Flax seeds and flax oil have many benefits, but that doesn’t mean that you should be consuming large amounts of it. I recently started researching flax, chia and hemp seeds for comparison and was surprised by a few things I found out about flax. There are plenty of resources discussing the positives about flax, so I thought I would share a little about the phytoestrogens, the phytic acid content and the pregnancy risks of flax. I welcome your thoughts and experience with flax as well.
Most of us know the common healthy attributes of flax seed. Flax seed is an excellent source of omega 3’s and a great source of fiber. Other benefits often quoted include lowering cholesterol, protecting against heart disease,cancer and diabetes, and controlling high blood pressures For more about the positives, check out Whfood.com’s article. and this one as well.
Sounds great, right? Flax seeds seem to have proven themselves helpful in many studies, however there are still some concerns that remain and new concerns that arise. Here are a few to consider.
Flax Contains Phytoestrogen
You’ve probably heard of the debate regarding soy and phytoestrogens. Some people think it’s a positive, a growing number of people think it’s a negative. A phytoestrogen basically acts like or mimics estrogen in our bodies. I haven’t come across of a lot of information about the phytoestrogen found in flax so far, but I know that the phytoestrogen is bad news in soy!
Kimberly Hartke recently reprinted an article about the dangers of soy. It included this section.
“The fact is that the soy bean contains numerous phytoestrogens; a descriptive name for plant chemicals having oestrogenic effects. They occur in nature to help regulate animal breeding cycles and, in synthetic form, are used in farming for the same purpose. The ubiquitous birth control pill is, of course, the human synthetic version. At high dosage or over long periods phytoestrogens become anit-oestrogenic. Much higher doses are in chemotherapy to kill cancer cells.
The class of chemical compounds called phytoestrogens contains dozens of sub-classes, such as coumestans, lignans and sterols, each of which contains further sub-classes. Soy contains many isoflavones, including the sub-classes ernistein, coumestrol and daidzein.
Scientists have known for years the isoflavones in soy products can depress thyroid. As far back as the 1950s phytoestrogens were being linked to increased cases of cancer, infertility, leukaemia and endocrine disruption.
Charlotte Gerson, of the Gerson Cancer Clinic in the USA, has published detailed research (Gerson Clinic: Cancer Research, June 1, 2001 – 61 (11) : 4325-8) proving that the phytoestrogen genistein is more carcinogenic then DES (diethylstilbestrol), a synthetic oestrogen drug that was given to millions of pregnant women primarily from 1928-1971. Few would be unaware of the death and misery that particular drug inflicted on countless women and their daughters.”
So when I found out that phtyoestrogens were in flax as well. I sat up and listened! I should say that soy and flax contain different types of phytoestrogens, so they could have very different effects. Soy’s main phytoestrogen is isoflavones. Flax’s is lignans. I should also mention that some studies seem to point to flax being able to help fight against breast cancer (which is very exciting). Though, I remain cautious because soy is also supposedly able to fight against breast cancer (and I am not a cheerleader for soy). I will eagerly watching for more studies about flax and it’s effects on breast cancer.
But I do think that flax can have an effect on your hormones, especially if you are taking a higher amount. For example, a few friends have used seeds to help regulate their cycle, and flax is a key part of that program. In this study, flax was used to significantly reduce hot flashes in menopausal women. I would guess this has to do with it’s estrogenic effect.
So whether you think the phytoestrogens in flax is a positive or a negative, I think that it’s important that you know that it does contain phytoestrogens which can effect your hormones. Used correctly, flax can help with many hormonal imbalances, but that doesn’t mean we all should have a free-for-all flax feast (especially if you are a male!). This is also important to remember if you are pregnant when the right hormonal balance is very important to maintain (most of us, by the way, have too much estrogen in our body, and not enough progesterone). This leads me to my next concern.
Flax oil has the potential to cause premature labor
A recent study in Canada studied over three thousand pregnant women, asking what natural supplements they took and then seeing what effect that had on their pregnancy. They found that those who consumed flax oil quadrupled their rates of premature labor.
That’s significant.
You should note that that link was found just for those who consumed the oil, not the whole seed. You should also note that this is just one study, and there needs to be follow up studies. But remember that it wasn’t a slight risk increase, it was a very significant increase. As someone who has experienced premature labor, you better believe I am going to be avoiding flax when pregnant!
By the way, a common cause of premature labor and miscarriages is having an imbalance of too much estrogen and too little progesterone. It does make me wonder if the phytoestrogen in flax has anything to do with the increased rates of premature labor. An interesting thought.
Finally, Flax Seed Contains High Amounts of Phytic Acid
You remember phytic acid, right? It’s the anti-nutrient that binds with many of the minerals and nutrients in grains and legumes. I talked about how to reduce them in grains here.
Well, my former understanding was that flax seed had low amounts of phytic acid. It doesn’t after all. It actually has very high amounts. In fact, it’s considered one of the “best” sources of phytic acid! In the book, Flax, By Alister D. Muir, Neil D. Westcott, they state that flax contains “significant levels of phytic acid”. This website which promotes phytic acid as a positive says that wheat bran and flax seed are the “best sources.”
All to say, stop making those low carb flax muffins! However, I did notice that Navita’s Naturals has a sprouted flax flour. That would take care of the phytic acid problem.
In Conclusion
Do I think that flax has benefits? Yes, I think it does. But I think that you need to be well informed about the benefits and concerns. I noticed that while the Weston A Price foundation does recommend flax seed and oil, they don’t recommend that you take large amounts. In fact, they have voiced concern over the trend of many to overdo flax oil. In one Q & A, Sally says that 1/2 teaspoon per day should be enough.
Don’t overdo flax.
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This was a very helpful post…especially for me as I know I have too much estrogen in my body. I really appreciate all the time and energy you put into your research. My friends and I are finding your website so helpful as we are working on feeding our families a healthier diet! Thank you!
Very informative post. But it leaves me wondering if I should continue to add ground flax seed to the rolled oats I’ve been soaking overnight?
This was very interesting; I’ve been doing some research on phytoestrogens myself lately. Didn’t know flax was amongst the culprits!
My thought on this is that too much of anything is not good. Flax oil is soooo concentrated. We eat flax seeds and don’t bother with oil. It is also why I don’t use just one grain or oil in cooking. Diversity is a good thing. It seems that anything touted as being great for health eventually ends up having some negative aspects, too, so I think moderation in everything is a good idea. 🙂
Jessica,
Glad it was helpful!
Mary Ellen,
We use chia seeds. They are a great source of omega 3’s and fiber, and they taste great too.
LizzyKristine,
I agree! Moderation in everything is key! Flax here and there isn’t going to be a problem for most of us (or cause hormonal changes).
Hm. There’s a bread from the Omega Diet book that is about the only bread I eat. (just not ever day) One of the ingredients is ground flax seeds. I wonder if soaking the seeds would be advisable before grinding.
Wow, food for thought… hmm…
I’ve been using ground flax seed in gluten-free baked goods, in place of Xanthan Gum. Now I’m pondering…
Thanks!
Michele 🙂
Yes thank you Kimi for this interesting post. I have the same question as other above seem to, would soaking flax meal help with the phytates?
Thank you,
Rachael
Kimi,
This is GREAT info. THANK YOU for the time you put into this. My last preg I had a terrible time w contractions/ pre labor & I was taking flax oil everyday…..wow….we could not figure out what it was….now I wonder….several months ago we switched to flax….so glad we did…
Jessica O.
opps…meant to say…several months ago we switched to cod liver oil….not flax…
Jessica O.
By accident just found out some info on cod liver oil supplements. Go to Dr Mercola web site look up cod liver oil on his search. -He has an article on it. http://www.mercola.com
The concern is the low vit D to high vit A ratio in many supplements, taking excess vit A which has to be watched in especially in pregnancy .
Vit A excess is toxic in the body.
But check out for self/ see your own health care professional. In some instances and the level of a persons health and nutrition it might be appropriate to take, but I would do it on professional advice.
As someone has said on this site high grade fish oil is probably better .
I used to use ground flax and water as an egg substitute in baking. It gets really thick. Keep that in mind with soaking them.
I’ve been leery of flax since I had the side effect of it causing menstruation for me. I started taking flax oil for regulation (only 1/3 the recommended dosage of oils pills) and bled for 18 days straight. The doctor had not seen this before, but I stopped the flax and the next day the bleeding stopped. Months later I ate some waffles with flax and it started again, but only for a few days. Since having my son almost 2 years ago it doesn’t seem to have this effect. So, I don’t know if my hormones have been changed so much from childbirth that it doesn’t have the effect any more. I certainly avoided it during pregnancy since I did not want to start bleeding then! Thank you for posting since most people are unaware of any dangers related to it. And they put it in SO much now!
I agree with the others. We should use everything in moderation. Just about anything in high doses is bad. That’s why we should aim to eat as wide a variety of foods as possible.
Thank you so much for this post! I stopped eating flax seeds while I was pregnant because I heard that excessive flax consumption caused larger babies. I wonder if that has anything to do with the results linking flax and premature birth. Bigger baby = born earlier? I was just about to start adding flax back into my diet (my son is 14 months old), but now I will be sure to take it easy and go for the chia seeds instead.
Thank you for this info! I am definitely going to be checking into this more. I have uterine fibroids from too much estrogen and so I try to avoid soy and other things that don’t “help” me. I know that I don’t have my son use flax because of the Omega 3’s…it messes with your platelets and can cause bleeding. (He has Von Willebrand’s which is a bleeding disorder.)
LaDonna
Gah – I HAVE to forward this to my mother, who adamantly refuses to give up her daily “isolated soy protein” shake, with added flaxseed! I’ve tried explaining it, but… well, maybe it would be better coming from you! 😉
And do you know of anything that would be able to help her with the menopausal symptoms – which is why she’s “overdosing” on the soy/flax anyway.
Thanks!
information on soy at http://www.soyconnection.com and http://www.mercola.com -type in soy in search (He is a doctor) You might be able to get some information on menopause on his site. Check out other forms of supplements, seeing health professional/nutritionist/naturopath etc. Depends on what main concerns are probably better to talk to a professional.Good book by Dr Sandra Cabot on hormones, menopause. She also has a book on raw juices covers menopause. -Google her name. For bone health http://www.CureOsteoporosisToday.com/indexn.htm
I also want to say thanks for the great info. I, like another reader above, have used a flaxseed and water mixture for an egg substitution since i have an intolerance to eggs. I am wondering if there might be a better egg substitute out there for me?!!? Anyone have any suggestions? I am also allergic to cows milk, wheat, gluten, so i hope there is some alternative seeing as many gluten-free recipes still call for eggs. Thanks.
Thanks for the reminders about flax – especially about the phytoestrogens!
Hey Everyone!
To answer some quetions.
Soaking Flax-Yes, I think that soaking flax seeds could be helpful in reducing phytic acid, especially if you soaked them with wheat since wheat helps reduce phytic acid. But like Rosy mentioned, it gets very thick (like an egg white) when soaking.
Flax Substitute (Karen, I hope this answers your question): Like I mentioned in my post, I’ve also been researching chia seeds. I have been really impressed thus far and I love how they taste. They also make a great egg substitute.
Jessica O,
Thank you so much for explaining your experience. That is very interesting! So glad that you changed to fish oil too. Fish oil actually reduces premature labor, by the way.
Gloria,
WOW! What a story. I have also never heard of someone having such instant reactions to it like that. Thanks for sharing!
Meg,
I know that there is a lot out there to help your mom, though since I haven’t experienced that yet myself, I have really researched it. I talked to one older mom who has some major issues in this area, and she was able to “seed cycle” and use a supplement that really helped balance her hormones out. I bet there is even health blogs out there that discuss this topic! Sorry I couldn’t be more help.
A question for Jessica O – Do you take the cod liver oil in capsules. I bought some (not in capsules) and tried it but I can’t get it down just straight like that. I don’t think I could even if I knew it would make me grow wings! Any tips on taking the stuff?
Kimi, thanks so much for this info … very thought provoking. Did you find out anything useful on hemp or chia. We have hemp seeds almost daily. I haven’t tried chia yet, but am always a bit wary of the newest and greatest. If you have some good sites that would be great. I hate it when a food is supposed to be so great (flax being a great example) so you eat all you can only to find out later that you are messing with your body.
Interesting post. I just started adding ground flaxseed to some foods because I read that it actually balances hormones and this is beneficial for preconception in keeping cycles regular to more easily pinpoint ovulation. But since then I’ve read so much conflicting information on whether its safe in pregnancy and what it actually does in the body. Some sources I’ve read say it increases progesterone in the second half of the cycle. Other sources say it can cause higher levels of estrogen. I’m not sure what to believe so I think I’ll just lay off the flax for awhile. Like you, I’m not a cheerleader for soy. Thanks for adding a few more pieces to the puzzle.
Hi Jill,
I just posted some of my thoughts on hemp, and will hopefully soon address chia (a personal favorite). I am also wary of the newest and greatest next thing, but it is partly on the “newest” because it took a while for them to figure out how to grow larger amounts of it. It’s benefits have been known for a long time. I haven’t found anything negative about it….yet, LOL It seems there is always someone who has something bad to say about any thing! That’s okay, but it does make it hard to sift through things.
Kari,
I’ve read that too. It can be so frustrating trying to figure out what is helpful and what is harmful! Oh my. I did find out that flax has even high amounts of phytoestrogens than soy. Now whether they act like soy does in the body or not, I don’t know. I think that actually really uncovering what’s really correct is a long journey sometimes!
Very good info, thanks Kimi. I hadn’t heard of any problems with flax before, except for the fact that taking too much could have you in the bathroom all day 🙂
Very interesting. I do have to say my experience with flax is contradictory to the research. I ate flax meal pretty much every day (about a tablespoon) when I was pregnant with my first child to help keep the swelling under control (can’t remember why, but it definitely helped). I never did go into labor naturally with him. I had to be induced. I probably would have tried flax oil had I known about it.
That does make me wonder if there was a hormone imbalance that I was dealing with that was causing all of the swelling….Things that make you go hmmm. With my second son I hardly had any swelling at all.
Very informative post! Thank you.
An interesting note… I’m in my 30’s and have always had decently bearable periods–could work, sleep, go to class,etc–but my husband and I began putting 2-5 tablespoons of freshly ground flax seeds in our morning all-whole-fruit smoothies. Over time, monthly periods were becoming unbearable. I read that flax (and other omega 3 rich oils?) can thin blood and increase bleeding. I’ve cut way back, upped Vit K rich foods during menstruation, and have had 4-5 months of very livable menstrual cycles. Not totally sure why…but it may fit what you and others are sharing. Thanks again! 🙂
I started eating flax when my mom was diagnosed w. breast cancer, after reading a study about possible prevention. My periods, however, became very painful–cramping, etc. It was the only thing I had changed, so I stopped and it went away. That was four years ago. I have since added some back into my diet (ingredient in my cereal, for example) with no effect. I am now 14 weeks pregnant and having problems with bleeding. I had a gut feeling that it could have something to do w/ the flax–I don’t know why. Did a google search, and found this…I stopped eating it 2 days ago–spotting seems to have stopped??????
Kristen,
Oh my goodness! I hope it has stopped all the way for good now! Thank you for sharing as your story is very interesting and helpful. Hopefully if another pregnant women sees this post and your comment, who is having the same issue, it could help them too. Again, thank you for sharing your experience!
I stumbled upon this website while looking for side effects to Omega 3 fatty acids. I was just about to order Omega 3 fatty acids vitamins from a reputable company–except they have flax seed oil. I was so excited about the benefits my husband & I would be able to get from these vitamins (they have no mercury)! After reading this I absolutely can’t do this. I’m pregnant & can’t take soy products due to a thyroid problem. I was told not to eat fish during my pregnancy b/c of the mercury. Now I feel a little lost…finding the safest way to get the nutrition my body needs.
Angelbebe,
It’s frustrating sometimes to have to sift through all of the information out there. One person says this isn’t safe, and another says the opposite. I personally feel that pure, high quality fish oil, that has been tested free from toxins, like mercury, is safe to take while pregnant. That is what I would choose to do. Though I can’t advise you as to what you should do, I do encourage you to read up a bit more on it. Hope that helps!
Darn it! I was taking flaxseed oil for the Omega-3 (Mercury in fish oil and all) benefits, and avoiding soy (where possible) because I’m a guy who doesn’t want to take in extra estrogen-like stuff. Scratch that.
I think everyone’s body is different, and you have to listen to your body and consume foods that are GOOD for your body. Flax oil must be cold pressed and kept refrigerated, and can easily spoil in 15 minutes. I personally do not trust flax oil pills for this reason. However, me and my mother have both consumed 2 – 4 Tbs. of ground flax (I grind my own with a coffee grinder) with fantastic results. My mother’s cholesterol is in a normal range for the first time in 20 years (she cannot tolerate statin drugs) and I personally have lost 30 pounds due to blood sugar stabilizing effect it has. I currently take the depo provera (progesterone) shot for birth control and have experienced absolutely no side effects in the way of spotting or all out bleeding and cramps. I asked my OBGYN if the flax could effect the shot’s efficiency and she said absolutely not, and in fact, it was known to increase sex drive in women.
Again, I think every body is different, you need to listen to your own body and with the help of your doctor make decisions that are good for you.
Interesting information! I took flax seed oil throughout my last pregnancy, and I had to be induced at 41 1/2 weeks. I wish I had been able to go into labor earlier! I find that flax definitely helps balance out my moods, and my DH has taken it to successfully lower his cholesterol. Soy, on the other hand, definitely affects me. I have found that it causes the same kind of effects that dairy does… large cyst-like pimples on my face and back.
This was a very informed article and I enjoyed reading something that sounded like it was coming from a person with a very similar dietary philosophy to mine! I came over from Linday’s blog, Passionate Homemaking. I had just started taking flax oil every day and wasn’t sure how much to take. I got pregnant, nursed for 9 months, got pregnant again after weaning and then nursed for another 5 months. My husband’s dietary philosophy growing up was nothing like mine, and my diet has definitely gone downhill since getting married. Now I feel depleated and I am seeking new information about what I need to be comsuming to up my energy and restore my body. So thanks for this great info. I can’t wait to read more. Abbie
Flax is like other natural foods great and I agree that should be taken in moderation. It is not only about quantity but quality also. Organic is probably a better choice. Hormonal health seems to respond very well to some women who take Flax. I have known a number of people, including myself, develop a sensitivity to soy, so it is very important to listen to your body and trust it!
I am menopausal. After reading the benefits, I began placing two tablespoons of grounded flaxseeds on my cereal last week. During that week I began having PMS symptoms-tender breasts. Oh yea, I thought. Another side effect to deal with during this stage of my life. Then out of the blue, I began having a period with heavy bleeding and cramps. Although I will go to the doctor to have it checked out, I am suspicious of the flaxseeds because they are my only dietary change. I stopped taking the flaxseed about four days after beginning. I wish that I had found this site before beginning.
Also, several years ago I tried replacing 1/2 cup of milk on my cereal with soy milk. Within the week I was extremely depressed. The day after I stopped with the soy, my mood went back to normal. I do take medication for hypothyroid. It’s amazing how little changes in one’s diet can have great effects, both positive and negative.
I am considering taking chia seeds. Does anyone have an opinion with regards to white vs. black seed? Name brand vs generic?
Thanks for the info.
I have also noticed that having flax (especially grounded flax seed) in my diet caused mid-cycle menstruation bleeding.
After reading some comments that painful periods were linked to flax…I now also think that’s the case with me.
Everything in moderation.
Interesting. I am on a yeast-free vegan diet and have been using ground flax with black beans to make my own veggie burgers. They are so awesome but I did notice heavier than normal periods. It could be that I am vegan and 43 so menopause is lurking. Wonder if its the flax too? I am totally against soy anything as all soy is genetically modified. Everyone concerned with health should research genetically modified foods. Not good. I am yeast free because I have an intolerance and vegan because of my need to live a planet healthy life style. I really watch the effects of anything I eat so I will experiment further. My choices are limited so to eliminate flax would be difficult.
I have been a vegetarian since I was a teenager. I used to consume large amounts of soya products including veggie burgers and soya milk and always felt unwell. I was constantly feeling fatigued and had continual stomach problems. I stopped the soya some years ago. I have a family history of breast cancer so over a year ago I started taking 2 tablespoons of flax a day and also started eating soya again (not sure why I made this decision). I have a breast fibroadenoma which started to grow and grow over a period of a year. The doctor wants me to have this removed but I asked to wait. I go for acupuncture and TCM and stopped taking the ground flax and soya. I feel wonderful and I can’t say for sure but I think the fibroadenoma has stopped growing. I believe the large quantity of flax I was ingesting caused the fibroadenoma to grow. It never grew before I took the flax. Too much of a coincidence.
Lynn: It was more likely the large amounts of soy that you were taking, or both in combination – not just flax (as your post indicated, soy was also taken heavily, and as Barbara above points out).
Thanks for this post; I never really associated flax (oil :/) and heavy periods, but they do seem to coincide (I’ve only taken flax oil very occasionally, but recently it triggered a random heavy period out of nowheree apparently).
Good blog, and I really appreciate the lack of soy-pushing (it’s in so many ‘healthy’/vegan/etc blogs, without giving complete information!)>
I came upon your site while researching phytic acid and had just finished reading this article:
http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:MLW6he7_BCgJ:www.sustainablesuppers.com/pdfs/SustainableSuppersSoakingNuts.pdf+do+anti+nutrients+in+grains+and+seeds+fight+cancer&cd=27&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a
that has great documentation and scientific evidence pointing out the minimal negative effects of phytic acid and a lot of positives. It is well researched and especially interesting to me in my debates with my mother ( a firm believer in the Paleo Diet) I am mostly a follower of Nourishing Traditions ideology though I have wondered about the necessity of soaking nuts and a few other minor points. Anyway, just thought you might be interested in this article. I wonder what Sally Fallon would have to say about it?
Hey Serenity,
Thanks so much for the link. It’s always interesting to read what someone else has to say and I just read it. 🙂 I believe that Sally’s stance on the phytic acid/cancer issue is that yes, that could be true. Many traditional societies did eat unsoaked grains at some points in the year, which could have easily acted like a cleansing period for them. I think that the two things that really convince me that eating mostly soaked grains and nuts is best for my family is that first, I can get stomach aches from eating unsoaked things (especially nuts) so there’s the personal angle there. And secondly, I see example after example of “soaked” grains in traditional societies. I understand that many don’t care what traditional societies did, but it carries a lot of weight with me. 🙂 Shannon shares a similar experience here.
It works for us! 🙂
Hey Kimi,
Nice work and lots of info in this post. I can’t wrap around it all yet, but I hate how new info changes things yearly. I say stick to what your body and family need. Get a full work up to find out and avoid overprocessed junk.
Serenity,
Can you link to that again or describe it so I can google it? The link is broken
I am 56 years old and had to go to the ob/gyn this morning. Yesterday I started bleeding like a period and it hasn’t stopped. I haven’t had a period since my early 40’s . . . . . anyway the first thing my dr. asked me if I had been taking soy or flax. I have been taking flax capsules for a couple months and know that has to be the culprit. Unfortunately she had to take a sample for a biopsy and it hurt so bad. I wouldn’t have gone if I had known it was going to hurt like that! Now to wait ten days for the results but am sure it is the flax! I have a bottle and a half left—-anybody want it?
I was recommended by my OBGYN to take a flax seed oil capsules along with fish oil capsules twice a day to assist with brain development and all the other good things that Omega 3’s do for both mom and baby. I had no complications with my pregnancy and actually still faithfully take flax oil daily. My son is perfect too! I never even went into labor! I wound up having a C-section.
I think that all things God created are good…in moderation. We tend to be in the day and age where we think that if something is good MORE of it is better. I am very thankful for this article because we have been making a few new recipes with ground flax lately and they’ve been very tasty so we’ve been snacking on the A LOT throughout the day…so has my one year old daughter. This came across my computer at the perfect time! I don’t want my husband & I overdoing it with flax but especially my daughter and her tiny body. Thank you for the information!
Thanks for the informative article. I came across it while I was searching for information about flax oil supplements. I’m 11 weeks pregnant, and I weaned off my antidepressants with doctor supervision. Problem is, with the stew of hormones and other anxieties pregnancy brings about, and without the SSRI to counter it, I’m a raving mad woman. My acupuncturist suggested flax oil, hemp oil or fish oil to smooth out my emotions, but my OB said no, that there is not enough research that says flax is safe for pregnant women. (The OB was quick to put me back on antidepressants, however. Hmm.)
Which brings me to my real point: I had a very difficult time getting pregnant, and my doctor told me I had the fertility profile of a woman about four or five years older. I’ve been a vegetarian for almost 20 years, and I consume quite a bit of tofu and soy products. So I paused when I read this sentence: “Scientists have known for years the isoflavones in soy products can depress the thyroid.”
Are there many studies out there about vegetarians and infertility?
Thanks again for the informative piece.
Jen — had to tell you. While I wasn’t a vegetarian, I was exceedingly fond of sugar free soy milk & tofu. Despite working with a personal trainer and having a very restricted diet I found myself unable to lose weight. Further my skin & hair were dry and while we weren’t timing it, I did not get pregnant despite no birth control. Didn’t make sense… I began to research metabolism and found out about soy and the thyroid side effects — I dropped the soy and have avoided it ever since. Oh and I lost the excess weight and got pregnant 🙂 I’m sad about the soy milk, I really did enjoy that nutty flavor — but I love being healthy and feeling well more.
Thanks for putting the work into this post. I am looking it up because at the last pediatrician visit our doc saw that I used flax in my pancakes as a binder (we are GFCFEF) and took a second look to see how much I was using. He brought up the phytoestrogens that flax contain. I use 2 tablespoons and he said … “it should be okay, it’s not that much” (I have two toddler boys and we don’t do soy … didn’t do soy during pregnancy either). I used to make dehydrated flax crackers and would eat them up until they were gone. Probably a bit too much, but I don’t think I am going to fret over 2 tablespoons of ground flax in a batch of pancakes once a week. I will go to my grave feeling “OK” that I enjoyed things in moderation as others have commented. But yes, I too will watch for studies. I was an unfermented soy addict for so long (tofu, etc) the studies changed my mind there : ) Thanks again for this great post.
I was using flaxseeds occasionally for about 4 years. About 6 weeks ago I started using them everyday-2 tablespoons. After about 3 weeks ago I experienced pain in my right breast and veins in both. I have fibrocystic breasts to begin with but this was not cylical. Anyway, of course I called my doctor and am getting checked out but now I’m thinking the pain may have happened 4 years ago when I first started taking flaxseeds and I had attributed it to something else. I stopped using the flaxseed about a week ago and have experienced some lessening of pain. Not sure its the flax but I plan on staying away.
a Dr called Dr Ekhart-whos subject is sending yam oil out to people with low progestorgne and high oestrogen-says flax ‘makes his patients bleed’..but hes not kind enough to say how where or in what context.. I CANNOT EAT BREAD..mum gave me two packets of flax for christmas and I havent DARED to open either-not to mention chocoalte coffee mint chamomile,coffee ,tea pomegranate,garlic etc etc etc etce he also says I mustnt eat WHAT IS LEFT?
..sunflower seeds,sunflower oil, hemp, carrot oil, rice oil,rosemary sage,any oils, lemon, erm, LOADS of things -im so depressed