Flaxseed with Breakfast

Today I realized that I had a couple of bags of flaxseed that I haven't touched in a couple of months. So, I decided to eat some with breakfast.

 Breakfast:

• 1 serving oats
• 1 cup blueberries
• about 1 T. flaxseed

According to WebMd, flaxseed has been a health food for ages! It was cultivated in Babylon as early as 3000 BC, and by the 8th century, King Charlemagne believed so strongly in the health benefits of flaxseed that he passed laws requiring his subjects to consume it.

Flaxseed gained its healthy reputation primarily due to three of its components:

• Omega-3 essential fatty acids - these"good" fats that have been shown to have heart-healthy effects; each tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains about 1.8 grams of plant omega-3s
• Lignans - these possess both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities; flaxseed contains 75-800 times more lignans than other plant foods
• Fiber - flaxseed contains both the soluble and insoluble types

I usually add flaxseed to oatmeal or smoothies. If you add ground flaxseed to oatmeal before you cook it, it blends in pretty well and you don't notice it. I haven't found a way to make its addition unnoticeable in smoothies.

What your favorite way of adding flaxseed to your diet?

~ Susan