Flaxseed, a small brown seed produced from the blue flowers of the flax crop (Linum usitatissimum) grown in the Canadian prairies, is the richest plant source of the u-3 PUFA a-Linolenic acid (ALA; C18: 3n-3) Flaxseed exists in 4 main forms: whole seed, ground, partially defatted flaxseed meal, or flaxseed oil. Flaxseed accumulates many biologically active compound including Linolenic acid, Linoleic acid, Lignans, cyclic peptides, polysaccharides, alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, and cadmium, where it helps to prevent many chronic disease.
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