Flax/Lin, Hemp, Chia Seeds

mariiyah
mariiyah Posts: 136 Member
in Food and Nutrition
i just found out that Flax seed in UK is known as Lin seed! finally i found them with help from a worker at Asda.
(wish i'd googled this earlier myself :huh: )
i found the Hemp seeds easily in shops, and i ordered Chia seeds from Amazon.

i have a few Q's about them though...
i couldnt find the ground version of Flax so i bought whole seeds. do i have to grind them to get the full benefits or will whole seeds be fine?
same with the Hemp and Chia seeds.... should i add them whole or ground to my oats, shakes etc?

up to how many tsp. of each can i use a day?

ps. im reading a book which says "Nuts and raw seeds, but not ground flax, are optional for obese or overweight persons"
does this mean its ok to eat them or not ok to eat them?

Replies

  • RoxyLDN
    RoxyLDN Posts: 96 Member
    You can buy Milled flax seed in the UK from Linwoods. They also have other flax seed based products and hemp:
    http://www.linwoodshealthfoods.com/
    Also available in Ocado / Waitrose
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    I don't know anything about hemp or chia, but you have to grind the flaxseeds or else they are completely indigestible and you'll get no benefit from them. A coffee grinder or a food processor will work.

    And I think your book is telling you that you need the flaxseeds.
  • arenkel
    arenkel Posts: 77
    Grind the flax seed; our bodies cannot efficiently digest the hulls. (Look on the web if you want more info about this)

    ETA: flax seeds are a good source of healthy fats and fiber, so I can't see any reason not to eat flax meal (in moderation)

    If you have hemp hearts (no shell), go ahead and use them as-is. I like to add them to oatmeal. If they have shells, I'm not sure what you should do. Maybe someone else will answer.

    You don't need to do anything to the chia seeds. I tried them this morning in my overnight oatmeal (they soaked in the almond milk with the oats) and they were delicious.
  • arenkel
    arenkel Posts: 77

    up to how many tsp. of each can i use a day?

    I'm pretty sure the standard serving size for each one is two tablespoons. For that serving size, flax has 60 cals, hulled hemp seed has 90, and chia seeds have 70. Flax & chia have ~3g of protein; hemp has 5g. After comparing, they all have similar fat content, but chia has slightly more fiber than the other two.

    I have all three, but I don't go crazy with them. I probably would if I could afford it, but on a college budget that just won't happen. :grumble:
  • Crochetluvr
    Crochetluvr Posts: 3,259 Member
    I just started adding Chia seeds to my yogurt, cottage cheese. You eat them as is...no grounding needed. I use a half tablespoon at a time. You can use more if you are adding them to a dish with multiple servings.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    If you don't grind flax/lin seeds, you'll find they will secret oils when they get wet inside the digestive tract. One benefit, therefore, is a smooth passing of stool.
  • PNJB796
    PNJB796 Posts: 72 Member
    I just buy a pack of 4 seeds (Pumpkin, Sunflower, Linseed and Sesame seeds), then empty them into my hand blender beaker and have at them with the hand blender.

    To store i use a plastic container, and to eat, I sprinkle 25 gms over my morning porridge. Easy Peasy and a great source of Protein.
  • opuntia
    opuntia Posts: 860 Member
    You don't have to grind the linseeds. You shouldn't eat them as they are, but soak them overnight. Then they will be digestible. Also it's good to drink the water they were soaked in, as it is full of nutrients. It tastes nice too.
  • blf112761
    blf112761 Posts: 7
    I use chia and flax seeds along with hemp protein in my smoothies. I use half of the serving size recommended on the package for all three items. Although the other day, I did my first long bike ride (it was only 30 miles but for me that was long!) and I used the full serving size for all of them. Just for extra nutritional support.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    For the hemp seeds, it depends on whether or not they are hulled. If they are hulled, then add the seeds (hemp hearts) to whatever you choose, and it will be fine. The husk/hull of hemp seeds is digestible, mostly, but it is severely crunchy and should be lightly toasted first. In fact, I like to add a bit of salt and toast them and just eat them as a snack. I have also made a mix of hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds and toasted them after tossing them in cinnamon and sugar for a sweet treat. =)

    Chia seeds.......not sure. I know that hemp seeds have more balanced nutrition in them than in chia and flax seeds combined. But one time, I found chia in the spot where my hemp seeds are usually located, and I had to go to an employee to get my hemp seeds. So I hate chia seeds right now and have nothing good to say about them. :tongue: :laugh:
  • LottieLou13
    LottieLou13 Posts: 574 Member
    You can get ground flaxseeds from Holland and Barrett - I think they are made by Prewetts?

    :smile:
  • 916lude
    916lude Posts: 305
    I don't know anything about hemp or chia, but you have to grind the flaxseeds or else they are completely indigestible and you'll get no benefit from them. A coffee grinder or a food processor will work.

    And I think your book is telling you that you need the flaxseeds.

    Crap, I swallow them whole when I put in my protein shake. Kinda wasted calories I guess. Thanks for the info!
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    I've been eating them in salads (so they might get broken down with my teeth) for the last 10 years every day.
  • dblred0728
    dblred0728 Posts: 57 Member
    Where do you get the Chia Seeds?
  • Flow2skrillex
    Flow2skrillex Posts: 6
    So flax seed is not digestable as they are. You should grind them or soak them. Chia seeds are fine as is and they pack the most punch. They are the best energy seed for me. I sprinkle them in my egg whites or make a "chia gel" they absorb 3 times their weight when soaked in water. Which can be used as an egg substitute as well. Perso:glasses: nally I just eat 2 table spoons of chia gel to start my day.
  • Kathy535
    Kathy535 Posts: 31 Member
    I get ground and whole linseeds from Holland and Barratt. I soak the whole ones overnight in a few teaspoons of water and have them mixed into my Greek yoghurt, they do indeed help with constipation, I've been able to stop the medication completely since I started taking a teaspoon each day. I have eaten them whole but tbh, they are very difficult to swallow dry so I've stopped that!

    I got chia seeds also from Holland and Barratt, a bigger branch and think they were with the baking stuff. I've no idea what to do with them though, can anyone advise?
  • ethompso0105
    ethompso0105 Posts: 418 Member
    I've started using chia seeds in my morning smoothie...they're excellent! You don't need to pre-grind them (though you can if you'd like). My boss puts some in a container with water for lunch every day (they soak during the morning)...she likes them, though I don't think that would be satisfying enough for me.

    Be careful how much of these things you eat--it won't hurt you to have too much, but your intestines will know. ;) I know with chia seeds they suggest 1 Tbsp. per day.

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