“Roughly 20 to 40 percent of flaxseed's fiber is soluble, which forms a gel in the gut that binds to cholesterol in the gut and removes it from circulation,” says Nielsen. And, FYI: Not all cholesterol is bad—flax helps boost the kind you need, and flushes out the kind you don’t, Shapiro adds. A healthy lifestyle and balanced nutrition are important for aiding weight loss, and flaxseed may help the process: “Thanks to their fiber content, they help to maintain blood sugar levels and ward off hunger, therefore aiding in weight loss,” says Shapiro.