Hands down, one of the most effective ways to promote better health, feel good, and look even better is by adding omega-3-rich flax to your meals: flaxseeds, flaxmeal, or flaxseed oil. Besides having an extremely high omega-3 content, flaxseed is also rich in dietary fiber and lignans.

Health Benefits

– The soluble fiber aids in reducing carbohydrate absorption, stabilizing blood sugar levels, inhibiting cholesterol absorption, and lowering blood cholesterol.
– The insoluble fiber absorbs water in the digestive tract to ease elimination, making it a great help with bowel problems such as constipation and diverticular disease.
– Lignans- which are concentrated 800 times more in whole flaxseed than in other plants- are recognized for their antiviral properties and helping to alleviate perimenopause and menopause symptoms.

Quick Tips

• Use flaxseed whole or grind to the consistency of finely ground coffee. Although ground flaxseed can be stored for a short time in the refrigerator, you will get the most nutritional benefit by grinding the seeds as needed.
• Store whole flaxseed at room temperature up to a year. Store ground flaxseed in your refrigerator for up to ninety days.
• When you’re using whole flaxseeds in baked goods, soak them for 10 minutes before adding them to the batter.

Easy Uses

• Delicious and nutritiously healthy, flaxseed tea helps cleanse toxins from the kidneys and combat intestinal irritations or mucous membrane irritations. Simply steep 1 teaspoon of flaxseeds in 10 ounces of boiling water for 20 minutes. Strain and enjoy with your breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
• Blend 1 tablespoon of flax oil into yogurt and stir in some fruit.
• Drizzle flax oil over veggies and season to taste.

Adapted from ‘Eat Fat, Lose Weight Cookbook‘