A Little Background
Flax seeds originated in the area between from the eastern Mediterranean and India, and were first cultivated in the early civilizations in Mesopotamia.
Health Benefits
Flax seeds are a great plant source of omega-3 fatty acids. These essential fatty acids (“essential” meaning they must be consumed because our bodies don’t make them) play an important role in the anti-inflammatory system of our body. Flax seeds also have a high concentration of lignans, which are fiber-like compounds that provide antioxidant and anti-cancer protection Flax seeds are a complete fiber, containing both insoluble and soluble fiber type. Another unique feature of flax seeds is their content of mucilage, which is a gel-forming fiber that can help soothe the intestinal tract and assist it in escorting toxins out of the body.
How to Enjoy
Flax seeds are an inexpensive way to invest in your health. It is very important to eat only ground flax seeds; since the body cannot digest or absorb the nutrients from the whole seeds. Ground flax can be added to smoothies, salads, soups, cereal and a variety of dishes. One way to remember to eat flax seeds is to use a large peppershaker and fill it up with flax seeds and keep it at your dining table or in the kitchen. This way you can easily sprinkle the ground seeds onto your meals. You can also ground flax seeds in a high spend blender such as the nutribullet, blendtech, and vitamix. Other brands of high speed blenders can also be used to ground flax seeds.