Flax seeds, like hemp hearts, are a nutritional bazooka. Flax seeds are a complete protein - i.e. they contain all 9 essential amino acids. Most proteins have to be combined with others to make complete protein, but not flax seeds. They can hold their own!
Flax seeds are also one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-9 are the other two types of omega fats - more on those later). Omega-3 fatty acids are the parent molecule for anti-inflammatory hormones in the body and, as with most things, food is the best source rather than supplements.
Ironically, the high omega-3 content of flax seeds makes them highly volatile when pulverised. Flax powder or oil is sold in dark containers to prevent oxidation from exposure to light. Similarly, heat also destroys omega-3 fats and flax seed oil should never be heated. If you're buying flax seed oil, buy organic, cold-pressed oil sold in dark containers.
Flax seeds are also called linseeds. The same linseeds that are pressed to make the linseed oil we all used to mix with paints in art class! In art, linseed oil is used because it dries fast... back to the whole volatility of linseeds thing. Don't go to the nearest Flax or other art store for linseed oil to put in your smoothie though - get food-grade linseed or flax seed oil from the grocery store!
makes: 32 oz.
- 1 small cucumber, peeled and quartered
- 1 fresh mango, peeled and cut into chunks (~ 1 cup)
- 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
- 1 Key lime, juiced (or 1 tsp. lime juice)
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 in. knob ginger (peeled if not organic)
- 1 tbsp. flax seeds, aka linseeds (or 1 tsp. food-grade flax oil)
- 5 oz. baby spinach
- 1 cup water (or coconut water)
- In this order put the ingredients in a blender jar: mango, ginger, cucumber, flax seeds, pineapple, lime and lemon juice, ginger, and water. Blend until very smooth.
- Add more water and pineapple to adjust consistency and sweetness if needed.
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