1) Flaxseeds are popular in the media again! Are they really necessary and if so, what are the benefits? Listen to the Podcast
*FIBRE! Consuming the seed instead of the processed oil provides lots of fibre.
*FAT! Flaxseeds are loaded with healthy fat.
*Flaxseeds slow digestion. Benefit? Slower digestion, especially in conjunction with starchy foods shunts our blood glucose spike and resulting increase in insulin. Excellent for goals of fat loss
*Reduced heart disease, cancer prevention, lower cholesterol, muscle preservation and growth.
2) I heard flaxseeds are not the best healthy fat source compared to fish, true?
*Flaxseeds contain Omega 3 fats, which are essential to humans. Meaning we cannot produce them and must consume them.
*Flax contains Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA), which along with EPA and DHA make up the three forms you can consume.
*Unfortunately, some research does suggest that ALA is not as biologically active in the body as the other two forms of omega 3’s. It has to be first converted in to the active form (EPA/DHA) before we enjoy the benefits.
*Complementing flax seed consumption with fatty fish such as salmon is ideal.
3) To grind or not to grind flaxseeds?
*Grind your flax! We cannot digest the outer shell, so we have to grind our flax in order to absorb the ALA.
*Try to buy the seeds and grind them yourself in a coffee grinder, the shelf life of ground flax is not that long and the effectiveness of the ALA conversion goes down over time.
*Delicious on your yogurt and berries! It has a nutty flavor to it.
Conclusion:
YES they are very good for you, however, you can consume essential omega 3 fats from other sources of foods. I would still recommend integrating them into your other sources of essential fats (animal and plant based, similar to protein consumption).
Sources:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/flaxseed-oil-000304.htm
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/othernuts/omega3fa/
