Flaxseed

Flaxseeds are small dark brown seeds from the flax plant and have been eaten for thousands of years. Flaxseed is a nutritional powerhouse and is considered a “superfood”.

It can be used both whole, ground into flaxseed meal. Whole flaxseed can be added to practically every meal. They will add a little extra texture to any dish. It’s great for topping porridge, granola, yogurt and salads. Flaxseed meal can be added to bread dough, crackers, smoothies and pancake batter.

Flaxseed Nutritional Information

Flaxseed is high in healthy fat vitamins and minerals plus they are also plant-based protein!

There are about 534 calories per 100g of flaxseeds but as they are so vitamin dense you don’t need to consume much of them to reap the health benefits.

Flaxseeds are fibre but low in carbohydrates this can promote colon health and ease constipation.

They contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which help treat a wide range of conditions like heart disease, diabetes and liver disease. Omega-3 also helps lower blood pressure, and inflammation in the body and prevents against heart attack and stroke.

Flaxseeds are packed with antioxidants which help your body fight free radicals. Free radicals can cause cell damage which can lead to diseases such as cancer.

They also contain a type of phytoestrogen called lignans (a nutrient similar to estrogen) which may be beneficial to menopausal women.

Some people chose to take flaxseed supplements in the form of capsules or tablets.