Flax: Is it healthy?

Posted on Sep 10th 2008 4:26PM by Martha Edwards

(Click the photo for 5 Common Foods That Can Cause Cancer)

Flax is something we hear about often, and it's always praise -- in fact, health food nuts just can't get enough of it. So when one of my favourite bloggers asked the question Is Flax Bad? I was a little baffled. Bad? It's considered a superfood because of all those healthy Omega 3s! How can it be bad?

Here's the thing: Flax was recently linked to prostate cancer. It has nothing to do with Omega-3s; rather, it has to do with ALA, an organic compound in some vegetable oils that has been linked to cancer.

So what does this mean for you? Research is just in the preliminary stages, but nonethless, you might want to consider a different source of Omega-3s, such as fish oil. This goes for both men and women. For more information, head over to Mark's Daily Apple.

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Tags: ALA, Alpha-linolenic acid, Alpha-linolenicAcid, flax, flax seed, FlaxSeed, omega 3, omega 3s, omega-3, omega-3s, Omega3, Omega3s, prostate cancer, ProstateCancer

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Scott 9-11-2008 @ 8:22PM

Flaxseed oil is the same oil that oil paint is made from, aka linseed oil. It doesn't taste very good and I have always thought it was funny to be considered health food. Flaxseed oil also is the main ingredient in linoleum, along with cork.

LILY 9-11-2008 @ 8:37PM

Just because it is used to make inedible things does not mean it is a bad thing to eat. It just happens to be an ingredient used because it offers something to the final product. Just like adding flour to making playdough at home. There is nothing wrong with the flour but you wouldn't eat the playdough right?
Flax is from nature and it is edible. It has health benefits.
Much better than canola or cottonseed oil. Which are not plants that you would eat. Who eats cotton? So why is the oil in our food? Who eats the Rapeseed plant? So why is the oil (canola) in our food?
Just some of my thoughts.

Brad 9-11-2008 @ 9:26PM

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lilyelwbuggy 9-11-2008 @ 8:43PM

Good Grief! What doesn't cause cancer? I am so sick of all of this. Every day a new food or product causes cancer. This is out of control!

Nancy 9-11-2008 @ 9:00PM

That's just because most of the food people eat these days is overly processed or not eaten in moderation. :)
So most of what Americans eat is not good for them. There fore it seems like there is always something new that causes cancer. Cuz it's true. LOL

Lori 9-11-2008 @ 8:48PM

vegetable oils (canola, soybean, flaxseed/linseed, olive) all contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)

It is funny how yesterday AOL posted (4 fun Flax Recipes)

To my understanding ALA does not cause cancer, just might increase growth in existing prostate cancer.....

There is no such plant called CANOLA, it is a made up word....yucko oil

AOL is always trying to scare everyone...

Nancy 9-11-2008 @ 8:56PM

Canola oil comes from the Rapeseed plant. I don't know about animals but it is not an edible plant to humans. Neither is cotton.

Scott 9-11-2008 @ 9:01PM

Canola oil used to be rapeseed oil, but they changed it because it sounds bad. Can-ola = Canadian oil. Isn't that sneaky?

Bill 9-11-2008 @ 9:03PM

When are people going to wake up that the only thing that causes cancer is negative emotions and stress.

Abiy 9-12-2008 @ 4:34AM

number 6 you got it but I don't know about existing
number 9 that's right (mostly)
number 10 that's the most thing that causes it
number 11 wow
number 12 that's funny
number 13 now your getting somewhere
number 19 right on
number 21 interesting
number 23 I believe that
number 24 you're on the mark
number 25 mostly true

here is what I believe what will cause it
first it's your belief system and not being happy then your stress and habits, the wrong foods, no exercise, the environment and chemicals mostly in your home including unfiltered water, paint (sugar has this), cleaning products, furniture. Who funded this research?

greeneacres06 9-11-2008 @ 9:05PM

Hmm. that's interesting.. they'll report on flax seed but somehow most americans do not know that plastic straws contain over 3000 chemicals that cause cancer, hormonal and reproductive problems. Smells like a classic AOL coverup disinformation campaign!

Carol 9-11-2008 @ 9:27PM

If you want to know what causes EVERY form of cancer, google the Bioinitiative Report. Let's just say it isn't any food or plant...

It's EMR.

And now we are surrounded by cell phone towers, not just power lines.

blablabla 9-11-2008 @ 9:23PM

WARNING;....Reading these posts may cause cancer.

User 9-11-2008 @ 9:46PM

This is the last straw for me, I will stop reading any of this stuff in the future, what could be good or bad for you.
I am confused. I hope Dr OZ on Oprah hears this, he has been plugging Flax for many years. I still do not beliefe it
and will eat it on my cereal in the morning till i have a definate answer, and than it's shut donw time for me.
I had enough, I am sick of this crappy news.

Lisa 9-11-2008 @ 10:55PM

A great supplement with essential oils will help with many health challenges. Check out our natural, safe and effective supplements (money back guarantee; what have you got to lose?) http://www.Shaklee.net/GoGoShack I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have; no obligation! Best of health to you all!

FILLY4X4 9-11-2008 @ 11:57PM

WHAT ABOUT NUTMEG???ANYONE KNOW IF THERE ARE HAZARDS IN USING IT????

FILLY4X4 9-11-2008 @ 11:51PM

HELLO,,,,,DOES ANYONE KNOW IF USING NUTMEG ON A DAILY BASIS HAVE ANY HEALTH AFFECTS????????????

nancy 9-12-2008 @ 2:22AM

I heard it can be toxic in very large amounts. Maybe everything can be if used in large doses.

FILLY4X4 9-11-2008 @ 11:58PM

CANCER IS CAUSED BY HUMANS BEING ON THE PLANET AT ALL,,,,,WE ARE LAZY,,PAHTETIC ,,,SHALLOW,,,,STUPID CREATURES....IF WE GO BACK TO BEING SIMPLE AND LESS WASTEFUL,,,NO CELL PHONES NO ELECTRICITY,,,,NOW CONVIENCES THEN AND MAYBE THEN NO CANCER BUT THEN WE WILL HAVE MORE ISSUES,,,,WE ARE ALL DOOOMMED SO HELL JUST ENJOY THE LIFE YOU HAVE AND WHEN IT ENDS YOU WILL BE GONE AND YOU WILL NOT KNOW THAT ONLY THE HUMANS THAT THINK GRAVE YARDS ARE WORTH HAVING WILL KNOW YOU ARE THERE AND CRY OVER YOU AND YOU WILL BE CRYING FOR THEM CUZ THEY HAVE STILL THE RISK OF CANCER lol,,,,,,ANYWAY,,,,EVERYTHING CAUSES CANCER SO GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DOCTORS GIVE YOU CANCER,,,IT MAKES A LOT OF MONEY