"flax" news and stories

Tired of eating the same thing for breakfast? Here are two ways to incorporate super foods quinoa and flax into your morning meal, whether you like it hot or cold.

Quinoa, sometimes called a whole grain, is actually the seed of a green leafy plant that is still cultivated in South America. Revered by the ancient Aztecs as a source of energy, chefs and home cooks now admire it for its mild taste and creamy texture. Quinoa is as easy to cook as rice, but it's also a complete protein (translation: it has all 9 essential amino acids) and is very high in manganese (which helps keep bones strong), niacin and fiber.

Flax is another nutritional heavy hitter and has a nutty flavor reminiscent of toasted coconut. The seeds range in color from golden to brown to reddish brown. Heavy with omega-3 fatty acids, just two tablespoons of flax a day can give you almost all of your daily needs – but remember to purchase them ground, or grind your own, since the whole seed can pass through your system undigested. Ground flax can be sprinkled on top of or stirred into many of your favorite recipes.

After the jump, find my nutritious breakfast recipes...

You may have noticed that flax seed has been hitting the market shelves lately. Many products are using it as an ingredient as they jump on the healthy and super-foods bandwagon. Last year more than 250 foods containing flax were put on the market. Nutritionally, flax is a great source of omega-3 without the possibility of mercury contamination like you may have with fish. One thing about it is that the seed has to be ground to be nutritionally available to the body as the whole seeds can't really be digested well. Flax is also a great source of dietary fiber.

Just yesterday I tried some pocket bread that had ground flax seed in it and the slightly nutty taste vastly improved what I normally think of as a boring bread. Expect to see more flax laced foods than ever before as many companies start adding it to their line ups. Jamba Juice will have it in smoothies, breads of all kinds will have it, and it's even making it to the snack aisle in tortilla chips. Just remember that flax seed should be eaten in moderation with no more than 1-2 tablespoons a day. More than that and the oils and fiber can be a bit more effective on cleansing the digestive system than one would like.

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