Flaxseed: doing its bit for World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day is a day to unite and join forces in the global fight against cancer.  The annual campaign aims to reduce the number of preventable deaths each year by raising cancer awareness among the general public and pressing governments to take further action against the disease.

At Elementary Life, we believe passionately in the benefits of healthy lifestyle choices and the positive impact this can have on your health, including cancer prevention. To mark World Cancer Day, we wanted to showcase a superfood that has multiple health benefits, it even has proven results in preventing and treating cancer. 

Flaxseed, also known as linseed, is an ideal source of dietary fibre, omega 3 healthy fat, and lignans, also referred to as phytoestrogens. It is actually the richest dietary source of lignans on earth. Research supports the idea that Lignans have been used in successfully treating both breast and prostate cancer in humans. Several studies in women have shown that higher intake of lignans is associated with reduced risk of breast cancer. Animal studies have shown that both flaxseed lignans can reduce breast tumour growth and spread, even for ER cancer cells (cancer cells that grow in response to the hormone estrogen).

Flaxseed is also the richest known dietary source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids. These affect the production of cell membranes, the levels of natural killer cells and circulating levels of protein kinase C and tyrosine kinases, which profoundly affect cell activity. This means that flaxseeds are more potent than virtually any other plant source when preventing and fighting cancer.

Clinical trials in men who already have prostate cancer or who have prostate PIN, a ‘precursor’ to prostate cancer, show that adding flaxseeds into the diet may provide some health benefits.

Studies have suggested that flaxseeds may reduce levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), which is one measure of how effective prostate cancer treatments are. If PSA remains low, this is an indication that treatment is working to prevent the tumour from growing and spreading. Adding flaxseeds into the diet can reduce tumour proliferation (how quickly tumour cells are growing and reproducing).

This is encouraging news and clinical studies are continuing. Campaigns such as World Cancer Day only serve to remind us of the devastating impact of cancer, but also of the progress that continues to be made through research, to beating this disease. Why not use this day to look at your diet and consider how you can make some healthy changes?

Elementary Vital has cold milled golden flaxseed as a primary component, along with four other superfood ingredients which combine to give an immune system boosting, vitality charged, disease and age-fighting plant-based nutrient supplement.

We do advise that cancer patients consult their physician when considering any dietary supplements.





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