The Flax plant produces linen, paper, soap, dye, and fishing nets—which is why it makes perfect sense that its seed is known to promote eternal health and beauty.
High in protein, soluble fiber, B vitamins, magnesium, Bossy doesn’t really know what these things are, manganese, and carotene, Flax seeds are thought to play a role in reducing cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, preventing breast cancer, stabilizing blood sugar, balancing female hormones, and promoting a good night’s sleep.
This is partly due to its high content of alpha linolenic acid which is an omega 3 fatty acid similar to what’s found in salmon except this fatty acid comes from a plant and not a fish because we are talking about a plant here and who else thinks Fatty Acid would make a great name for a punk rock band?
Anyway. Here’s what this alpha linolenic omega 3 fatty acid action is all about: it lowers the bad cholesterol and reduces inflammation throughout our bodies—which is key when evidence suggests that inflammation may contribute to issues such as heart disease, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, and cancer.
Flax seed is also rich in lignans which is an estrogen-like chemical found in plants. Estrogen. In plants. These lignans act to flush excess estrogen from the body and may promote fertility and reduce the symptoms of menopause. Lignans may also have significant antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.
To recap: these bitch-ass seeds are good for you and taste kinda smokey.
Possible problems: Due to its high fiber content, flax seeds may induce bowel movements. Similarly you may become constipated. Also there’s the little matter of cyanide compounds, but only when flax seeds are consumed raw. Additional note: you must consume flax seeds raw.
Shall we begin? First you’ll need one of these:
Because in order to benefit from the nutrients, the flax seeds need to be ground. Oh, and you shouldn’t buy them pre-ground because the oil in the seeds is unsaturated and therefore prone to rancidity. The best way to keep them fresh is to buy them while still contained within their safe little seed shell—where they’ll stay fresh for one year when stored properly.
Next you’ll need this:
That price represents a case of four 24-ounce packages! And 4 multiplied by 24 is… two kabillion flax seeds! Note for Amazon customers: buy new, not used.
And finally you’ll need this:
It’s a cookbook to inform you of all the ways you can hide assimilate flax seeds into your diet. And by the way, the recommended amount is ¼ cup of freshly ground seeds three to seven days a week. Happy milling.
Momo Fali says
November 2, 2007 at 10:11 amHappy pooping!
RuthWells says
November 2, 2007 at 10:12 amWhat a fortuitously timed post. I tried starting up with raw flax seed a few months ago (for the anti-inflammatory properties) and failed miserably. I caved last week and bought a bottle of supplements. I haven’t yet noticed any promotion of a good night’s sleep, but my female hormones seem to be in balance…
Janice in TX says
November 2, 2007 at 10:43 amThis should turn me into a new woman
David says
November 2, 2007 at 10:45 amSounds like a lot of flushing going on here.
My folks started using this, but they use the pre-ground seeds. I guess they’re willing to risk a little randicity.
Flax is used in a lyric from the musical “Hair.” Well, flaxen, anyway.
David says
November 2, 2007 at 10:45 amAlso “Sweeney Todd”
blackbird says
November 2, 2007 at 10:59 amBlackbird feels a little crampy now.
soNOTcool says
November 2, 2007 at 11:01 amOHMYgOD!!!!
I am eating ground flax seed right now, Bossy. REALLY. Toasted multi-grain English muffin, peanut butter, and flax seed.
I buy mine pre-ground, and then they are stored in the fridge for a month (in a lock-and-lock container). I buy new each month.
joeinvegas says
November 2, 2007 at 11:13 amI love coming here and getting an edumacashun like this. Thanks Bossy for teaching us.
Suebob says
November 2, 2007 at 11:21 amIf they make me look like Bossy, I am skippity-skipping off to get me some.
Mom Bomb says
November 2, 2007 at 11:22 amYeah, David! Shining, streaming, gleaming flaxen waxen! Did hippies take flax seed for that gorgeous hair? Or did the “gleaming” and, more particularly, “waxen” quality stem more from a lack of personal hygiene?
A puzzlement: Flax is also the name of an art supply catalog.
Mrs. G. says
November 2, 2007 at 12:17 pmThanks, bossy. With you around there really is no need for me to do any research of my own.
Darla says
November 2, 2007 at 12:51 pmOMG Bossy .. that’s scary, mesmorizing and complicated all at once!
qt says
November 2, 2007 at 1:23 pmI so take the easy way out on this and put the flax seed oil (must be kept refrigerated! does not have a long shelf life!) in my protein shakes in the morning. I am a big cheater, I guess.
tara says
November 2, 2007 at 1:46 pmHi Bossy… thanks for your comment! Loved reading your family tree archives! What an interesting life story(ies) of your family. Do you always refer to yourself in 3rd person (o:
Les~ says
November 2, 2007 at 2:04 pmTrader Joe’s has some awesome flax seed chips that I buy every two weeks. Come to think of it — they do have a smokey flavor to them!
stella says
November 2, 2007 at 2:19 pmwill amazon be upset when they see your ad for their BITCH-ASS SEEDS???
for a minute there, i thought you were back to pimpin the CDC again…
bossy you sure know how to multi-task. i think i’ll stick to my stinky fish pill (omega3). eating ground flax seed sound about as exciting as ohhhhh….trying to keep down my mothers meatloaf as a child.
xoxo
stells.
Caroline says
November 2, 2007 at 2:33 pmFlax seed, hmmm? So is THAT how Bossy maintains her trim and girlish figure?
My favorite name for a punk band–an ALL-GIRL band, or maybe not–is the Toxic Dumplings.
witchypoo says
November 2, 2007 at 2:49 pmI’m glad you mentioned pooping (I always am) and the fact that flax seeds should be ground.
For those unwary souls who buy bread with whole flax seeds, be prepared to rip yourself a new one. (Those are hard and pointy little buggahs)
Missy says
November 2, 2007 at 2:50 pmI take a flaxseed supplement to keep my colestrol levels down, but I read where it could help with exzema. So…….my son has a mild case of exzema so I have been giving him one capsul a day and he has become con-sta-pa-tated and I wonder what it is doing to his estrogen levles, yikes maybe I should stop that.
Biddy says
November 2, 2007 at 2:55 pmhaha i think i’ll stick to the flax oil capsules from metabolic research center! that’s just way too much work for biddy
The Domestic Goddess says
November 2, 2007 at 3:02 pmFlax seed could cure the whole world’s ills. You know, there are several WORLD LEADERS who could benefit from flax seed in their diets so they could poop out their bad moods. Literally. Bruce Springsteen could also use Flax seed. Maybe Britney Spears, too. Think of it! The whole world regular at one time! People would be so HAPPY!
sue says
November 2, 2007 at 4:07 pmMy favorite name for a rock band? The Screaming Divas. I wish I could sing so I could start a band, just to use that name.
MammaLoves says
November 2, 2007 at 4:27 pmYeah, I’ve just been opting for the flax seed capsules.
chocolatechic says
November 2, 2007 at 4:32 pmAs a woman who just ground some flax for her daughter, I thank you for that.
Add flax into any baked good.
Teryn says
November 2, 2007 at 4:34 pmI love to buy flax seeds and then let them sit in my fridge for a year or so and then throw them away. I’m really good at that.
nutmeg says
November 2, 2007 at 5:28 pmI have them ground for me at the store and then I freeze them. I sprinkle it on steamed veggies or in my oatmeal or if I’ve had a few, I just mix it right into my beer. Have you been watching Oprah?
180/360 says
November 2, 2007 at 7:38 pmFatty Acid- I love it!
Jen M says
November 2, 2007 at 7:43 pmI take it in a pill – but now I’m wondering if the oil is rancid ;(
Oh, The Joys says
November 2, 2007 at 8:55 pmBossy’s goin’ through the change?
flutter says
November 2, 2007 at 9:25 pmtheys is good fer poopin too, I hear…
Mr Farty says
November 2, 2007 at 9:31 pmBuy new not used. Also applies to condoms, I kid you not:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_/203-4691564-8623934?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=condoms
Suzy says
November 2, 2007 at 9:55 pmDude, you’ve got a lot of flaxed out readers. It’s a good thing Darla posted about that short shelf life thing. Mine is in the fridge just sitting there wishing he were ketchup. I looked at the exp date and I’d better get cracking. I buy the organic kind (WAY too expensive) and put it in low fat fruity yoghurt so I can’t taste it.
OMSH says
November 2, 2007 at 11:14 pmAnd this is where I say *huh*?
Dawn @ Coming to a Nursery Near You says
November 2, 2007 at 11:24 pmcrap… I used to sprinkle them on my salad – maybe thats where my problems lie? lay? lol
Dad Gone Mad says
November 2, 2007 at 11:43 pmFucking Vote for Bossy!
http://2007.weblogawards.org/polls/funniest-blog-1.php
Matthew says
November 3, 2007 at 2:35 amMy wife is suddenly into flax seed. We have flax seed oil. We have flax seed with dried blueberries. Our cereal has flax seed as a main ingredient.
I still don’t know what the benefits are but I think it’s supposed to leave my coat shiny.
FENICLE says
November 3, 2007 at 4:47 amFor some strange reason I always thought flax seed was black? Is that racist for me to say? I just thought it looked like skinny sunflower seeds or something.
Avitable says
November 3, 2007 at 8:20 amMy wife started putting some of that on my cereal in the morning without telling me. I can’t stand the taste of it – it’s just dry and chokey. (Yes, chokey is a word that I just created).
Anniemom says
November 3, 2007 at 2:21 pmWow. Who knew? Flax seed AND condoms from Mr. Farty. (See above comment. Sigh.) Damn him. But LOVIN on the flax seed thing. They are my thing-of-the-week now, used to fill my emotional holes AND help me go to the bathroom. Ya-hooo!
Melissa in NZ says
November 3, 2007 at 2:38 pmOoh, thanks for all the flax … I mean facts …
I have cast my vote and will keep voting. ‘Cause, Bossy is the funniest and needs to WIN!
Manic Mommy says
November 3, 2007 at 3:34 pmSo would the gassy condition caused by flax seeds be called flax-u-lence?
dgm says
November 3, 2007 at 8:49 pmI buy the Trader Joe’s roasted whole flaxseeds and eat them with peanut butter and honey. I know I’m supposed to grind them for nutrients but instead I chew them up really really well. My mandible is my grinder. They taste much better toasted & whole.
maggie says
November 3, 2007 at 10:33 pmHuh. One learns such interesting things here.
meleah rebeccah says
November 4, 2007 at 12:16 amI dont know what any of this means, but can I just roll around in some FLAX and look / feel all young again?
Oswegan says
November 4, 2007 at 1:00 amThen you need a roll of Charmin Ultra Soft.
~Oswegan
Kelly says
November 4, 2007 at 9:27 amI remember fondly the days when a multi-vitamin and some brisk walking was all that was recommended.
Janice in TX says
November 4, 2007 at 10:07 amJanice was wondering when Bossy was going to update with a new post, new family tree entry or little known fact.
Anyway, Janice had another opportunity to VOTE FOR BOSSY! Please folks, don’t forget to vote early and often…well you can only vote once a day so please don’t forget.
Queeny says
November 4, 2007 at 11:06 amNot really into flax seed, but i am into Bossy, that’s why you’ve got my vote, lady. good luck
Nilsa S. says
November 4, 2007 at 12:00 pmI added flaxseeds into my diet a few months ago and they do indeed help move shit through my body … quite literally!!
Sparx says
November 4, 2007 at 6:44 pmOh we love flax seed here too – put it in everything. It comes right out the other end of the spud though, untouched. Should I wash it off and grind it, I wonder?
BTW am loving the family tree.
Beta Mom says
November 4, 2007 at 8:20 pmWe also grind it up and sprinkle it over the dog’s food so both the children and the animals have shiny coats.
How oh how can something have the dual quality of making you have to poop and making you constipated?
William says
November 5, 2007 at 7:55 amWe used to use Flax seed all the time.
Side note certain nutritionists do not recomend Flax seed for womaen who have had hyterectomy…due to the hormonal balance thing…it could be counter productive(no pun intended)to the meds that are prescribed. Same thing with women who have female body parts cancer.
Laurie Foolery says
November 5, 2007 at 3:58 pmAny idea if they go well with Peanut M&Ms? Of course, if they clash, I’ll just have the Peanut M&Ms. I’m not proud.
Noelle says
November 5, 2007 at 10:14 pmI’m having a little pooping problem right now. It could be that I’m stuck in New Jersey and my flax seed is stuck in Poughkeepsie. Or, it could be that I’ve been in the hospital for three days, and it’s hard to poop when you can’t move around. Either way, I miss my flax seed, it goes so well in oatmeal.
Also, if you mix it with minced walnuts, a little cinnamon, and a little brown sugar, you have a topping that works miracles on a variety of foods.
madmad says
November 6, 2007 at 10:31 amIt sure is hard work, bein’ beautiful!
mo says
November 8, 2007 at 6:29 pmFlax has been a staple for race horses in training for many, many years.
It’s ridiculously easy to make your own flax seed oil.
Take flax seed add water and boil gently. It takes about three hours and voila! oil.
Don’t buy flax seed from a grocery store. Look in the yellow pages for a feed mill…it’s cheap as dirt.
You can make as much or as little oil as you want.
MizFit says
March 7, 2008 at 6:33 amok
(hangs head)
you put my MONDAY FACETIME about flax to *shame*
and made me laugh.
all Ive got left now are my hula hooping (lack of) skillz.
MizFit