Flaxseed is literally loaded with lignans. Lignans are phytonutrients found in the fiber portion of flax seed. Flax contains 75 - 800 times more lignans than other plant sources. Lignans are sometimes called phytoestrogens, because they weakly mimic the action of estrogenic hormones in the body. Research continues to show their potential for minimizing many of the negative effects of estrogenic compounds in humans, reducing the risk of hormone-dependant cancers of the colon, breast and prostrate.