As interest in dietary sources of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), especially omega-3s, has flourished, flaxseed has become a buzzword in health food circles. The health benefits of EFAs are numerous, and they are a key ingredient in this nutritional oil and seeds, which truly qualify it as a superfood. In addition to EFAs, the health benefits of flaxseed include being an excellent source of fiber, protein, B vitamins, minerals, and other phytonutrients necessary for good health.
The use of flax as a food and a medicine is not a new concept. It was valued in the Roman Empire for its healing powers. Flaxseed and its oil could perhaps be called the first nutritional supplement, long before multi-vitamins came along, and one of the original “health foods.” Ancient civilizations may not have understood the science behind it, but the results of eating and topically applying this healthy oil spoke for themselves.
About Fats – Yes, You Need Them!
Dietary fat has a negative reputation in our culture, and for some good reasons. Too much of the wrong kinds of fat, mainly animal and trans fats, has been responsible for the epidemic of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other diseases that run rampant in modern society. However, there are good fats, containing EFAs, that are sorely lacking in the Standard American Diet (SAD). These fats are necessary for repair and healing and can actually prevent and reverse the damage from illnesses such as those listed above, as well as others. This is why oils such as flaxseed oil are so popular today, as people become more educated about their nutritional needs.
Amazing Health Benefits of Flaxseed
Cardiovascular Benefits
Flaxseed Oil (FSO) is famous for its excellent cardiovascular benefits. Omega-3 fatty acids work wonders for arterial health by lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood,
and they make platelets (blood cells) less sticky, thus lowering the chance of blood clots and clogged arteries. The result of these factors is that FSO reduces the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, atherosclerosis, and strokes.
Rich in Lignans
Flaxseed oil is also rich in a substance called lignan, which is found in many whole grains. However, the level of lignan in flax is up to 100 times greater than in other grains. Lignans serve many useful purposes, including lowering risk for breast and other hormone-related cancers, and colon cancer as well. Lignans also boost the immune system by acting as antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal agents.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Flaxseed oil (FSO) also has wonderful anti-inflammatory features. It reduces inflammation throughout the body, a factor that is foundational to many forms of disease. Thus, FSO can help to prevent and treat autoimmune conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and joint pain. It also reduces inflammation and disease in the liver and kidneys.
Bowel Health
Both flaxseed and FSO are great for bowel health, too. Due to its high fiber content and anti-inflammatory properties, FSO helps create an intestinal tract that functions properly, allowing it to absorb more nutrients and effectively eliminate toxins. FSO helps relieve constipation, and EFAs support cellular function at the intestinal and systemic levels.
Good Fats
Flaxseed oil provides “good” fats that promote brain growth, especially in fetuses and infants. Pre-natal use of Flaxseed Oil is highly recommended for nourishing your baby’s brain and nervous system.
Healthy Weight
Flaxseed oil can also help people lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. In a process known as thermogenesis, specialized fat cells (brown fat) are stimulated by the EFAs in flaxseed oil (especially gamma-linolenic acid or GLA) to burn unneeded body fat more efficiently.
Skin and Hair
Flaxseed oil is also very effective at treating and preventing skin and hair conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and dandruff. It is beneficial both when consumed and when applied topically. It also helps skin wounds to heal faster, and improves the healing of muscle sprains and soreness after vigorous activity. Many people who work out regularly notice a significant improvement in this area when using FSO.
Dr. Johanna Budwig: The Budwig Diet (Oil-Protein Diet)
Many people suffering from degenerative diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are making the choice to implement Dr. Johanna Budwig’s Oil-Protein Diet. Dr. Budwig was a licensed pharmacist, a qualified chemist with doctorates in chemistry and physics, and a senior expert in pharmaceuticals and fats at a high-level government function in Germany. Dr. Budwig devoted her life for more than 50 years to the validation of her research results for sustaining human life in medicine, and in the process brought about a change in the direction of cancer research and therapy.
Over 50 years ago, Dr. Budwig lectured about the connection between the “bad” fats, such as hydrogenated margarine, and illness, as well as the importance of essential fatty acids. In a speech delivered by Dr. Budwig on November 2, 1959, in Zurich, Switzerland, she said, “Without these fatty acids, the respiratory enzymes cannot function, and the person suffocates, even when he is given oxygen-rich air. A deficiency in these highly unsaturated fatty acids impairs many vital functions. First of all, it decreases the person’s available oxygen supply. We cannot survive without air and food, nor can we survive without these fatty acids. That has been proven long ago.” Certainly, Dr. Budwig understood the connection between diet and health. She understood that with the advent and popularity of hydrogenated and over-processed oils came an increase in several serious diseases. She also realized that the way foods are processed now eliminates almost all essential fatty acids. Dr. Budwig then decided to focus her life’s work on finding a dietary solution or cure for the diseases that affect so many people around the world.
In a nutshell, Dr. Budwig recommended using organic, cold-pressed flaxseed oil and low-fat, organic cottage cheese (1:2 ratio), blended until emulsified. According to Dr. Budwig, this emulsification makes the flaxseed more water-soluble and thus more usable to the body.
Below is the correct diet that Dr. Budwig advocated. There are many variations of the Budwig diet floating around the Internet; however, the diet below is the one outlined in Dr. Budwig’s writings. I urge caution when following a protocol different from the one below, unless patient success can be demonstrated. What “should” work and what “does” work can be two entirely separate things! Remember, as with any natural health protocol: halfhearted implementation = halfhearted results.
While Dr. Budwig did not recommend using supplements, many people following the diet add food-grade supplements to the protocol with success. I would recommend that one do their “due diligence” when implementing supplements, in making sure any supplements consumed are food-grade with no chemicals, toxic binders, or excipients added.
Appliances Needed Before Beginning the Budwig Diet
- Coffee bean grinder to grind the whole brown flax seeds sold in health food stores or online. Freshly ground seeds are a must.
- Immersion handheld mixer (a stick-shaped mixer) to blend and emulsify (bond) flaxseed oil [FO] & organic cottage cheese [CC] into one food, making the oil water-soluble and more absorbable. It’s important to use an electric mixer rather than stirring the two ingredients together.
- Vegetable Juicer. A masticating type juicer is said to give a more healthful juice than a centrifugal type. Research Green Star & Omega 8005. However, many have used other, less costly juicers with success.
NOTE: It’s a good idea to purchase and read Dr. Budwig’s books Flax Oil As A True Aid Against Arthritis, Heart Infarction, Cancer And Other Diseases, The Oil-Protein Diet Cookbook, and Cancer: The Problem and The Solution either before or in the very beginning of implementing the FOCC diet. All of these books are available on Amazon.com. This is necessary for a complete explanation and understanding of the protocol’s whys. Being completely informed about what you are doing will most likely help to keep you on track.
FLAXSEED OIL and COTTAGE CHEESE (FOCC) or quark
Each tablespoon of Flax Seed Oil (FSO) is blended with 2 tablespoons of low-fat organic Cottage Cheese (CC) or quark. This is a ratio of approximately 1:2. Cold-pressed, refrigerated liquid Flax Seed Oil is recommended, for example, Barlean’s & Spectrum. The Flax Seed Oil must be organic, fresh, cold-pressed, and unadulterated flax oil (no Vitamin E or other preservatives added). It’s recommended to buy regular FSO rather than High Lignan FSO. Healthier lignans are obtained at a lower cost by using freshly ground flax seeds (grind right before use) [used instead of Linomel]. Important: Ground flax seeds must be used within 20 minutes.
TO BEGIN THE DAY
An hour before breakfast, enjoy a glass of organic sauerkraut juice. It has cancer-fighting benefits and improves digestion. Homemade is best in order to get the digestive enzymes. Use this link for a video on making sauerkraut. Press the arrow to start the video.
To get sauerkraut juice, run the finished homemade kraut through your juicer. Some people prefer to use digestive pancreatic enzymes instead of sauerkraut juice due to digestive distress; this has been done successfully, although Dr. Budwig did not specifically recommend it.
BREAKFAST
Start with a cup of green tea or herbal tea. It provides the warm liquid required for the ground flax seeds to swell properly. That’s important. Then, eat your Muesli [Muesli in the Budwig diet refers to the recipe below. We often call it FOCC. Besides cottage cheese or quark, you could use organic homemade yogurt cheese or kefir cheese with cow or goat milk.
BUDWIG FOCC RECIPE
[Make enough for 1 meal only, avoid storing. Eat immediately. Use organic foods. JB’s cookbook has varied recipes]
- Blend 3 Tbs flaxseed oil with 6 Tbs low-fat CC or quark using a handheld immersion blender for up to 1 minute. If needed, add 2 Tbs organic milk. Avoid adding water or juices when blending flaxseed oil with CC or quark. The mixture should look like rich whipped cream, with no visible oil separation in the mixture or on the sides of the bowl.
Layer or stir in the following ingredients
- Grind 2 Tbs whole flax seeds and add. [This replaces Linomel that JB talks about in her books.] Freshly ground seeds become rancid within 20 minutes; eat the recipe immediately.
- Add various fruits such as fresh [or thawed-out frozen if necessary] berries, all kinds, which contain strong cancer-fighting Ellagic Acid.
- Add other fresh fruit if you like, totaling 1/2 to 1 cup of fruit.
- If the mixture is too thick, add 1 or 2 Tbs of organic fruit juice [e.g., dark grape, blueberry] or organic milk. Fruits & their juices are proven cancer fighters.
- Add organic raw nuts such as walnuts or Brazil nuts [no peanuts] and a bit of raw honey. For variety, try organic vanilla, cinnamon, lemon juice, pure cocoa, or shredded coconut. Try various fresh organic fruits & flavorings. Afterward, you can have whole-grain bread (something other than wheat, which is harder to digest) with cucumber, tomato, radishes, or other raw veggies.
MID-MORNING
Freshly-pressed vegetable juice from carrots and/or beets, celery, lemon, apple, as well as green vegetables – lettuces or spinach [carrot & beet juices are especially helpful to the liver & are strong cancer fighters]. Vary the vegetables each day. Omega juicers – http://www.discountjuicers.com/omega8006.html
SUNLIGHT
Dr. Budwig emphasized that getting daily sunshine is very healthy for vitamin D production. Avoid burning & avoid sunscreen & sunglasses.
If you feel up to exercising, individualize it according to your strength – DON’T OVERDO IT. Dr. Budwig wrote: “Often yoga or sport is very important, but sometimes the patient should not do this,” and “I would never allow a cancer patient with metastases to jog, ride a bicycle, or practice yoga. His body must relax.” One form of exercise that is beneficial for most people is using a rebounder [a mini-trampoline] because it can help clear the lymph system and promote better drainage. If one is very weak, they can sit on the rebounder and bounce.
BEFORE LUNCH
A cup of warm green or herbal tea. Use honey if desired (no sugar). Also suggested: 1 Tbs whole flax seeds, freshly ground, added to a glass of champagne, known to help digestion & absorption. [1999 book]
LUNCH
RAW vegetable salad with various home-made salad dressings, which may include 1 or more Tbs FSO blended with 1 or 2 Tbs organic low-fat CC, plus 1 Tbs organic apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, and spices. Or, for sweeter dressing, try FSO & grape, orange, apple, or another juice. You can vary the salad dressings based on the recipes in the Oil-Protein Diet Cookbook. Several recipes do not include cottage cheese at all. The body can utilize 1 or 2 Tbs of oil without cottage cheese. Avoid commercial salad dressings. Pumpkin seed oil can also be used. Experiment with spices or honey for variety.
If still hungry, make steamed or boiled veggies and grains. [See “DINNER”]
LUNCH DESSERT
It’s IMPORTANT to have a SECOND SERVING of FOCC with varied fresh raw fruits (organic). Again, use 3 Tbs FO & 6 Tbs CC with fresh fruit but NO flaxseeds. If there are issues digesting this amount of FOCC, begin with smaller amounts and increase slowly. Chew very well to optimize digestion. Pre-digestion begins in the mouth, where saliva mixes with the food. Try to have meals in a peaceful atmosphere. Relaxing is important.
MID-AFTERNOON
Two Tbs whole flax seeds, freshly ground, stirred into a glass of sparkling wine or Champagne OR one Tbs flax seeds, ground and stirred into a glass of fruit juice: grape, cherry, or pineapple. Chew the ground flax seeds for better digestion. Repeat 1/2 hour later.
STRESS REDUCTION
Relax in the sunshine every day for 30-40 minutes. Empty the mind of worries, anger, and fears. Focus on nature, music, sounds of nature, deep breathing & positivity. Think kind thoughts about yourself & others. Dr. Budwig said that relieving stress is extremely important.
LATE AFTERNOON
1 Tbs whole flax seeds, ground, added to pure blueberry or papaya juice. Both papaya & pineapple [above] contain digestive enzymes when fresh. When making the juice, drink it immediately after preparation, before the enzymes are lost by air and light. You want to get as many natural enzymes as possible [as well as electrons from flax seeds & oils]. [Note: Instead of the fruit juices, some members heal using homemade vegetable juices as described at 10 a.m.]
DINNER
Vegetable soup or a variety of organic vegetables and starch-containing foods, well-spiced. Add Oleolux (recipe found in Dr. B’s Oil-Protein Diet Cookbook). Choices of cooked starchy foods – buckwheat (JB’s top choice-digests well & very nutritious), millet, brown rice, lentils, beans, peas, yams & potatoes. Add lightly cooked vegetables such as kale, tomatoes, spinach, beets, carrots, chard, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, onions, artichokes, asparagus, peppers, and green beans. Also, add healthful spices such as cayenne pepper, paprika, turmeric, sea salt & others. AFTER COOKING, add homemade Oleolux ‘to taste, which adds even more nutrition. Use also on bread [whole- or sprouted-grain, homemade or Ezekiel].
EVENING
A glass of organic red wine, if desired.
The above diet can be varied by the many recipes in Dr. Budwig’s book, The Oil-Protein Diet Cookbook, sold on Amazon for about $10.
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT
- AVOID UNHEALTHY FOODS such as hydrogenated oils, trans-fats, animal fats [meats, chicken, fish, eggs,] butter, cane sugar, preservatives, processed foods, pesticides and chemicals, even those in household products & cosmetics. She also stressed drinking chemical-free water.
- Avoid leftovers – food should be prepared fresh and eaten soon after preparation to maximize intake of health-giving electrons & enzymes.
- Drink warm green or herbal teas, unsweetened or sweetened only with honey.
- Vegetable Juicing. Consuming two or more glasses of organic vegetable juice each day is important. Freshly juiced vegetables provide the body with important vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water, and oxygen. They are literally living, and LIFE = LIFE. By juicing, one can consume many times more vegetables than by eating them. Take advantage of the healing and repair properties that organic, in-season vegetables offer to the body.
- Stress is damaging and disease-causing. Avoid stress-producing people & situations. This may mean that for a while, one may need to change jobs, friends, etc. Take time to relax & enjoy each day. Listen to beautiful music, read uplifting books, laugh, practice deep breathing, take walks in nature, and spend time with supportive friends and family. Eliminate anger, jealousy, and sadness through EFT [see emofree.com] or counseling. Practice forgiveness toward yourself and others. Do not dwell on the past or the future.
- ELDI oils (Electron Differential Oils) are oils for external application or enema. Dr. Budwig had her patients use them as needed. She suggests that ELDI oils should be used by a specialist who also understands the significance of the electromagnetic field in the sick person’s environment.
- Dr. Budwig did not include drugs or supplements in her protocol guidelines. In her 1999 book, she spoke against them. Flaxseed oil is known to thin the blood, so be careful about using blood-thinning drugs, including aspirin. It could be dangerous. Some supplements, especially high amounts of man-made antioxidants, can seriously interfere with how well the diet works, as can some drugs and treatments such as chemo and radiation, cortisones, hormones & pain killers. She also warned against the dangers of oxygen therapy for the cancer patient and indicated that the cells are not ready to absorb oxygen, but are healed through diet.
- The foods in the Budwig Protocol give your body what it needs daily to stop cancer. Dr. Budwig warned that one should follow the diet strictly for five years before relaxing a little, but one can never stop the healing foods for more than a few days, nor can one regularly eat damaging foods or supplements. Doing so will allow cancer to return in those who are prone to this disease.
- Take care of your teeth. Infections can interfere with your improvement.
Dr. Budwig’s book Flax Oil as a True Aid Against Arthritis, Heart Infarction, Cancer, and other Diseases offers an understanding of the scientific principles behind this protocol and can be ordered here. Her cookbook, The Oil-Protein Diet, gives practical diet information and recipes. Both of these books can be ordered from http://www.amazon.com/
Her newest (and last) book, Cancer-The Problem and The Solution, written in 1999, is available here.
Tips on Purchasing and Using Flaxseed Oil
Be sure to purchase Flax Seed Oil that has been cold-processed and refrigerated in dark glass bottles, as heat, light, and oxygen destroy the oil’s nutritional benefits during processing and storage. Encourage Flax Seed Oil manufacturers to package their products in glass and not plastic. Internationally, where people know and expect good quality oils, highly sensitive oils such as Flax Seed Oil would never be placed in plastic bottles. In America, we should encourage the same knowledge and practice. The safety of placing liquids in plastic bottles is a concern of mine, even though plastic manufacturers would have us believe otherwise. They do not have a good track record of being completely truthful.
When using flaxseed oil as a condiment or in cooking, never heat the oil.
It takes most people about 6 weeks to see positive results from using flaxseed oil, so be patient, stay focused, and enjoy this gift of nature creatively!
Health Benefits of Flaxseed: More Information and Research
Flaxseed Oil
FlaxSeed Studies and Reviews
Excerpts from Flax Oil As A True Aid Against Arthritis, Heart Infarction, Cancer, And other Diseases
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Singh RB, Niaz MA, Sharma JP, Kumar R, Rastogi V, Moshiri M. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of fish oil and mustard oil in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction; the Indian experiment of infarct survival – 4. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 1997;11:485–91. [PubMed] [Ref list]
Takeuchi H, Sakurai C, Noda R, et al. Antihypertensive effect and safety of dietary alpha-linolenic acid in subjects with high-normal blood pressure and mild hypertension. J Oleo Sci. 2007;56:347–60. [PubMed] [Ref list]
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Conklin SM, Harris JI, Manuck SB, Yao JK, Hibbeln JR, Muldoon MF. Serum ω-3 fatty acids are associated with variation in mood, personality and behavior in hypercholesterolemic community volunteers. Psychiatry Res. 2007;152:1–10. [PubMed] [Ref list]
Chen J, Stavro PM, Thompson LU. Dietary flaxseed inhibits human breast cancer growth and metastasis and downregulates expression of insulin-like growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor. Nutrition & Cancer. 2002;43:187-92.
Fukumitsu S, Aida K, Shimizu H, Toyoda K. Flaxseed lignan lowers blood cholesterol and decreases liver disease risk factors in moderately hypercholesterolemic men. Nutr Res. 2010 Jul;30(7):441-6.
Yari Z, Rahimlou M, Eslamparast T, et al. Flaxseed supplementation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot randomized, open labeled, controlled study. Int J Food Sci Nutr. Jun 2016;67(4):461-469.
†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. Oasis Advanced Wellness/OAWHealth does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. The views and nutritional advice expressed by Oasis Advanced Wellness/OAWHealth are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician of choice.
