What's the best way to use the flax seed? Whole seeds, ground, by itself (w/water) or sprinkled on food? How much should I use? How many carbohydrates does it add? How does it taste?
Flax seed should be ground before use, otherwise it will pass right through you and you will get no benefit. I read somewhere that heating it destroys some of the benefits. I use 1/4 cup flax seed, ground, mixed with water and an oz or two of noni juice. Shake it up good and drink it down. It's got kind of a nutty taste, not unpleasant. Some people like to add cream, a little butter and some hot water and eat it like hot cereal. IMO it was kind of sticky fixed that way. Or sometimes I add it to my protein shake. It's good with the chocolate atkins shake mix, cold water, ice cubes, a little cream, maybe a litle sugar free vanilla syrup. It's just like a milkshake. I'm not hungry for a long time after having one. Flax is very good for your body. It has all the omega 3's and lignans that protect us from cancer.
i don't grind my flax seed. i use it for its fiber benefit. i spring it liberally on my salads, and my husband uses about 1/2 cup in his homemade whole wheat bread.
> What's the best way to use the flax seed? Whole seeds, ground, by itself > (w/water) or sprinkled on food? How much should I use? How many > carbohydrates does it add? How does it taste?
Flax seeds have to be ground to get the benefit of the omega oils. Otherwise, they don't benefit you. I make a delicious hot cereal with them.
Cereal -- amounts are approximate! 1/3 - 1/2 cup unprocessed bran 1/4 cup flax seed, ground 1/2 to 1 tablespoon Soy protein powder dash salt Put enough Hot (not boiling) water to make it the right consistency for you. I flavor mine with Atkins SF Rhasberry syrup. I sometimes put cream on it. The soy protein keeps it from being "slimey".
I guess you can dress it up however you like it! I eat it every day and have no more constipation problems.
> What's the best way to use the flax seed? Whole seeds, ground, by itself > (w/water) or sprinkled on food? How much should I use? How many > carbohydrates does it add? How does it taste?
You're not going to get much benefit from the fiber content if you don't grind your seeds. They'll just slip right on through. There's no way your teeth can chew them up enough.
I tried one serving of unground flax seeds and I had IBS revisited in spades. The pain darn near killed me. I would not recommend that to anyone with diverticuli or even just plain IBS. Jackie
> What's the best way to use the flax seed? Whole seeds, ground, by itself > (w/water) or sprinkled on food? How much should I use? How many > carbohydrates does it add? How does it taste?
In article <12436-3E6BBDD9-...@storefull-2338.public.lawson.webtv.net>, April Allen <book_wo...@webtv.net> writes
>Flax seeds have to be ground to get the benefit of the omega oils. >Otherwise, they don't benefit you. I make a delicious hot cereal with >them.
Though for those of us eating them unground for fibre, they do have fewer calories this way because (as you say) they pass right through. I also use them instead of breadcrumbs on top of things like gratins. -- Jane Lumley
