I finally broke down and bought some ground flax seed. I was wondering how much other people consume on a daily basis? What do you put it in? Have you noticed any change in flavor when you put it in something?

WebMD suggests at least 1 tbsp. a day. I started with 1 tsp. in my waffle batter. I didn't even notice it was there, but hestitate to put much more in. I don't want to mess up my perfectly tasty waffles.

I do not crave vegetables. I can tell when I haven't been eating enough of them, because I feel "off", but I can't say I crave them.

Then again...I eat several servings of them a day. I typically don't crave something that I eat regularly.

I have heard/read that we crave chocolate because eating chocolate produces the same hormone you produce when you're in love.

Dawn

quote:

Originally posted by Coaster Girl:
Yeah, Sheri, I really do. It blows my mind when I start craving veggies...especially brussel sprouts....

I too crave things like salads, roasted veggies, etc. But I also crave chips, chocolate too.

Jill

Yeah, Sheri, I really do. It blows my mind when I start craving veggies...especially brussel sprouts....

And Sheri, it's not the sugar you're craving...it's the antioxidants...

Here is a background tidbit:

"Flax is a history lesson in itself. It was brought by colonists and planted for fiber to weave into heavy linen clothing. Linseed oil was extracted from the seed and used as a preservative and paint. As America moved west and urbanized, demand for paint jumped and flax production soared. A huge linseed oil and paint industry developed alongside the country's major flax growing areas of Minnesota and the Dakotas. The first manufacturer of prepared paints in the U.S. was in the Twin Cities, and over half of the major paint companies operated here. By the 1940s Minnesota produced half of the country's flax.

Flax production was critical during both World Wars to make paint for military equipment, and as feed - flax cakes - for livestock overseas in WWI. Flax acreage dropped sharply after WWII and again as synthetic fibers were developed, and almost disappeared by 1980 as latex paint displaced oil-based products. Today, flax is grown on limited acreage, but there is a renewed interest in the fiber for paper making and as a healthy, edible oil, thanks to plant breeders."

http://www.maes.umn.edu/components/7658-8.asp

quote:

Originally posted by Coaster Girl:
I guess I have been of the opinion for a while that your cravings often tell you (sort of) what you're missing. Sometimes I really, really want a salad. Or broccoli. Or yogurt. I guess I figured I wanted something because I was lacking a nutrient of some sort in that particular food.

Does that mean that when I crave chocolate, my body is lacking sugar?

Truly...you CRAVE salad and broccoli? I have never one moment of my life craved a salad. Whoa. That freaks me out.

I've heard that for maximum benefit, it's best to start with whole flax seed, and grind it yourself. I usually whir mine in a coffee grinder.

I mostly use it in pancake batter and hummus. Not that pancake batter is all that good for you. But I did see this recipe on Hungry Girl... sounds pretty good:

Ingredients:

1/3 cup regular oats (not quick or instant)

1/2 cup egg whites

1 tbsp. fat-free cottage cheese

2 tbsp. canned pure pumpkin

1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

2 packets of Splenda

Directions: Blend all ingredients together with a hand mixer or blender. Spray your pan with nonstick spray and cook on medium/high heat until bubbly. Then flip your giant pancake and finish it off until golden brown. Top with sugar-free syrup. The entire recipe (minus the syrup) has just 190 calories and 2g of fat.

I've been thinking about what Dawn said a little bit back about how you know how much you really need.

I guess I have been of the opinion for a while that your cravings often tell you (sort of) what you're missing. Sometimes I really, really want a salad. Or broccoli. Or yogurt. I guess I figured I wanted something because I was lacking a nutrient of some sort in that particular food.

Who knows?

I don't know if this bakery is local to Indianapolis or part of a chain or franchise, but there is a bakery there calld "Bread of Life" and all of their bread has flaxseed in it.

Their bread is wonderful!

Dawn

Very true Dawn.

I've put some of the milled flax seed in a pizza crust. It did change the taste of the crust but I actually liked the seedy, nutty flavor. I also added it to cornbread batter. I didn't mind it but DH didn't care for it very much. LOL!!

You do have to watch and might have to "tweak" some recipes when adding it. Since it has the healthy oils, some things may brown quicker because of the extra oil.

Someone at another site I go to posted a recipe for a flaxseed "cracker". I made it and like it quite well. The OP poster of the recipe said she used 3 TBSP milled flaxseed and 3 TBSP water. Mix and spread in a cracker shape on parchment paper. Microwave 2 or 3 min (or more depending on your microwave). She topped her cracker with cream cheese. I make smaller cracker with 2 TBSP flaxseed & 2 TBSP water and have topped it with the Laughing Cow Light spreadable cheese. It was really good.

This is not directed specifically at flax seed, but the discussion made me think...

There are so many things we are supposed to get "every day" to be "healthy", that it seems to me if you really consumed all those things, that most people would really be consuming much more than the daily caloric requirments.

How do you know what you REALLY need "every day"?

To me this is where eating a variety of foods every day is important, and that you are not going to have everything every day, but many things throughout the week or a month.

Dawn

I've never noticed the flax seed in anything I put it in except if I make a smoothie, sometimes it does not grind up very finely. I use it a lot-smoothies, meatballs, oatmeal, you can add it to so much. I think the container I have recommends 1 TBSP a day as well.
Jill

Dd has a tasty recipe for a no-bake flaxseed "cookie" that uses raw apples and I think some spices. I don't think it has any flour or sugar in it. I will see if I can get it from her and post it.