Flax seeds may modify estrogen metabolites and reduce tumor growth.

Flax seed consumption provides several health benefits. Ground flax seeds have also shown to help regulate estrogen metabolism by increasing the favorable estrogen metabolite 2-hydroxyestrone, but not the more active and potentially harmful 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (Brooks JD, et al. 2004). This results in a healthier ratio of 2-hydroxyestrone to 16alpha-hydroxyestrone. Higher levels of 16alpha-hydroxyestrone have been associated with estrogen related cancer.

Flax seeds have also been documented to reduce tumor markers in postmenopausal breast cancer (Thompson LU, et al. 2005). A 30% increase of apoptosis (cell death) in tumor tissue was also observed.

The daily dose of flax seeds used in both of these studies was 25 grams.

An easy way to take flax seeds is to grind up 2 tablespoons in a coffee grinder, put it in a glass of water and drink it before breakfast and dinner.

For more information on the benefits of flax seeds, click here.

Brooks JD, Ward WE, Lewis JE, Hilditch J, Nickell L, Wong E, Thompson LU. Supplementation with flaxseed alters estrogen metabolism in postmenopausal women to a greater extent than does supplementation with an equal amount of soy. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Feb;79(2):318-25.

Thompson LU, Chen JM, Li T, Strasser-Weippl K, Goss PE. Dietary flaxseed alters tumor biological markers in postmenopausal breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2005 May 15;11(10):3828-35.