breast cancer mcf-7 in nude mice.

Clin Cancer Res ; Chen J, Power KA, Mann J, et al. Dietary flaxseed interaction with tamoxifen induced tumor regression in athymic mice with MCF-7 xenografts by downregulating the expression of estrogen related gene products and signal transduction pathways.

Nutr Cancer Flaxseed alone or in combination with tamoxifen inhibits MCF-7 breast tumor growth in ovariectomized athymic mice with high circulating levels of estrogen.

Exp Biol Med Maywood ; Thompson LU, Chen JM, Li T, et al. Dietary flaxseed alters tumor biological markers in postmenopausal breast cancer.