Health guru and TV Doctor Michael Mosley has shared a ‘powerhouse’ food that can help reduce the risk of heart disease in adults – and you only need a teaspoon of it
There are around 7.6 million people living with heart or circulatory disease in the UK – and while there is no cure, there is one superfood that can help reduce the risk.
The British Heart Foundation estimates that more than half of Brits will get a heart or circulatory condition in their lifetime, so keeping our hearts healthy is a priority. Now health guru Dr Michael Mosley has shared just a teaspoon of flaxseed – also known as linseed, is a “powerhouse” snack when it comes to protecting our hearts.
They can be easily added to your diet, whether it be sprinkled on oats, added to a salad or baked into bread.
Flaxseed has a mild nutty taste, and the expert called them a “nutritional powerhouse packed with fibre, protein, and healthy fatty acids”.
It’s believed that some of the benefits could be the results of a fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and high quantities of this are found in flaxseed. As well as this, it is an anti-inflammatory and excellent protection against heart disease. Another benefit of flaxseed is the high fibre content which is also a powerful tool to reduce heart disease and cholesterol.
He explained: “Studies show that eating flaxseeds can lower blood pressure and also improve your skin, which could be down to the fatty acids and antioxidants which are much more readily available when you grind them up. A small German study on women with sensitive skin showed that two weeks of taking a two-gram flaxseed oil supplement improved their skin quality. Not only did their sensitivity decrease, but they also received a boost in both hydration and smoothness,” as reported by The Express.
“Flaxseeds are also rich in fibre, which is not only good for relieving constipation but can also help control our blood sugar levels,” he added.
A study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition saw participants consume flaxseed muffins three times a day – equalling 30g – and it was found that this amount was enough to lower blood sugar levels across a day.
“The results of this study demonstrated that flaxseed muffins given three times a day were effective at lowering and maintaining blood glucose levels over 24 hours, compared to the control muffins and that both flaxseed treatments resulted in a lower blood glucose iAUC during the night,” the study said.
“The results of this study indicated that adding flaxseed to a daily diet produced a lower glucose profile over 24 hours in a free-living context compared to the control muffins.”
You can buy flaxseeds from at most supermarkets, or if you prefer to shop online you can pick up a 200g bag of Gorilla Food Co Golden Flax Seeds on Amazon for £2.15.
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