Flaxseed has had a reputation as a healthful food. It is rich in soluble fiber, lignans and omega-3 fats. But it has not been clear whether flaxseed could lower cholesterol. A meta-analysis covering 28 studies concludes that both total and LDL cholesterol drop significantly when women add approximately one tablespoon to their daily diet.
Flaxseed oil was ineffective, and men did not seem to benefit significantly. The women who got the best results were those who started with the highest cholesterol levels. These investigators suggest that people eat whole flaxseed, but we usually recommend grinding flaxseed in a blender or coffee grinder immediately before consuming it.
