Flax Seed
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An amazing secret weapon! Flaxseed
comes from the flax plant, an annual herb which was first cultivated
by the ancient Egyptians. It is rich in Omega 3 & Omega 6. These
fats release cholecystokinin from the stomach so that when you've
eaten enough, the brain will receive the message that you are full.
It is helpful in so many ways that entire books have been written
on the subject, a few of which you can find by clicking
here.
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.About Flax Seed
What’s so great about flaxseed?
Though technically flaxseed is not a grain, it has similar vitamins and minerals. The AMOUNT of these minerals, on the other hand, leaves your basic grains in the dust. Flaxseed is great for weight loss/weight maintenance, and will keep you feeling full.
Flaxseed is a low carb food, and is full of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, fiber, and phytochemicals. It also contains many of the B Vitamins, manganese, and magnesium. Although flaxseed has great benefits, it is not advised to eat too much of it. Since flaxseed has so much fiber, it is a good idea to start off eating minimal amounts, then slowly increasing over a period of time. Flaxseed is very unsaturated, so it is very susceptible to oxidation and rancidity. The best way to store flaxseed is to keep it whole. Once you break it down into flax meal it must be used within a few months. Flax oil needs to be refrigerated in a dark container and should be used within a few weeks of opening.
Flaxseed, along with many other foods, contains extremely small amounts of cyanide compounds, especially when consumed raw. Heating the flax breaks these compounds down, but our bodies are able to neutralize them to a certain extent. US govt. agencies say that 2 tablespoons of flaxseed, or about 3 tablespoons of flax meal, is a safe and effective amount for health purposes. Many researchers have said that up to 6 tablespoons per day was safe.
Flaxseed has many nutritional benefits and is great for losing weight and staying healthy. So why isn’t flaxseed on YOUR shopping list?