Grind Your Own Flax Seed!

That's more of a suggestion rather than a demand...

For years, I have been purchasing ground Flax Seed.  And for years, I have been preaching to everyone, to store their Flax Seed in the fridge because the delicate oils go rancid so quickly.  And for years I have pondered the freshness of my store bought, ground Flax Seed.

So I did some digging...

"While pre-ground flaxseeds offer similar amounts of protein, total fat, fiber, minerals and vitamins as those you buy whole and grind yourself, they likely contain lower levels of heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats, including omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)", says Barry Swanson, Ph.D., a fellow at the Institute of Food Technologists and professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Washington State University.

Just as I suspected, to get the highest levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids, really the main reason for incorporating flax into one's diet, you need to grind it yourself.




How...

Freshly ground Flax Seed is best, but who really has time to grind a tablespoons worth each day.  I'm honest enough with myself to admit, that I would do it maybe once.  Instead, every Sunday, I grind 1 cup of whole Organic Flax Seeds using my beloved Vitamix, which does an excellent job of pulverizing the hull of those tiny seeds.  (A Magic Bullet will work just as well.)  I then immediately store the freshly ground Flax Seed in a mason jar and keep in the fridge for the week.


Save $$$...

Buying whole Flax Seed is usually cheaper than buying it in its ground form.  Look for it in the bulk food section of your healthy grocer.


Learn more...

Check out my post, What is Flax Seed to find out why you should go through this minimal trouble and what to do with the Flax once you've ground it.


Keep it Healthy!

Source: 
http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/nutrition_news_information/are_store_bought_pre_ground_flaxseeds_as_nutritionally_e