AskDrSears.com - FAQ "GRINDING FLAX SEEDS"

"Hi, I appreciate your information on flax seed and flax oil. I am a vegetarian, so do not eat fish for my omega-3 requirements. However, I do sprinkle flax seeds on my oatmeal - can you do so without grinding the seeds first, and is there anything to be gained/lost by not grinding?"

As you know, flax seeds and flax seed oil are a great source of omega-3 oils. The seeds need to be ground before eating them; otherwise you don�t get all the benefits. Grinding the seeds releases the oils, making them more available to your system. Like un-chewed peanuts, flax seeds will just pass right through you. A small coffee grinder works perfectly for grinding small amounts of flax seeds right before you use them. Other ways to get your daily dose of omega-3�s would be flax seed oil capsules, or DHA/EPA oil capsules. The DHA/EPA are usually from a sea algae source, so they should fit into your vegetarian eating habits. Click here to read more about the importance of omega-3 oils.