Flaxseed Provides Health Benefits for Women; Heintzman Farms Sees Rise in Sales

ONAKA, SOUTH DAKOTA – July 11, 2001: Consumers are getting mixed messages about eating fish. The American Heart Association advises that adults eat 2 servings of fish per week in order to get enough omega-3 fatty acids. But in March the FDA issued a warning that women of childbearing age should restrict their fish consumption since widespread mercury levels found in the country’s fish supply pose a risk to future children. (http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/admehg.html)

Women should be informed about flaxseed, a lesser-known but increasingly popular source of omega-3s. According to American Dietetic Association spokesperson, Cindy Moore, "Our American diets are typically poor in omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseed provides omega-3s that our bodies use in exactly the same way and convert into the same compounds, as the omega-3s found in fish." Flaxseed is by far the richest plant source of omega-3s found anywhere. In addition to other health benefits, omega-3s are especially important for women in their childbearing years because they play an important role in infant brain, nervous system and vision development.

Doctors’ recommendations range from 1 to 4 tablespoons of flaxseed per day for optimal levels. While there is no US RDA for omega-3s, countries with established guidelines, such as Canada, recommend slightly elevated amounts of omega-3s for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Women not considering a future pregnancy as well as men should know that omega-3 fatty acids offer benefits in regard to heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and high triglycerides.

In addition to omega-3s, flaxseed is the richest dietary source of phytohormones called lignans, which have been demonstrated to have a hormone-balancing effect similar to the isoflavones found in soy. Early studies have shown promising results using lignans in treating cancers of the breast, endometrium (uterus), prostate and colon.

While flaxseed is not currently a common ingredient in our Western diets, flaxseed has a 2000-year history as a food source. The World Health Organization and the National Cancer Institute recognize flaxseed as a "super food" for health.

South Dakota flaxseed farmer, Rick Heintzman has seen tremendous growth in the demand for flaxseed over the past few years. Sales have jumped as much as 500% annually, with current sales of about 40,000 pounds per month. His "Dakota Flax Gold" seed is marketed to over 45,000 customers through clinics, hospitals, health food stores and individual customers ordering directly from the farm.

Flaxseed must be ground to make the important nutrients available. Ground flaxseed can be easily added to baked goods, pancakes, and cereals, or simply stirred into beverages. (Recipes follow.)

Both brown and golden flaxseed are commercially available, and both types are sold for human consumption. Golden flaxseed is often preferred for its milder flavor, but is often more difficult to find. Dakota Flax Gold seed, grown by Heintzman Farms in South Dakota, is a mild-flavored golden flaxseed grown for health-food purposes. Orders can be placed by calling the farm directly at 1-888-333-5813. Free samples may be obtained by visiting the farm’s web site at www.heintzmanfarms.com.