Flax Seed Smoothie Recipes and Health Benefits
Ground flax seeds add a slightly sweet and nutty flavor to just about any smoothie recipe. Adding ground flax seeds to your smoothie helps to make it more satisfying due to the healthy omega-3 fat content.
Flax Seed Nutrition and Health Benefits
Flax seeds are a good source of omega-3 fats and fiber. Flax seeds have anti-inflammatory properties, promote bone health and help protect against heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Studies have shown that nutrients in flax seeds can help prevent and lower high blood pressure and cholesterol.
Consuming flax seeds has also been shown to stop prostate tumor growth and even decrease the risk of dry eye syndrome.
Flax Seed Nutrition Facts
Flax seeds are high in fat and calories, so just a little goes a long way. I usually add 1/8 cup to my smoothie, but I would not recommend adding more than 1/4 cup. 1/8 cup of flax seeds contains: 80 calories, 6.5 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of protein, 6.5 gram of carbohydrates and 4% daily value of calcium.
Flax Seed Smoothie Recipes
You can add flax seeds to just about any smoothie recipe on our website. Ground seeds add a slightly sweet, nutty flavor and helps to thicken the texture of the shake.
How To Select Flax Seeds
You can purchase whole or ground flax seeds (flax meal) at most grocery stores. Whole seeds have a longer shelf life than pre-ground seeds, but would need to be ground up before adding to a smoothie since whole seeds are not digestible. I use a dedicated coffee grinder for this purpose.
Store flax seeds in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
See Also: Fats for Smoothies.
