Flaxseed

I read that adding flaxseed to smoothies is a good way to up the nutritional content. I bought a bag today, unground. It turns out that you should grind it before putting it in smoothies, or so I hear. Ancient Greeks and Romans used to eat it raw, like a nut. And I see why--it is GOOOOD!!!

Plus it's healthy. It contains 4 grams of fiber in just two Tablespoons, compared with 1.5 cups of cooked oatmeal! It also contains high levels of lignans, a natural antioxidant. . . and compared 2 Tb of flaxseed, you'd need 30 cups of broccoli to get teh same amount. And, then, of course, it contains Alpha linolenic Acid (and Omega-3). One serving contains 2400mg of omega-3.

Let's see how fast we go through a bag of this! :)

Here are some suggested uses from webmd.com:
"The recommended daily amount of flaxseed is approximately 1-2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed, or 1 teaspoon of flax oil (which is best used cold, perhaps mixed in a vinaigrette salad dressing). Morris' favorite way to get her flaxseed is to mix a tablespoon of the ground seeds with 2 tablespoons of honey, and then spread the mixture on toast. "It has a nutty flavor," she says, "and is a great alternative to buttering your toast."

Texas nutritionist Natalie Elliott offers these additional suggestions for adding flax to your diet:

Sprinkle ground flax on cereal, yogurt, or salads.
Mix flax into meatloaf or meatballs.
Add ground flax to pancake, muffin, or cookie batter, or other baked goods such as pie crust.
Coat fish or homemade chicken nuggets in ground flaxseed and oven fry.
Toss salads with flax oil and vinegar.
Or try one of her favorites, "Nat's Flax Snacks":

1 cup Karo corn syrup
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup ground flax
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 cups of Rice Krispies


Mix together the first five ingredients in a saucepot over low heat until melted and smooth. Add Rice Krispies to the pot and stir. Pour contents into a buttered 9"x13" pan. Press down to flatten. Stir, cool, and cut into 8 bars."