Most nutritionists agree that ground flaxseed is better than whole. Ground flaxseed is much easier to digest when it is ground. Whole flaxseed can swiftly pass through the digestive without letting the body absorb any of the flaxseed's natural health benefits. Flaxseed is extremely high in fiber and a great alternative to the powder drinks that are flavored and thick. It is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3's are essential fatty acids which means the body needs but can not make them therefore they need to be ingested. Additionally, flaxseed contains phytochemicals called lignans. Lignans act as antioxidants and those can be key components in fighting cancer and reversing the aging process. Flaxseed allows the body to use and store good fats and get rid of bad fats from unsaturated processed and fast foods. Studies have shown that flaxseed can help reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood and therefore can reduce the risk of heart disease. Flaxseed can be purchased raw and in bulk either whole or ground. Most local grocery stores and health foods stores have flaxseed on their consumer goods list while at other stores there you may need to request that they order flaxseed. Whole flaxseed can be purchased and easily ground in a coffee grinder. Of course it is much more time efficient to buy flaxseed powder, oil, and related products already prepared and there are a number of online websites that have some great deals. There has yet to be set a recommended daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids however it has been suggested that adults should ingest between 1.1 to 1.6 grams of omega-3 fatty acids daily. In a single tablespoon ground flaxseed there is 1.6 grams of these fatty acids. Flaxseed is easily incorporated into your diet without any restrictive changes. A spoonful of ground flaxseed can be added to breakfast cereal, mixed into mayonnaise or mustard for a sandwich or yogurt, and can be baked in cookies and muffins. |
