Flaxseed

Flaxseed, a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber, has gotten increasingly more popular as of late.  Flaxseed’s active ingredient, alpha-linolenic acid, is an important fatty acid that some believe helps in the battle of certain diseases.1  Do the benefits correlate directly with weight loss? This review will help us find that out.

Research

In regards to weight loss, I found no clinical research or studies that link flaxseed directly with weight loss.  There is an abundance of research on flaxseed’s health benefits, especially concerning the cancer, diabetes, and the heart, but nothing to do with weight loss.

On a positive note, some believe flaxseed to help you feel fuller as a result of its high amount of fiber.  As such, it may have at least a light effect as an appetite suppressant.  Fiber is never a bad thing in anyone’s diet, whether they are trying to lose weight or not.

In high dosages, flaxseed has been shown is some studies to be a laxative (which I guess helps with weight loss in…some ways) but definitely not a complete weight loss solution by any means.

Conclusion

Flaxseed is sure to have its health benefits, but whether or not flaxseed in and of itself will cause you to lose weight is still up in the air.  A diet pill with flaxseed in it is definitely a positive thing, just make sure that it’s not the only or primary ingredient in the mix.

  1. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health_living/nutrition/ [↩]