Free Video Newsletter

Ancient Wisdom & Modern Science

Learn more ...
3 emails a week
  • 1.866.227.9843
  • About LifeSpa
  • Contact
  • Login
  • Newsletter

John Douillard's LifeSpa

Ancient Wisdom meets Modern ScienceAyurveda + Natural Health News

Menu 
  • HOME Back to front page
  • STORE Health Products
    • SHOP NOWTake me to the store
    • Shop Health TopicTake me to products by health topic
    • Shop Body Type (dosha)Take me to products by body type
      • Take the Body Type Quiz
      • Kapha (Spring)
      • Pitta (Summer)
      • Vata (Fall / Winter)
    • Read the Catalog
  • LEARN Articles & Videos
    • Libraries
      • Videos
      • eBooks
      • Podcasts
      • Recipes
      • Health Quizzes
    • Article Library
      • Recent Articles
      • Browse by Category
      • Article Index A-Z
    • Own It
      • eCourses
      • Books
      • DVDs
    • Events
      • Podcasts
      • Cleanse Events
      • Events & Workshops
  • CLEANSE Ayurvedic Detox
    • Colorado Cleanse – 14-Day, At-Home Digestive Detox and Lymph Cleanse
      • Group Colorado Cleanse
      • Anytime Colorado Cleanse
    • Your Favorite Ayurvedic Cleanse: LifeSpa’s Short Home CleanseFree Instructional eBook
    • Safe Liver and Gallbladder Cleanse
      • Free Instructional eBook
      • Watch the Podcast “Safe Liver Cleansing”
    • 6-Step Lymph Detox Plan
      • Create-Your-Own Lymph Detox Kit
      • Learn More
    • Kaya Kalpa Cleanse
  • CONSULT Ayurvedic Medicine
    • More Information
      • Hours & Location
      • Testimonials
      • New Patient Paperwork
    • Ayurvedic Consultations with Dr. John Douillard, DC, CAPConsultations In-Person, via Phone or via Skype
      • About Dr. John Douillard DC, CAP
    • Ayurveda
      • What is Ayurveda?
You are here: Home / Diet + Detox / Diet and Seasonal Eating / Cut Cravings & Eat Less with Flax Seeds

Cut Cravings & Eat Less with Flax Seeds

by John Douillard on December 15, 2015 | Leave a Comment

Average Reading Time: 1 minute and 33 seconds

lifespa image, whole flax seeds and wooden spoonAccording to Ayurveda, the holiday season is called “vata season.” Vata is the principle which governs the nervous system in the body. The coldness and dryness of winter can aggravate the nervous system and dry the body out.

The body craves what it needs to antidote the stress on the nervous system in the winter. In perfect harmony with nature’s harvest, we crave heavier and warmer foods rich in fat and protein, which are naturally occurring in the fall and winter.

The three tastes that epitomize the body’s demand for nervous system support are sweet, sour and salty. These tastes are commonly found in comfort foods, and herein lies the problem:

It is winter, it is the holidays, we are stressed, and we are craving comfort foods to antidote that stress. Luckily, the winter harvest is also rich in soluble fiber like oats, grains, flax seeds, chia, and others. Soluble fibers have been found to suppress the appetite by satiating the gut and therefore the nervous system without racking up the calories.

Suppress Your Appetite with Flax Seeds

In one study done at the University of Copenhagen, flax seeds were measured on their ability to curb the appetite. Subjects were asked to fast on either a controlled drink with flax seeds or a controlled drink without flax seeds. The controlled drink with flax seeds only contained 2.5 grams of flax, while most fiber recommendations suggest 5-10 grams of fiber. So, these results were gleaned from a minimal dose.

The results showed that the group that drank the beverage with flax seeds ate 9% less calories once off the fast compared to the group that had no flax in their drink.

This study indicated that flax, which is high in soluble fiber, can curb or naturally suppress the appetite. In the winter, when food was generally scarce, nature seems again to come to the rescue, offering appetite-suppressing foods.

Flax seeds have also shown to be effective in supporting healthy cholesterol levels as well as weight management. (2)

During this holiday season, foods rich in soluble fiber like flax may offer a real solution to naturally suppress the appetite and keep us from over-indulging in the foods, snacks and drinks that abound during the holidays.

How to Use Flax Seeds

  • Sprinkle ground flax seeds into your oatmeal or cold cereal.
  • Add flax seeds to your homemade baked goods.
  • Add ground flax seeds to your smoothies.
  • Sprinkle flax seeds on top of cooked vegetables to give them a nutty flavor.
  • Make flax seed tea.

How to Make Flax Seed Tea

  1. Mix 1 Tbsp. whole flax seeds into 2 ½ cups water.
  2. Bring to a boil, and simmer for one hour.
  3. Use a strainer to separate the seeds from the liquid.
  4. After straining, dilute it with hot water to adjust the consistency to your liking.
  5. Drink 1 cup each day on an empty stomach.

We Recommend

The Most Amazing Gluten-Free Bread, that Everyone will LOVE!

Dr. John Douillard, DC, CAP is the author of seven health books (including bestselling Eat Wheat and The 3-Season Diet), seven online courses (including new Yoga Journal course Ayurveda 201 on Ayurvedic Psychology), and numerous free eBooks. He is a former NBA nutritionist and creator of LifeSpa.com—with thousands of free articles, resources, and videos. LifeSpa is a leading wellness resource, with nine million+ YouTube views and over 130k newsletter subscribers.

References

  1. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666311006969
  2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3307491/

Related Articles

micah mortali rewilding
094: Mindful Rewilding with Micah Mortali
lifespa image, uric acid, lemons and limes, vitamin c
Vitamin C with Full-Spectrum Bioflavonoids: Surprising Benefits
lifespa image, man fighting sugar cravings
Stop Sugar Cravings with Gymnema
prevent holiday weight gain
Proven Strategy to Prevent Holiday Weight Gain

Categories: Diet and Seasonal Eating, Optimal Weight Tagged: cholesterol, weight balancing

Speak Your Mind Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

9 million+ YouTube views
youtube video

Website Search

Store Search

Upcoming Events

lifespa image, silhouette growth heart light beams
Tue 10

Ayurveda 201: Six-Week Psychology eCourse

May 27, 2019 - May 27, 2021
Feb 28

Balancing Weight, Energy + Emotions @ Kripalu

February 28, 2020 - March 1, 2020
Mar 24

Colorado Cleanse

March 24, 2020 - April 6, 2020
john douillard sivananda
May 28

Ayurvedic Longevity @ Sivananda Bahamas

May 28, 2020 - May 31, 2020

View More…

Categories

  • Ayurvedic Beauty + Fitness
  • Circadian + Seasonal Lifestyle
  • Diet + Detox
  • Digestion + Lymph
  • Men + Women + Family Health
  • Mental Health + Mood
  • Other Health Topics

Media

Media-sidebar-button More>>

Sidebar IIN

Social

Inside Lifespa.com

  • 2018 LifeSpa Catalog
  • John in the News
  • New to Ayurvedic Body Types?
  • New to Ayurvedic Herbs?
  • New to the Ayurvedic Diet?
  • New to the Emotions of Ayurveda?
  • What is Ayurveda?

Support

  • Careers
  • Citations Policy
  • LifeSpa Gives Back!
  • Press Kit – Speaking Engagement Info
  • Online Affilate Program
  • Wholesale Partner Program

Contact us

John Douillard’s LifeSpa®
6662 Gunpark Dr E, Suite 102
Boulder, CO 80301

toll free: 1.866.227.9843
main: 303.516.4848
email: [email protected]

Online Scheduler

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of John Douillard. They are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, and they are not intended as medical advice. They are intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of John Douillard and his community. John Douillard encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

lifespa image, Top 50 Natural Health Websites 2013 Award Seal lifespa image, Top 100 Trailblazers in Yoga and Ayurveda
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
Copyright © 2019 John Douillard's LifeSpa
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2019 John Douillard's LifeSpa Top