How Fine Do You Grind Your Flax Seed and How Often (for freshness)?

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From
http://www.healthcastle.com/flax.shtml

Benefits of Flax seed…
Its high content of alpha linolenic acids has made the ancient flax seed become our modern miracle food. Alpha linolenic acid (ALA) is a type of plant-derived omega 3 fatty acid, similar to those found in fish such as salmon. Benefits of flax seed as shown in many studies include lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) levels. Other benefits show that flax seed may also help lower bloodtriglyceride and blood pressure. It may also keep platelets from becoming sticky therefore reducing the risk of a heart attack.





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I use a Cuisinart Grind Central to grind mine. It is suppose to be more for coffee I think but it does seeds great. It turns it into a almost fine powder. I do a bunch and fill up a glass jar and keep it in the frig. I used to do it freshly everyday but I don’t have the counter space that i used to. As long as you put it in the frig (sealed) after you grind it, you should be fine.

Actually flax seeds are higher in omega 3s than salmon - lots of people don’t know that - and you don’t have to worry about mercury. Omega 3 also help brain function too. I have heard that the cholestrol but I don’t have to worry about that.

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I buy my stuff all ground (generally almond and flax). I’ve never tried grinding it. Both flours are very high in fat content and will spoil quickly, for that reason I keep both flours in the freezer (or fridge sometimes for the flaxmeal). I’ve never had a problem with them going bad when stored in the freezer. The almond meal can be particularly sensitive to going rancid.

ps. The Omega-3’s (ALA) in flax are part of the same class as those found in fish (DHA and EPA), but they are not the same. You still need your DHA and EPA, even if you get lots of ALA. I worry more about DHA and EPA.

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Actually, virtually all fish oil on the market is distilled and is free from mercury. Consumer reports looked at this some years ago (http://www.consumerreports.org/health/natural-health/fish-oil-for-depression/overview/fish-oil-depression.htm) and concluded that the all the major brands of fish oil were fine.

I take large doses of fish oil and despite claims otherwise, I don’t chew the gelcaps.