Gold Top Organics' Berry Blend:
- is from the highest quality organic brown flax seeds
- is grown in Western Canada.
- is free of genetically modified organisms.
- is cold milled.
- contains a mixture of raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries.
- one of the highest alpha-linoleic acid (an omega-3) content on the market.
- is manufactured in a peanut free and kosher approved facility.
Milled flax seeds contain both the fibres and the omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. Having the generous quantities of soluble and insoluble fibres in flax may help:
- lower cholesterol levels.
- control blood sugar levels.
- regulate bowel movements or prevent constipation.
The omega-3 fatty acids may help:
- prevent or treat heart disease or strokes.
- protect the body against high blood pressures, inflammation, and autoimmune disorders.
The berries mixture adds antioxidants to milled brown flax seeds. Antioxidants are thought to help:
- reduce oxidative stress that may lead to illness.
Background Info
Flax contains generous amounts of soluble and insoluble fibres and the omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids.
Soluble fibre - Most of the soluble fibre in flax seeds is mucilage, a thick, sticky substance. Few studies have looked at the direct effects of mucilage on health. However, it is well known that soluble fibres ― fruit pectin, oat bran or mustard seed mucilage ― are effective cholesterol-lowering agents.
Insoluble fibre - Not surprisingly, studies show that the insoluble fibre in flax, like that in wheat bran, is helpful for regulating bowel movements and preventing constipation. Because flax's insoluble fibre components have the capacity to hold water, they help soften the stool and allow it to move through the colon more quickly.
Lignans - When bacteria in the digestive tract act on plant lignans these compounds are converted into potent hormone-like substances. Research on animals suggest these substances may have powerful positive effects on our day to day health. Flax is also one of the richest sources of lignans in the plant kingdom. Researchers are particularly interested in the cancer-fighting ability of lignans.
Fats - More than 70 per cent of fat in flax is of the healthful polyunsaturated type. In fact, a unique feature of flax is the high ratio of alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid) to linoleic acid (omega-6 fatty acids).
Nutritionists consider these two polyunsaturated fatty acids as essential because the body cannot manufacture them from any other substances. That means they must be eaten as part of the diet.
Cholesterol can be reduced by adding flax to the diet. Research also suggests that ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) offers protective effects against both coronary heart disease and stroke. Omega-3s have been shown to also protect against hypertension, and inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. Omega-3s have slowed or altered the growth of tumour cells, changed biomarkers, and cell structure in breast cancer. Long-term studies of flax effects on breast cancer are underway.