This week, we will cover added sugars and the harms they cause to our personal and societal health. The history of sugar is a tragic one that is often overlooked. By the end of this article, you will strongly wonder why U.S. tax dollars are used to subsidize this harmful crop at the expense of our health, economy, and public safety.

We begin our journey with herbs this year with the humble flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum).

This plant was one of the first domesticated by humans and has been used since the stone age (1). The fibers have long been spun into linen and the seeds have been used both as food and for the oil which makes up about 33% of the seed’s mass (2). Aged flaxseed oil is also known as linseed oil. One might assume that there isn’t much to write about this humble little seed, but you would be mistaken.