What does Flax seeds do?

[Gamom3]

I was reading the post below about breakfast and saw that some of you use Flax seed. Why?
What can you add it to? Does it taste bad? I don't eat eggs or oatmeal, so how would I use it in my diet?

[Quiver0f10]

I add ground flax to oatmeal and smoothies as a source of good fats.

[Once]

I add it to yogurt or applesauce. It helps to cleanse your body as it is high in fiber and binds to bad stuff (I think estrogren compounds....don't quote me). It is high in lignins which are good for you. It helps your skin and hair repair and keeps you young looking. It is also an anti inflamitory agent.

FYI, I am really not a doctor nor do I want to be. I just like food as medicine info.

If you do get it grind it yourself immediately before you eat it. It goes rancid fast (in a day not in seconds:p). I grind mine about 1-2 tablespoons in a handheld coffee grinder to a semi-fine powder each day. It goes a little thick once added to a liquid and will thicken the applesauce and yogurt. It is nutty in flavor.

Some people use it as a topping for applebrown betty type desserts. Mixed with sugar and butter. Yum! It is good but I do not have a recipe.

If you google it you will find lots of stuff out there. It is a generally accepted health food and not considered "quackish".

Hope that helps shed some light on it!

[Mrs. Readsalot]

I recently saw Dr. OZ on Oprah and he said to make sure your flax seeds are ground if you want them to benefit your heart. Ground they are still great for digestion and colon. Unground seeds are not digested and only help your colon

[Dana in OR]

but for some reason they make me feel ill. I used to grind them and add them to smoothies but not any more; they just make me feel sick to my stomach.

[Laurel]

I use a tablespoon or so of ground flax seeds (I grind them myself, just before using - I have a coffee grinder for things like this) to apple/blueberry crisp. I also occasionally add flax to baked goods or smoothies.

[jacqui in mo]

Flax seed also is a good source of Omega 3, almost as good as eating fish. (I think it is the Omega 3 not Omega 6, I get them confused). It is supposed to be very good for reducing cholesterol levels. I eat it on my oat bran, & try to put it in any baked goods I make. It can be used even as an egg substitute although I've never tried that yet. It has a pleasant nutty taste. A small coffee grinder does the best job of grinding up the seeds.

[mull-berry-ish]

... I've been reading up on fish oil, etc.

The following book was recommended on this board: The LCP Solution: The Remarkable Treatment for ADHD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia" by Jacqueline B. Stordy. She offers the LCP Solution (http://www.lcpsolution.com/lcpsolution.html).

Basically, flax seed consists of short-chain fatty acids as opposed to the more beneficial long-chain (LCP) of the deep-sea fish oil - salmon, sardine, etc. Your body can take the short-chain and make it into a long-chain, but the oil may be eliminated before that can happen, KWIM? Most of us are so deficient in this area that anything would help.

Cod-liver oil is ok but may contain other fat-soluable vitamins (harder for body to break down as opposed to water-soluable). The liver of the fish is where toxins (mercury) reside in a fish ... be sure the cod-liver oil is purified.

Micro-algae - concocted for vegetarians

Krill oil - the current favorite that absorbs a little better than fish oil

It's an interesting book ... I was able to borrow it from our library.

Another book, The 24-Hour Pharmacist by Suzy Cohen (http://www.dearpharmacist.com/home.php). She is the author of the Dear Pharmacist column in the newspaper.

HTH

[Daisy]

My DD has always had problems with constipation. Flax seed is wonderful!! We sprinkle it on yogurt, oatmeal, etc.

[Montana Peach]

I just had an appointment with my eye doc and we were discussing my lifelong dry eye issue. She suggested more Omega 3's would help this and said that flax seed oil or fish oil either one would be good. I opted for the flaxseed oil to start with as I have heard some fish oil capsules can cause 'fish burps'. we will see how it goes.

[HomeOnTheRanch]

I use fresh ground flax in just about everything. 1 T. flax (ground) with 1/4 c. water can be used as a binder in place of egg. DS makes banana bread using this instead of eggs. It doesn't rise as high, but it is still tasty.

[PrairieAir]

Flax seeds are "nature's little scrub brushes." I've heard they're good brain food, too.

[Mama Lynx]

My digestion is terrible, and I have had to remove wheat and most beans from my diet. This has left me desperate for fiber :) So that is primarily why I use the flax.

[sdWTMer]

Hmmm. I take fish oil pills, Omega Brite, and I don't have any fish burps. I have used Nordic Naturals as well with the same results.

[Karin]

I'd suggest adding this a bit at a time to see how your body responds. While flax seed oil has many benefits, some of us cannot use it. I had to switch to fish oil.

[HiddenJewel]

I used flax meal in my chocolate chip cookies and my wheat bread. My sister and bil have been taking a Tbsp in vanilla rice milk each night. She says it definitely helps keep you regular.

[Montana Peach]

Hmmm. I take fish oil pills, Omega Brite, and I don't have any fish burps. I have used Nordic Naturals as well with the same results.

Thanks, I will try these. My son uses Coromega, the orange stuff, and has not issues but it's expensive to implement on a grand scale :)