Flax seed and in particular raw flax seed provides many benefits for your physical and mental wellbeing as they contain high levels of omega 3 essential fatty acids, lignan, mucilage and various vitamins and minerals. Recipes where the flax has been cooked do not contain as many benefits due to the fact that the omega 3 is denatured by the cooking process and some of the other benefits may also be lost. There is however a number of ways in which raw flax seed may be used to obtain maximum benefits.
One way to add raw flax seed to your diet is to create a flax seed spread which can be put on bread, crackers or anywhere else you might like spread. Start by grinding 4 tablespoons of flax seeds to a powder. Add ½ lemon juiced, ½ teaspoon Bragg's Liquid Amino acids and 2 tablespoons of water. Mix all these ingredients into a paste and your spread is ready to use. This recipe can also be found at http://www.living-foods.com/recipes/flaxspread.html
Flax seed may also be added to smoothies. One recipe for a smoothie found at http://www.gotohealth.com/recipes/index.cfm?id=132&cat=12&search=1#recipe_132 includes 2 apples, 2 bananas and 2 carrots, 1 grapefruit and 1 large orange, 6 pitted dates, 2 tablespoons whole, raw flax seeds and 2 cups ice cubes. These should all be blended together and if necessary add a little water to make it more liquid.
Another raw recipe you can use to make a shake is found at http://www.albertarose.org/Recipes/recipe_articles/power_positive_habits.htm "Make a protein shake with 8 ounces of your favorite juice such as apple or orange, add 2 tablespoons of flax seed oil, 2 tablespoons of soy powder, 1 tablespoon of lecithin, fresh fruit such as bananas, papayas or blueberries. Blend with a hand blender or an electric blender. This power shake will provide you with the health benefits of soy; omega 3's, fiber, antioxidants, and enzymes from the fruit, and the fat loss benefits of lecithin."
Ground raw flax seeds may also be added to cereals and salads.
Flax seed provides many benefits for physical and mental wellbeing including fighting heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, depression, attention deficit and helping to control blood sugar levels. The more raw flax seed you include in your diet the better and this can be done using some of the raw flax recipes we have mentioned above as well as by taking flax seed oil supplements. Improve your health today by increasing your intake of flax seed.