Thursday, January 12, 2012

Flax Fan

Something that I have started incorporating into my diet is FLAX in the form of ground flax seeds.  I typically eat a serving of this a day, which equates to about 2 tablespoons.  There are a lot of trendy seeds and berries to try (chia seeds, acai berries, gogi berries, etc) but to get the most "bang for your buck" I would go with flax if you are going to try any of them.  You can get a bag of Bob's Red Mill Whole Ground Flax Seeds for about 5 bucks.  And this bag will last you a long time if stored in the fridge. 

my bag of flax!
The nutritional benefits of flax seeds are great.  They are packed with alpha-linolenic acid or ALA which is an omega-3 fatty acid.  A diet rich in omega-3s can help reduce inflammation associated with asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches, and osteoporosis.  This nutrient is also shown to help reduce bone loss, and protect against heart disease, cancer and diabetes.  Additionally, omega-3s can help to reduce and control blood pressure.  The benefit that you will see almost immediately is that, since flax seeds are rich in fiber, they can help you to become more regular.  For a full list of the specific proven benefits associated with consuming flax seeds check out the Mayo Clinic's website. 

"How do they taste?" you ask.  I would say they taste pretty good.  Flax seeds are somewhat nutty, but the flavor really isn't imposing at all.  You can sprinkle them on any cereal or oatmeal, bake them into cookies and cakes, mix them in to waffles or pancakes, or blend them in to your favorite smoothie.  Really, you can add them to almost any other food you like.  Grinding them (or buying pre-ground like I do) increases their digestibility and therefore their nutritional benefits.


ground flax seeds
When you start to incorporate flax seeds into your diet, start slowly to decrease the chance of getting an upset stomach.  As with adding any fiber source to your diet, it may increase...ahem...flatulence and bloating.  Of course, if this is an unbearable problem for you, I would suggest using another form of omega 3s in your diet such as fresh water fish or a fish oil supplement. 

I am a flax fan, and if you give them a try, think you will be too! 

1 comment:

  1. I find it best to grind flex seeds right before eating with a coffee grinder. It's delicious with yogurt and mix berries~

    ReplyDelete