Flax seed products, such as flax powder, are derived from the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum). Consumers take flax supplements for their various potential health benefits. This includes a reduced risk of heart disease, according to the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. But flax products also have potential negative side effects. Discuss with your medical care provider your plans to take flax supplements to safeguard against any health complications.
Toxins
Raw flax products should never be consumed. Consuming raw flax, whether it's the plant itself or its seeds, can create elevated levels of cyanide in your blood, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Slow Absorption
The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that eating flax seed at the same time as nutritional supplements or medication can lower your body's ability to absorb such products. The center recommends eating flax seed two hours in advance to prevent such limited absorption.
Bowel Discomfort
Eating lots of flax products while not drinking enough liquid can create blockages in your intestines and bowels due to the products' natural fiber content, according to the National Institutes of Health. Flax products can also act as a natural laxative, increasing bowel activity and leading to diarrhea. Either situation can create abdominal and bowel discomfort.
Women's Health
Flax is high in lignans, which are plant compounds that act like the estrogen hormone, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. For this reason, the National Institutes of Health advise against women taking flax products if they have a hormone-sensitive medical condition like ovarian or breast cancer.
Macular Degeneration
The risks for vision loss known as macular degeneration may become slightly elevated in diets high in alpha-linolenic acid, a natural acid found in flax, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. In contrast, the omega-3 fatty acids known as DHA and EPA found in fish oil but not flax can combat macular degeneration.
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