My Heart is in Overdrive…
When someone you love is hurting, you start searching. I have lived with chronic health struggles for years, and now with Ryan’s diagnosis, my heart is in overdrive. I am learning everything I can to support the body gently… safely… and in ways that help us show up for life and business. (Ryan is like a son to me… you can read his story here)
Dr. Johanna Budwig
Some days the internet feels like a loud maze.
Everyone has an opinion. It is hard to tell what is real. I wanted information from people who study the body and test ideas in real life, not just random posts.
That’s when a dear friend showed me Dr. Johanna Budwig’s work on the health benefits of flaxseed oil and food.
Her background was chemistry and fats research, and her protocol focused on avoiding refined, hydrogenated oils and using cold-pressed oils like flaxseed oil with freshly ground seeds in specific ways.
The Budwig guide that I read stresses freshness, refrigeration, and eating ground seeds right away.
Here is what helped me make sense of it as a beginner.
Who Was Dr. Johanna Budwig
Dr. Budwig was a German researcher known for studying fats in live blood and her protocol includes a daily mix of flaxseed oil with low-fat quark or cottage cheese, sometimes called the Budwig muesli.
The key idea is to fully blend the oil with the dairy first, then add it to freshly ground seeds (ground with a coffee grinder), and eat it right away. (here’s the coffee grinder I use specifically for grinding my flax seeds)
The guide explains that this makes the oil more available to the body and emphasizes low-fat cottage cheese or quark in the original version. When I started going down this rabbit hole (researching flax seed oil benefits), here’s the first book I read by Dr. Johanna Budwig.
Health Benefits Of Flaxseed Oil… Quick Summary
Skimmable for readers who want the gist first…
- Omega-3 support for everyday balance. Flaxseed oil is one of the richest plant sources of ALA omega-3. Practitioners highlight omega-3s for heart and whole-body support. Dr. Axe
- May support heart health. Roundups from trusted practitioners associate flaxseed oil with healthy cholesterol and blood pressure patterns. Dr. Axe
- Gentle help with regularity. Dr. Axe’s guide notes flaxseed oil may relieve occasional constipation… practical help for digestion.
- Skin hydration and glow. Practitioner guides discuss food use and topical use as ways flaxseed oil may support moisturized, calmer skin. Dr. Axe
- Brain and mood context. Health Ranger coverage points to omega-3s in flaxseed oil for brain function and general inflammation balance. NaturalNews.com
- Helpful omega-3 to omega-6 ratio. Food Revolution Network materials explain that many people under-consume omega-3s, so foods rich in ALA can help bring balance.
- Lignans live mostly in whole seeds. Many hormone and antioxidant discussions center on lignans, which are concentrated in ground flax seeds more than in the oil… so beginners often use both the oil and the freshly ground seeds. Mercola.com
- Freshness matters a lot. Flaxseed oil is delicate. Keep it cold and use it quickly. Grind seeds right before eating. The Budwig guide underlines this strongly.
Friendly reminder… this is educational, not medical advice. Please talk with your doctor, especially during cancer care.
How To Eat Flax Seed And How To Use Flax Seed Oil
- How to eat flax seed: grind just before eating… add to yogurt, smoothies, or salads… or try a simple Budwig-style muesli bowl. (after grinding, eat within 20 minutes)
- How to use flax seed oil: keep it refrigerated… use it fast… favor cold uses like dressings or the muesli. You can even 50/50 flaxseed oil with olive oil for salads.
What I’m Doing Personally
- I focus on flaxseed oil benefits in food, not pills… and I keep the bottle cold from first pour to last drop.
- I grind seeds fresh and sprinkle a spoon on our salad.
- I am removing deep-fried and refined oils from our kitchen and choosing cold-pressed oils for dressings instead. The Budwig guide warns that refined or hydrogenated oils can “suffocate” cells.
A Tiny Peek At The Bigger Budwig Pattern
If you read more on the Budwig protocol, you will see it is not “oil alone.” It is a daily pattern… fresh, cold-pressed oils and ground seeds, lots of produce, avoiding refined oils and sugars, and simple lifestyle supports like sunlight and movement.
A Note On Different Opinions
Some practitioners celebrate flax… others are cautious about polyunsaturated oils because they can oxidize. This is why freshness, refrigeration, and cold uses matter… and why many people pair carefully stored oil with whole or freshly ground seeds. You are wise to read, pray, and decide with your doctor what fits your body. See Mercola for more info.
My Beginner Shopping List
- Cold-pressed flaxseed oil that is kept cold and stored in the fridge. Refrigeration and quick use are both important. (Barlean’s is the only brand the Budwig center recommends)
- Whole flax seeds to grind fresh with a small coffee grinder. (FortiFlax is the kind we get from Barlean’s)
- Low-fat cottage cheese or quark if you want to try the classic Budwig muesli.
- Pretty journals to track what you eat and how you feel. One honest line a day helps me stay consistent.
Final Thoughts
If you are brand new, you do not have to change everything at once. Start small. Replace one refined oil with a cold-pressed one. Grind one spoon of seeds today. Try a simple muesli bowl and see how your body feels. You are allowed to learn and adjust. You are not behind. I am praying for Ryan, and for you, that we would all feel better and be strong enough to keep showing up for the people we love. (Here’s Ryan’s GoFundMe, in case you wanna donate or share… we are grateful for all the prayers for him as well)
Until next time…