Quick question...do you chew on flax seeds like a snack? Sometimes putting ground flax meal on everything can be a bit....ech. Please let me know how it tastes, etc....

-WRITE GIRL

I have never heard of anyone doing this, but you CAN add whole flax seeds to things like low carb granola, or sprinkle them on salads. Just be aware that for the nutrients to be bio-available, you have to chew them up - any seeds that don't get ground by you will just, um, pass right out!

this is why we grind the seeds into meal when we use them.

I eat flax seeds "whole" but usually mixed with some textured vegetable protein, soaked in water & nuked. Andrea is right about the need to break every single tiny seed to get the nutrients from them, and that's part of why I eat them whole...it takes forever to chew up every seed.

Flax seeds don't have a lot of flavor, and they are most unattractive when stuck in your teeth. But they are a great source of fiber, and there's evidence that they may have many other nutritional/health benefits as well. Give 'em a try!

Sky
Atkins since 8/03
186/144/under 150

I like to sprinkle some whole seeds on salad, and then find them and "pop" them between my front teeth! It takes a while, slows me down, is fun (yep, I'm weird - AND easily amused! ) and I figure the ones I do manage to crack open that way have to give up their nutrients.

That being said, I keep ground flax meal handy at all times, in a Ziploc plastic container in the freezer. I use it in everything!

The whole seeds in the salad are more for diversion than the health benefits of eating flax....

Don't squat with yer spurs on!

How do you grind the flax seeds? I just bought some yesterday and don't know what to do with them.

181/173/135
Re-started Atkins 12/29/03

I use a coffee grinder. Just be sure that you haven't ground coffee or spices in it or it will taste like it. Also, be sure to keep your flax in the fridge and use it within 6 months or it will go rancid.
I sprinkle ground flax on just about everything. I especially love it on salads and eggs.

HTH

Jen

Atkins since 11/11/03

5'3" 140/131/115

I really should get a better signature...

You can also do them in a blender or food processor. I have a VitaMix blender which makes real short work of flax seeds - grinds up a cup in less than 10 seconds!

You can buy it preground too but I prefer to do it myself, that way I KNOW it's fresh....

Char

Don't squat with yer spurs on!

Has anybody ever tried SPROUTING flax seeds, like you do with alfalfa sprouts? I was thinking of trying that as an experiment. That would be a different way to eat it.

**************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."

Doc, I haven't tried sprouting flax seeds, but have read that doing so does indeed "release" the nutritional value we're looking for, while also providing the high fiber content. Good idea....I'm gonna give it a whirl.

Sky

Hmmmmmm, that's a good idea. They are "raw" correct? I wouldn't think they would toast them, that would destroy the nutrients. I can't imagine being able to sprout them if they were toasted.

Time to find my flax seeds.........lost somewhere in the caverns of my frig.

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Yummy! I bought some flax seeds and I chew some before meals. This works out better than sprinkling the ground up flax meal on bacon it felt kinda silly! Then I follow the meal with lots of water. If it weren't for the bulking of the flax around the protein, I wouldn't have such good bowel movement.

Thanks guys

-WRITE GIRL

Yep it's a lifesaver!!!!!

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

I love flax seed sprouts. ( LONG , sorry)
My daughter and I grew them this last summer on damp paper towel. Watered twice a day but they were full grown in about 3-5 days. Harvested with a pair of scissors. I think there might be a better way to do this, but not sure what that is.

We used some seeds I had kept in the cabinet for eight months (now I know better). Also it gives you a way to use flax seed that has aged a bit too long; an undesirable seed might make a mighty tasty sprout, ours did.

Plus, we found it very entertaining to watch as this plant grew up to an inch in a single day.
(yes, I live in the city, still fascinated that things grow out of the ground and I can eat them!)
And yes I chew on fax seeds (raw)they are good when I'm looking for a crunch.

I'm still struggling to grow alfalfa sprouts!

I've done it before, a long, long time ago, and I remember it as being easy. This time around, it has been difficult. I've had to throw out three batches so far because they weren't sprouting. I just started my fourth batch a few hours ago. I've been reading the Internet to see if there's a trick I'm missing, but I don't see the problem. Maybe the seeds are just bad. Errrr...

**************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."

I tried the flaxseed oil a long time ago and i hated the flavor; i want try the seeds but hope they don't taste like the oil, do they?

Started 3/20/03 thru 9/2003
Restarted 1/2/04, this time i will finish what i started.

180-158-140 http://www.geocities.com/lissette_es...ageceltic.html