TIP OF THE DAY: Try A Flaxseed Mill
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Here’s another way to add “instant nutrition” to your foods, with no more effort than it takes to grind pepper.
In this case, you’re grinding flaxseed. Why? This superfood adds noteworthy nutrition to food (see the health benefits below), so much so that a growing number of consumers have been clamoring for it. An estimated 300 new products with flaxseed were launched in the U.S. and Canada in 2010 alone (the last year for which data is available). Flaxseed is appearing in everything from crackers and breads to oatmeal and frozen waffles. The eggs that claim higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids come from chickens who eat flaxseed-enriched feed. At home, you can add freshly-ground flaxseed to just about anything: cereal, cottage cheese, dips, eggs, fish, meat and poultry, salad, smoothies, soup, yogurt. It’s easy to add to batter and dough: cakes, cookies, pancakes, pie crusts. |
Better nutrition is just a few grinds away. Photo courtesy Blossom. |
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The flavor is subtle and nutty. The mill can be kept on the table, right next to the salt and pepper. You can use any mill or spice grinder to grind flaxseed for recipes; but the point of a separate flaxseed mill is to use it consistently as you sit down to eat. Plus, the ceramic grinder in the Blossom mill (shown in photo) is specifically calibrated to grind tiny seeds, like flaxseed and sesame seed. It’s $24.30 at Amazon.com. Then, pick up whole flaxseed at any natural foods store or online. |
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 Buy whole flaxseed at natural food stores. Photo courtesy Bob’s Red Mill. |
FLAXSEED BENEFITS
According to Web MD, flaxseed could be considered one of the most potent plant foods on the planet. An excellent source of protein, fiber and minerals such as magnesium and copper, its top three benefits are: Studies show that flaxseed may help to reduce risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and diabetes. It’s also a great source of fiber. The tiny seed was cultivated in Babylon as early as 3000 B.C.E. |
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Flash-forward to the 8th century C.E.: King Charlemagne believed so strongly in the health benefits of flaxseed that he passed laws requiring his subjects to consume it. (Hmm…was there a brother-in-law in the flaxseed business?) It’s time for a flaxseed revival. King Charlemagne would be pleased.
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