The folks at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona told me all about the merits of flax seed. They told me to sprinkle it here, sprinkle it there, sprinkle it everywhere. While at this desert destination, I did just that. I dipped into the bowls of flax scattered at all dining locations, and I topped my bagels, cereals, salads, and more with this powerful substance. As soon as I got home from this little slice of paradise, I bought my own personal container of flax. I promptly placed it in my refrigerator, have used it a few times, and just recently realized I'd forgotten why exactly it's so good for me.I've done some research, and now I know a little more about this thing called flax -- and I remember why it must become a part of my everyday life.
Flax, also known as Common Flax or Linseed, is an annual plant that grows to 120 cm tall, with slender stems. Native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India, its leaves are green, its flowers blue, its fruit round and containing glossy brown seeds. Grown for both its seeds and its fibers, parts of this plant are used to make fabric, dye, paper, medicines, fishing nets, and soap. The seeds, like what sit in my refrigerator, come in two forms -- brown and yellow or golden. The yellow, golden variety is the one most often consumed.
Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer. In the 1980's, occupational jobs handling asbestos were determined to be the largest contributing factors for this disease. Workplace exposure is more rare now but the risks of exposure are still there for some occupations and not only for the people in these occupations but for their family members who might handle their clothing, or that live near facilities that have asbestos and are breathing in the tiny dust particles.
