Flax Seeds

[stayfit1]

Hello Everybody!

I always grind my flax seeds to use over cereal, etc., but I have tried a great Flax Seed Cookie recipe that calls for using the flax seeds whole. I know you get all of the benefits from flax seeds being ground first. Do you know if there are any benefits at all by using the flax seed whole?

Have a Great Day!

Dianne

 

[Katerchen]

Whole flax seeds are a great source of fiber .

For the cookie recipe you could soak the flax seeds overnight in water, then drain and use them as described in the recipe. I use soaked flax seeds in whole grain bread and I haven't noticed any whole seeds in the you know where;-) .

The water softens the shell and makes it digestible.

 

[alsrnbsn]

You body can not digest the whole flax seed (but it's great for insoluable fiber). In order to get the EFA's (essential fatty acids) benefit, that's when you grind them.;-)

 

[kathryn]

Why not compromise: take the flax seeds and put them in a zip-lock baggie, then run over them with a rolling pin to crack them without crushing them completely. Then you get about the same texture as the whole seeds, but they are already a bit crushed.

Or, like Katerchen suggests, soak them overnight. But flax is a mucilagenous seed, and will form a sticky film when soaked, so be awayre of that (it washes off, but that means washing off some of the nutrients).