I am a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) currently practicing in San Francisco, California. It’s not that the body gets accustomed to the lignans in the flax, but rather that hormone levels are constantly changing; dropping off. Woman who are menopausal may require evaluation of their clinical nutrients, herbal medicine(s), and/or homeopathics, as the body adjusts to new levels of decreased hormone production. Diet modifications may also require fine tuning as hormones levels decline.

For improving mild menopausal symptoms, 40 grams of crushed flax seed has been used with success and is a safe amount that woman can take daily. Orally, flax seed can cause digestive symptoms similar to other sources of dietary fiber including bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, dyspepsia, and nausea. Flax seed can significantly increase the number of bowel movements and the risk for diarrhea; doses greater than 45 grams per day may not be tolerated for this reason.

To answer your last question about flax seed administration, I normally suggest to my patients that they take the seeds with some food. Breakfast seems to be the best time, I.e. in a smoothie or in cereal. When the seeds are combined with additional fiber, they aid in the elimination of toxins from the body, and add a synergistic fiber effect. I also suggest that the seeds be taken away from any minerals (I.e. multivitamins), as they act like a “sponge” and can flush out crucial nutrients that we want the body to hold on to.

Shaila Schwartz, ND
Naturopathic Doctor