Flax Seeds and Meal

Flax Seeds and Flax Meal

These itty bitty seeds are a nutritious plant source of fiber (soluble and insoluble), omega 3 essential fatty acid, antioxidants and lignans.  They are a kitchen staple for raw foodist's as well as in many traditional kitchens. 

I use flax in a variety of my raw recipes in place of nuts and oat flour or in addition to, as I like to keep a low fat diet, but mainly for the nutrients.  I use it in our daily smoothies, crackers, bread, tortillas, pizza crust, cookies, brownies... the list is endless.  Flax is a perfect food to add to many recipes, not just for the nutritional value, but because they act as a binder as well - an excellent replacement for oil and eggs.  When soaked, they become gelatin and gummy/sticky like which helps hold ingredients together and adds a bit of bulkiness.  

Some recipes call for both flax meal and seeds, or one or the other.  It depends on what you're making really.  For instance, flax seeds makes an excellent cracker, but I also add flax meal to mine.  You can eat the flax seeds on their own, but it is said that you may not be receiving the entire nutritional benefits as the seeds may pass through your intestines undigested.  In any case, you can't go wrong by adding at least 1 Tbs a day of flax meal or flax oil to your healthy diet - for starters.

Flax seeds are best stored in a dark sealed container or at least in a dark area such as your pantry, and store flax meal in the fridge or freezer to keep it from loosing its nutritional value.  I buy flax seeds in bulk and grind my own with a coffee grinder as needed and enough for about a weeks worth of smoothies, etc.

Peace☮
Rocki