Since my mom has diverticulosis, which type of flaxseed is good? There's whole, ground, and some other things which is confusing me. How should she take it? Swallowing the seeds or what?
2007-11-21 08:07:41 · 6 answers · asked by ? 6 in Health ➔ Alternative Medicine
When you take flaxseeds its for the insoluble fiber - and they HAVE to be ground in order for them to be considered fiber. With diverticulosis insoluble fiber can be irritating because is scratches the bowel lining (if inflammation is present) so it would be better to use soluble fibers and do other things to reduce the inflammation. Flaxseed oil is completely different product than ground flax seeds. It is an omega 6 fatty acid that actually has now been shown not to have a lot of beneficial qualities - its a healthy oil but only contains a small amount of EPA and DHA. There are much better sources of EPA and DHA (ex: fish oil). Just watch that the flaxseeds ground do not further irritate your mother.
2007-11-21 08:41:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well, honestly the main difference is going to depend on how your mom digests each form.
The main differences is that milled/ground flaxseed is the same consistency as whole flax after it's been crushed by your teeth, but neither has a large amount of the Essential Fatty Acids that give Flax Oil the benefits that it has. However, they both have a lot of natural fiber in them that people often take for extra digestive health. In general, the milled/ground Flaxseed is the prefered form between the two.
Cold-pressed Flaxseed Oil will have the most of the Essential Fatty Acids (per ounce), but not much fiber.
The other main option would be almost a combination of the two... it's a high lignan Flax Oil. Simply put, it's Cold-pressed Flaxseed Oil, plus they add some of the lignans (some of the phytoestrogens and fibers from the Flaxseed) back into it in a small amount.
Most of the people I've talked to prefer the oil on a daily basis... but there are many that use the Milled Flaxseed in their cereal, bake into recipes, or take in other foods that they eat. Heck, some people do both for extra measure and/or they like the taste ;-)
Any way you slice it, you'll still get the benefits that Flax brings no matter what form of it you eat.
2007-11-21 16:17:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
She should probably consider grinding up the whole seeds and then putting them into smoothies.
One thing that seems to kick most digestive problems, as well as a range of other health problems, is the "green smoothie". Pick up the book "Green for Life" by Victoria Boutenko. They did a nice clinical trial of this... basically you put about 2 cups of water, 3 big fistfulls of your favorite salad greens, 2 bananas, and 1-1/2 to 2 cups of your favorite frozen fruit (I like berries) and buzz that in the blender. Drink a quart a day. This really fixed up my own gut.
2007-11-22 02:09:00 · answer #3 · answered by revsuzanne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whole seeds are very hard to digest and the ground seeds are a bit easier to digest but the easiest to digest form of flax is the oil which is available as bottled flax oil (which must be refrigerated) or capsules.
2007-11-21 19:13:41 · answer #4 · answered by Susan Yarrawonga 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO SEEDS!!!!! Flax seed Oil comes in a gooey capsule that you can buy almost anywhere. you swallow it.
Anyone with diverticulitis should stay away from strawberries. buns w/poppy seeds anything that has seeds of any kind, Even corn or peas that have little shucks. She may need a little colace to stay regular. Because alot of the stuff she should not eat is a roughish
2007-11-21 16:24:14 · answer #5 · answered by My Baby! 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
no seeds for her.buy the ground and refrigerate after opening.
2007-11-21 16:28:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋