Scales, Mary Josephine.Diets in a Nutshell: A Definitive
Guide on Diets from A to Z. Clifton, VA: Apex
Publishers, 2005.
PERIODICALS
Callahan, Maureen. ‘‘Fit for Life Diet Review.’’Health
Magazine. April 2004.<http://diets.aol.com/a-z/fitfor
life_diet/_a/fit-for-life-review/20050610162209990028>
ORGANIZATIONS
American Dietetic Association. 120 South Riverside Plaza,
Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995. Telephone:
(800) 877-1600. Website:<http://www.eatright.org>
Fit For Life Online Wellness Center.<http://www.
fitforlife.com>
OTHER
Coleman, Ellen. ‘‘Fit for Life: Review by a Registered
Dietitian.’’ ChaseFreedom.com, undated, accessed
April 17, 2007. lt;http://www.chasefreedom.com/
fitforlife.html>
‘‘Fit for Life FAQ.’’ fitforlife.com, undated, accessed April
22, 2007.<http://www.fitforlife.com/faqs.html>
Harvard School of Public Health. ‘‘Interpreting News on
Diet.’’ Harvard University, 2007.<http://www.
hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/media.html>
Health Diet Guide ‘‘Fit for Life.’’ Health.com. 2005.
<www.health.com/health/web/DietGuide/
fitlife_complete.html>
Kenney, James J. ‘‘Fit for Life: Some Notes on the Book and
Its Roots.’’ Quackwatch.com, November 12, 1999.
<http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/fitforlife.html>
Mann. Denise. ‘‘It’s the Calories That Count, Not the Food
Combinations.’’ WebMD, April 7, 2000.<http://
http://www.webmd.com/news/20000407/diets-combination-
balanced>
United States Department of Health and Human Services
and the United States Department of Agriculture.
‘‘Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005.’’ January 12,
2005.<http://www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines>Tish Davidson, A.M.Fit ForeverseeDenise Austin Fit Forever
Flaxseed
Definition
Flaxseed is the seed of the plantLinum usitatissi-
mum. It is a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA),
an essential nutrient in the human diet. Flaxseed has
health and possibly medical benefits. Flaxseed oil is a
vegetable oil derived from pressed flaxseed. Flaxseedand flaxseed oil have different properties and nutri-
tional values.Purpose
Flaxseed is a good source of ALA and is thought
to improve health by lowering blood cholesterol. Flax-
seeds may also protect against certain cancers. It can
also be used as a laxative.DescriptionL. usitatissimumis a slender plant with narrow
leaves and blue flowers that grows anywhere from 8–
45 in (20–130 cm) tall. The plant originated in India
but has been farmed across the world for thousands of
years. Archeologists discovered evidence that flax was
cultivated in ancient Babylon as early as 3,000B.C.
Today, in Europe and Asia, a tall variety of flax is
grown primarily for its fibers, which are used to make
linen. A shorter, bushier variety is grown for its seeds
in North America. The Canadian provinces of
Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan are the leading
producers of flax in North America. North Dakota
produces most of the flax grown in the United States.
Seed flax is grown for both consumption and indus-
trial use. The seed is about 42% oil. Solvent-extracted oil
from flax seeds is used for industrial purposes and is
often called linseed oil. It is used in manufacturing oil
paints, varnishes, and linoleum. The material that
remains after oil has been extracted from the seeds is
called linseed cake or linseed meal. It is often added to
animal feed as aproteinand omega-3 fatty acid supple-
ment. Omega-3 enriched eggs, for example, come from
chickens fed flax. Omega-3 enriched pork is available inGolden flax seeds.(Phanie/Photo Researchers, Inc. Reproduced
by permission.)Flaxseed