About Fem-Flax®

Concentrated Fem-Flax has been especially formulated for women of menopausal age in an effort to combat “hot flashes” and “night sweats”, symptoms traditionally associated with menopause.

The active ingredients in Fem-Flax are commonly referred to as “flax hull lignans”.  Each Fem-Flax capsule contains 99.9% of the full-spectrum of 27 available flax hull lignans.  Fem-Flax contains no additives, fillers, preservatives or other unnecessary inert compounds. Each capsule is packed end to end, with highly concentrated all-natural active ingredients (700mg).

Fem-Flax, made from the outer portion of the flax hull, is much better at reducing menopause symptoms than either whole ground flaxseed, flasxeed oil, ect.  Fem-Flax is a concentrated powder made from the outer area of the seed hull. The oily embrio portion of the seed is not used in this product.

In that the active ingredient affecting menopause symptoms is only found in the seed hull (about 18% by weight of the entire whole seed), Fem-Flax becomes highly concentrated and far less product needs to be taken to be effective.

A daily regimen of Fem-Flax is much different than eating whole ground flaxseed. In order to obtain the same potent lignan count found in concentrated Fem-Flax, you would have to ingest many more times the volume in whole ground flaxseed.

The ‘active’ mammalian lignans produced in the body with flaxseed consumption have hormonal effects in women and help to relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. These act by binding to estrogen receptors on cell membranes.

Most realize that during menopause, the levels of endogenous (naturally occurring) estrogens in the blood decrease naturally because the ovaries produce and release fewer natural estrogens.

While mammalian lignans may not be as powerful as natural estrogens, the complete full-spectrum of 27 lignans found in FemFlax have been clinically proven to be as effective as ‘hormone replacement therapy’ in improving menopause symptoms.

The good news is that the concentrated flax hull lignans found in Fem-Flax act as weak estrogen replacements, and in this way, help to alleviate the hot flash and night sweats symptoms associated with menopause.

The Difference Between Fem-Flax® and Whole Ground Flaxseed

In 2007 the Mayo Clinic conducted a double-blind study on women of menopausal age to determine the effects of whole ground flaxseed on common menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, etc.

Each woman consumed 40 grams daily (8 teaspoons) of whole ground flaxseed. Notably, of the women who were able to finish the test, a 57% reduction in symptoms was realized.

Unfortunately, only about half of the women taking flaxseed (not the placebo) were able to finish the test.  The other half fell out of the test (some as early as one of two days) due to problems with diarrhea and other digestive difficulties.

While the average American diet is severely lacking in fiber, whole ground flaxseed is very high in soluble and non-soluble fiber.  Easily half of the women in the Mayo Clinic test could not tolerate 8 teaspoons (of whole ground flaxseed) per day and were forced to drop out early.

Why 8 teaspoons per day?

The non-placebo recipients during the testing phase where given unadulterated whole ground flaxseed.  The dose was determined so that the active phytonutrients in flaxseed would have a chance to produce the desired results.

Later studies revealed ways in which the active ingredients could be isolated, thus reducing the dose requirements by volume and weight.  This reduction process allowed a much more potent dose while at the same time, eliminating the risk of ingesting too much fiber.

The active ingredients in flaxseed come from the outer hull portion of the seed (18% of total seed weight) and not the larger, oily embryo portion of the seed. These are called “lignans”.  These flax hull lignans produce a weak phytoestrogenic effect and once metabolized, have the unique capacity to attach themselves to estrogen receptor cells within the body.

While not as potent as real female estrogens (estradiol), taken in sufficient quantity, they can produce the same ameliorating effects as real female hormones.

As realized in the 2007 study, the problem comes in providing a strong enough dose (to be effective), without (at the same time) producing digestive concerns.

Flax Hull Lignans

Researchers soon found a number of ways to isolate the hard outer covering from the embryo portion of the seed. Various methods were tried including water baths, steam baths, acetate baths, or various combinations of these in an attempt to successfully loosen the hull from the seed, making separation easier.

However, some researchers determined that the introduction of any liquid (during the separation process) could reduce the shelf-life or the phytonutrient bioavailability of the finished product, or allow the development of mold or other bacteria.

Fem-Flax uses a patented dry, cold-press process which exacts pressures of 10,000 lbs. per square inch to separate the flax hull lignans.  Further refinement reduces the product to a fine powder which is encapsulated into individual gel-caps containing 700mg of 99.9% pure flax hull lignans, each.

The recommended dose of Fem-Flax (6 capsules per day) only equates to 4.2 grams of product, less than a single teaspoon (5 grams) but offers more potency than the 8 teaspoons per day (of whole ground flaxseed) given to the Mayo Clinic test subjects, and with near-zero risk of problematic digestive side-effects.

Encapsulated Fem-Flax is easy to take and provides accurate dosage delivery without measuring.  In addition to the digestive risks, a daily regimen of whole ground flaxseed can be a messy proposition and/or cause unnecessary weight gain.

Mixed into water, whole ground flaxseed has a tendency to stick to the sides of the glass and clump to the bottom, making it nearly impossible to consume the entire dose.  Also, 8 teaspoons of whole ground flaxseed would require several glasses of water.

To offset this approach, some manufacturers contend that whole ground flaxseed can be toasted and added as a topping to either ice cream or yogurt.  Other suggestions call for adding small amounts of whole ground flaxseed (as an ingredient) to baked muffins or bread.  This “add to other food solution” quickly begs the question; “Using these methods, how much ice cream, yogurt, muffins, or bread slices would be necessary per day to deliver 40 grams of whole ground flaxseed?”

You can see that the “added to food” delivery method is totally ineffectual and can quickly add unnecessary and unwarranted calories and carbohydrates to the daily diet and this, at a time in life when most women have added concerns about weight gain. Also, this method does not take into account the additional food cost and preparation time required.

The other but usually unmentioned concern is flavor.  Frankly and in our opinion, whole ground flaxseed does not taste very good.  By comparison, wheat germ is a culinary delight.  One of our competitors even adds vanilla and MSG to their encapsulated product to help mask any off-putting flavors.

Another disadvantage and concern related to any whole ground flaxseed product, is longevity or shelf-life.  Whole ground flaxseed will quickly degrade and become rancid within days or weeks, even with refrigeration. This is due to the high oil content of whole ground flaxseed.  Once the container is opened, whole ground flaxseed should not be exposed to air or light.

Due to the unique and patented production process, Fem-Flax remains entirely dry, potent, and stable (even without refrigeration) for four years or more.  Again, it must be remembered that Fem-Flax is 99.9% pure flax hull lignans produced from the dry outer hull covering (where all of the phytonutrients are contained) and not the oily embryo seed portion.

Encapsulated Fem-Flax offers the safest, most potent, and accurate of all flax hull lignan delivery methods on the market today. At just $34.95 (for a one-month supply), it is also one of the least expensive.

Why encapsulated Fem-Flax®?

Regardless of diet and exercise, the female body goes through a number of changes over the years, and as the years unfold, many women find it increasingly difficult to shed unwanted pounds.

Sufficient scientific evidence is available to support the notion that hormonal changes and declining estrogen levels in advancing years can be a catalyst for weight gain.

Whether you’re counting calories or carbohydrates, the good news about Fem-Flax is that it contains few calories and  carbohydrates!

All natural encapsulated Fem-Flax® can be taken directly with water, unlike other powdered flax hull products which must be sprinkled on, or mixed into food as an additive.

Beyond the question of unwanted calories and carbohydrates, there is no need to prepare additional meals, snacks, smoothies, etc., as part of your Fem-Flax regimen.

Concentrated Fem-Flax capsules provide the hot-flash/night-sweat stopping power you need, without the concern of additional and unwanted calories and carbohydrates.

Flaxseed and Heart Disease

Persons of all ages, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds can develop heart disease and it is the leading cause of death in the U.S.

Heart disease contributed to 26% of the deaths in 2006 in the United States, about 1 in 4 or 206,636 persons.

While heart disease was considered to be a mostly male problem a quarter century ago, today half the deaths attributed to heart disease were women.  HD is the leading cause of death (in the U.S.) for both men and women.

The leading type of heart disease is coronary artery disease and in 2005 445,687 persons, both men and women died from this type of heart disease.

Currently, 785,000 American annually suffer their first heart attack.  Almost an equal number who have already suffered one or more attacks, have another attack.

This year heart disease will cost the U.S. $316.4 Billion dollars in the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity.

Health care professionals frequently propose invasive surgical procedures as a potential means of extending the longevity of heart patients.  Obviously, these procedures usually follow the failure of diet changes, exercise, and prescription drugs for high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol.

In addition to radical changes in diet and exercise and more closely monitored blood pressure and cholesterol levels, health care professionals routinely advocate much more invasive surgical procedures as a means of (potentially) extending the lives of heart disease patients.

The more common procedures include heart bypass surgery, heart valve reconstruction, angioplasty, stenting, coronary artery bypass, cardiac catheterization, and transmyocardial revascularization.

In recent years the success rate of these (first time) procedures is relatively high, at 92% - 95%.  However, the extended life-expectancy following heart surgery is at best, about the same as the average life-expectancy of someone without heart disease.

Several factors come into play when attempting to calculate surgery survival rates and longevity following surgery.  Males seem to perform better than females (due to the simple fact that their arteries are larger and easier to bypass), and younger people in the target age group 50-55 have lower mortality rates as compared to older persons over 75.

As a point of interest it must be noted that these surgical procedures do nothing to resolve the underlying cause of the disease.  As a result, patients will frequently be forced to endure the same surgery again and again, often within 5 to 7 years of the initial operation.  Succeeding procedures statically do not prove to have as high a success rate as the initial surgery.

Perhaps due to these facts and the extremely high costs inherent with these procedures, some health care professionals are beginning to suggest that many of the aforementioned surgical procedures are unnecessary and that non-invasive techniques perform just as well at a fraction the cost.

In spite of the costs, Americans have historically led the world in opting for the more invasive and immediate treatment plans.  The reasons for this difference is likely due (historically) to inexpensive employer provided health care, inactive life-styles, lack of sufficient daily exercise, poor eating habits, and the desire for a quick fix rather than life-style overhaul.

Americans opt for surgery as the first choice 4 to 1 over their Canadian and European counterparts, though heart disease is nearly as rampant in these geographical regions.

Again, the numbers seem to indicate that Americans want to take more immediate action rather than making (relatively) slow changes to diet and exercise to achieve similar health results.

The reason for continued escalating health-care costs (in the U.S.) are directly attributable heart disease.

Unfortunately, due to the recent economic down turn, many Americans no longer have health care support of any kind.

As a result of this and other determining factors, Americans are beginning to more aggressively research the availability of alternative safe, effective, and economically viable heart disease treatment plans.

A recent study reported in the “Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology” (November, 2009) conducted at The Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, concluded that “flaxseed and its components improve Cardiovascular health”, and that flax hull lignans containing quantities “SDG  (secoisolariciresinol diglucoside) (the prominent phytoestrogen found in flax hull lignans) reduce the development of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis (coronary artery disease associated with elevated cholesterol levels).”

In vivo studies have shown that the “SDG (lignan) is a very potent hypotensive (anti-high blood pressure), angiogenic (formation of new blood vessels), and antiapoptotic (prevents cell death and degeneration) agent” and has an important “role in cardio-protection in ischemic (constriction or obstruction of the blood vessels surrounding the heart) heart disease.

“Lignans in general reduce serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and raises serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol” and “SDG” lignan “and its metabolites have antioxidant activity.”

FemFlax® is a concentrated and encapsulated (27 full-spectrum) flax hull lignan product and has one of the highest concentrations of SDG lignan bioavailability of any similar product on the market.