How to Add Flax Meal to a Diet

Flax meal is a great source of protein, fiber, Omega 3 and antioxidants which can help protect your heart and stabilize your blood sugar. It's inexpensive and has a delicious, nutty flavor. But how do you get this wonderful food into your diet?

Things You'll Need

• Fresh flax seeds
• Spice or coffee grinder
• Opaque, airtight container

Instructions

How to Add Flax Meal to a Diet

1. You can buy ground flax meal at most grocery stores, in the oatmeal aisle. But like coffee, flax meal is best when it's freshly ground; exposure to air and light make it lose its flavor and some of its nutritional value. If you buy flax seeds (from a health food store or online) and grind your own in a spice or coffee grinder, you'll always have fresh flax meal on hand. Store seeds and leftover flax meal in the refrigerator in an opaque, airtight container.

2. Start slowly, adding one teaspoon per day to your diet; after a week, gradually increase to 3 to 6 tsp. per day. Because of its high fiber content, it can have a laxative effect on people not accustomed to eating fiber-rich foods.

3. Add flax meal to your breakfasts: hot or cold cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies, pancake batter, peanut butter toast, and egg dishes.

4. Add flax meal to your lunches: sprinkle on salads, use as a thickener for soups, mix into any mayonnaise-based sandwich filling, such as egg salad or chicken salad.

5. Add flax meal to your supper: use in the breading of chicken or fish, mix with ground beef for hamburger patties or meatloaf. Enjoy flax meal and its nutritional benefits all day long.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a spice or coffee grinder dedicated to flax meal only, to best preserve its delicate flavor.

• Flax meal contains phytoestrogens that can be especially helpful to women of menopause age.

• Don't eat whole flax seeds; they will pass through your body undigested.

• Don't use flax meal if you are on a low-fiber diet to treat digestive disorders.