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Question:
I have heard that flaxseed and flaxseed oil protect against breast cancer. Which is better to use?
Answer:
I recommend them both - one tablespoon of flaxseed oil and one tablespoon of flaxseeds per day is a great strategy to fight breast cancer. I recommend flaxseed oil for its higher alpha-linolenic acid content and flaxseeds for their higher lignan content. Both are equally important. A recent study in women with breast cancer found that those who had low levels of alpha-linolenic acid, the main fatty acid in flaxseed oil, were at higher risk that the cancer would spread to other parts of the body. To put a positive spin on this study, supplementing the diet with flaxseed oil, which contains approximately fifty-eight percent alpha-linolenic acid, may help prevent breast cancer, invasive tumors, and metastasis.
Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil are abundant sources of lignans. These fiber compounds bind to estrogen receptors. By doing so, they interfere with the cancer-promoting effects of estrogen on breast tissue. Lignans also work by stimulating production of sex hormone binding globulin, or SHBG. This protein attaches to molecules of hormone to escort it out of the body. The more SHBG you have, the less active estrogen will be, and the lower your risk of breast cancer.
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