During my last trip to the grocery store, I found that flax is in just about everything now. I can't even count how many cereals touted flax as an ingredient. And even eggs bragged about the chickens being fed flax! What is going on?

Flax seed naturally contains omega-3 fatty acids. It's one of the the best plant source for omega-3 fatty acids. It's also great as a fiber source. It has a nice nutty flavor that is really good when you add it to oatmeal or even yogurt.

Flax also, though, is a phytoestrogen. This means that it acts on the estrogen receptor without stimulating it. There has been some research in menopausal women looking at the effects on estrogen metabolism in conjunction with flax consumption. Of course, menopausal women have fluctuating estrogen, and we all have heard the possible risks associated with supplementing estrogen, such as increased cancer. The idea, then, is to supplement with something that would bind to the estrogen receptor without stimulating it. It has been suggested that the lignans in flax help to eliminate excess estrogen from the body.

This would perhaps be a use for flax in pre-menopausal women who are estrogen-dominant. Estrogen dominance leads to fibroids, endometriosis, and painful menstrual cramps. If you could block the estrogen, at least partially, from binding its receptors, you could decrease its negative activity. And if flax helped eliminate excess estrogen, that would also be beneficial.

What about pre-menopausal women who may actually be trying to conceive? In such women, estrogen is necessary and beneficial. We want estrogen to bind its receptors and activate them, not just sit on them or block estrogen. Theoretically, then, a phytoestrogen would be counterproductive in a woman seeking to conceive. Taking anything that affects the balance of hormones when you're trying to get pregnant would not be a good idea, unless recommended by a doctor. This is especially true if you're going through stimulated ovulation with fertility drugs--your hormones are already being manipulated, so you should avoid any herbs, foods or additional medications that may also impact your hormones.

I do not have any studies to support this idea. I can tell you that in my personal experience, eating flax minimized my menstrual cramps, which I liked. I also liked the taste of it in my oatmeal. But if I were trying to conceive, I would avoid flax.