Flax

[pts]

I want to start eating flax seeds (been meaning to try them for awhile now, but CBC radio did a thing about the health benefits today, so that reminded me).

How do you incorporate flax into your diet?

Also, how do you ensure that it doesnt go rancid? i heard that is a bit of an issue with flax.

[RA.]

i buy flax bread. it's quite yummy.

[Liette]

I keep mine in a eal container in the fridge and just eat one spoonful a day, but you can also grind them and put them over your cereal.

[dgrant]

i buy flax bread. it's quite yummy.

ditto.

[HCcD]

I keep mine in a eal container in the fridge and just eat one spoonful a day, but you can also grind them and put them over your cereal.

Yeah, use to buy a little container of flaxseed oil from the natural food place and mixed a spoonful or so in my smoothies .....

[Portentous]

Flax seeds will stay good for a long time. But, you can't digest them whole. You need to grind them up, but once grinded they go bad faster. Just store in an airtight container in the fridge, and grind more as needed. Or buy them pre-grounded like me!

I add it to my oatmeal, but you can use it as a fat substitute in recipes.

[Ironmike]

Sunflower Flax bread is really good. I found out sunflower seeds are high in Vitamin E, which is one of my most deficient vitamins according to Fitday.com.

[Scott]

Bread and bagels forme as well. Its funny, I heard the same CBC piece this morning and thought "this is NEW?". I was taking flax seed oil years ago to lower my cholesterol. The holistic diet or health food advocates have been sounding off about the benefits of flax for ages.

Scott
or Scottie, but not Scotty

[wrathy]

I also buy the pre-ground flax at the bulk barn and then put in a container in the freezer and add it when I need it (oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, etc.). It will go rancid ground up pretty quickly.

[jes]

I've just bought some of the Country Harvest Flax bread this week. It has full seeds (not ground), so am I getting any benefits from it??

[jgore]

I've just bought some of the Country Harvest Flax bread this week. It has full seeds (not ground), so am I getting any benefits from it??

If it also contains ground flax, yes.

[jes]

Okay - I checked the label and there is ground flax seed in it. So why do they put the stupid whole seeds in? I hate the whole seeds

[Ironmike]

"To release the oil, you must carefully grind the seeds with your teeth as you eat. Without being broken, the seed keeps the ALA inside it throughout digestion, meaning you will not receive omega-3 benefits."

http://www.flaxcouncil.ca/Vegetarian/Whole.htm


That's crazy. You mean I have to chew my food!!!

[wrathy]

The whole seeds are just good for *ahem* passing right through you .

So yes, you should chew the seeds to get the benefits of the omega-3s. Go figure!

[clocker]

Two table spoons of seeds, sometimes brown, sometimes yellow, into the coffee grinder for a fine grind, a pint glass, stir and drink to chase a table spoon of cod liver oil.

[pts]

Two table spoons of seeds, sometimes brown, sometimes yellow, into the coffee grinder for a fine grind, a pint glass, stir and drink to chase a table spoon of cod liver oil.

BLECH!

How do I grind them if I dont have a coffee grinder (I'm a tea drinker). Or should I just be sure to "chew" alot!

[Jwolf]

Both whole and ground are a good source of fibre, but ground is best for the getting the good oils. You won't really get enough by trying to chew well. Erin- you can buy a small spice grinder for about $12 that will do the trick.

I'll use a tablespoon or so on my cereal, or mixed with jam on toast. I haven't had them in a while... time to start up the habit again, I think.

I add it to my oatmeal, but you can use it as a fat substitute in recipes.

Not a fat substitute (they have fat in them, and you're eating them partly for the beneficial fats), but I've heard you can use them as an egg substitute. You grind them and mix them 2:1 with water to use in baking instead of eggs. You let them sit a bit before you add them to the recipe. Never tried it, though.


(cod liver oil-- no thanks!)

[clocker]

Two table spoons of seeds, sometimes brown, sometimes yellow, into the coffee grinder for a fine grind, a pint glass, stir and drink to chase a table spoon of cod liver oil.

BLECH!

How do I grind them if I dont have a coffee grinder (I'm a tea drinker). Or should I just be sure to "chew" alot!

It's an acquired taste, I'll give you that. The taste has grown on me though. I have developed a bit of a sense of good and better when it comes to the seeds. Fresh local seems to be the best. Any acrid taste comes from old stock maybe.

Soy milk is another acquired taste that I've come to enjoy, but the commercial stuff is foul. I finally quit making it myself when I couldn't find beans that were less than a year old. Again the quality of the product counts and seeds often will keep a long long time.

Spice and coffee grinders can often be found for cheap.
Cheers! Ian

[MsMartini]

I just bough some Flax Omega 3 healthy pasta!

I am going to try it tonight for my carbo load....got some guest coming too.