I found this from the Bob’s Red Mill Flaxseed Package. While I know flax seed meal is healthy, I was really surprised to read about HOW healthy it is for you. I use this flax seed meal in (almost) all of my baked goods.
What’s inside each flaxseed and found in flaxseed meal could be better health, spelled F-L-A-X.
F is for Fiber. It’s amazing how much fiber a little flaxseed contains. Just two tablespoons of flaxseed meal delivers 4 grams of fiber, as much fiber as 1 ½ cups of cooked oatmeal! Studies suggest that when flaxseed meal is added to the diet, harmful LDL cholesterol drops, while good HDL cholesterol stays put. Regularity improves, also.
L is for Lignans.
Here’s where the flaxseed story gets major points. Flaxseed contains high levels of natural antioxidants called lignans. Many plant foods have some lignans but flaxseed has at least 7 times more than any other. To get the lignans that are in just two tablespoons of flaxseed meal, you’d need to eat about 30 cups of fresh broccoli.
A is for Alpha-linolenic Acid. Modern diets – even healthy ones – are routinely deficient in omega-3s. Flaxseed is a mega-source for the plant version of omega-3 call alpha-linolenic acid. The oil in flaxseed is about 50% alpha-linolenic acid. Canola and walnut oils, the next highest sources, have about 10%. But most foods have far less. One serving of flaxseed meal contains 1800 milligrams of omega-3.
X is for Excellent choice. Should you consider adding flaxseed meal to your diet? “Absolutely,” say many doctors and nutritionists.
What You Eat, You Are 