According to the website WHFoods.com, the health benefits of consuming flaxseeds, especially ground flaxseeds, include improved bone health, protection against heart disease, diabetes and cancer, blood pressure regulation and cholesterol regulation. The website GoldenFlax.com states that flax seed consumption is good for adults and children, and that children weighing between 70 and 105 pounds should consume up to one-eighth cup per day. The most significant health benefits of flaxseed consumption in children are protection from heart disease, a decreased susceptibility to colds and respiratory illness, and improved digestive regularity.
Cardiovascular Protection
According to Dr. Walter C. Willet, chairman of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health and author of the book “Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy,” flaxseeds are “High in fiber and rich in n-3 fatty acids, fats that may help protect against heart disease and other chronic ills.” The University of Maryland Medical Center advises you to add flaxseeds to your child’s diet to help balance omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids because “many researchers believe this imbalance is a significant factor in the rising rate of inflammatory disorders in the United States, including heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.” For breast-feeding mothers, UMM recommends that you ingest freshly ground flaxseed to increase fat content in your breast milk.
Reduced Susceptibility to Colds
Dr. Bill Sears, author of over 30 books on childcare and an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California-Irvine School of Medicine, suggests that flax supplements can boost your child’s immunity. According to Dr. Sears, “One study showed that school children supplemented with less than a teaspoon of flax oil a day had fewer and less severe respiratory infections than children not supplemented with flax oil.” Dr. Sears believes that the omega-3 fatty acids in flax oil serve as immune boosters by up-regulating the activity of your phagocytes—white blood cells that consume bacteria—and protect your body against damage from overreactions to infection. He suggests that you combine flax supplementation with additional Vitamin E to optimize your immune function.
Improved Regularity
Fiber is crucial in the maintenance of digestive regularity. The insoluble fiber found in flax can improve your child’s digestive regularity. According to the website HealthsDelight.com, “This fiber absorbs water which allows the body’s waste to pass more easily through the colon and thereby prevent constipation.” When increasing the amount of fiber in your child’s diet, be sure to increase the amount of water they’re consuming too. If you’re having a difficult time getting your child to drink more water, try boosting the amount of vegetables in his diet. Another potential benefit of flax consumption includes a decrease in symptoms for those suffering from Crohn’s disease and colitis, as the omega-3 fatty acids in flax are believed to heal the inner lining of the inflamed intestines.
About this Author
Martin Hughes is a chiropractic physician and freelance writer based out of Durham, N.C. He writes about health, fitness, diet, lifestyle, travel and outdoor pursuits. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology at the University of Waterloo and his doctoral degree from Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Ore.
