Question: Can I Take Flax Seeds With Oatmeal?
I am keen to incorporate flaxseed oil into my diet. At the moment I add a tablespoon of flaxseeds to my porridge every morning. Is this a suitable way of taking it? As oats have a high fiber content, is it possible they could pass through the body too quickly and in doing so deplete the absorption of the oil? Or will the oats and oil separate in the small intestine?
I should add that I strongly dislike the taste of the seeds and so try to hide its flavor in food, otherwise I would take it by the spoon or as vinaigrette. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Maggie - About.com User
Answer: You can add flaxseeds (or flaxseed oil) to your morning oatmeal; the fiber shouldn't cause any absorption problems. Actually, it could be a superfood combination. The omega-3 fatty acids found in flax seeds might reduce inflammation, and oatmeal has been shown to improve heart health due to the soluble fiber called beta glucan. It lowers cholesterol by absorbing bile, which contains cholesterol. The bile is then eliminated from the body in the stool.
If you really don't like flax seeds, you can also use walnuts, walnut oil, pumpkin seeds, soy bean oil or canola oil to get your omega-3s.
Sources:
"Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids." American Heart Association. Accessed February 5, 2012.
Omega-3 fatty acids. University of Maryland Medical Center. Accessed February 5, 2012. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.htm.
Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid. Medline Plus. February 5, 2012. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-fishoil.html.
