Overnight Oats 3 ways

Why do we add Flax?

Vegan Oatmeal Bowl

Vegan Oatmeal Bowl with Ground Flax

“Am I getting enough … ?”

As vegans, we work hard to ensure we are getting the right nutrients for healthy, sustainable living.  One of the more interesting facts, now that I am vegan, is that I am more conscious about where I get my nutrients.  When I was eating the Standard American Diet, I NEVER worried about how much calcium, vitamin D, omega 3, and b12 I was getting. 

You know what? After looking back at my food diaries from that time, I should have been more concerned! I was not eating a balanced or nutrient-dense diet.  As a vegan, I am getting adequate nutrients from a plant-based, high whole-food/starch-based diet.

People always question vegans on how we get our protein, but truth is told, Vegans are living a much more nutrient-dense diet than those following a Standard American Diet.  Vegans should be questioning Standard American Diet eaters on how they get their omega 3 and 6, how they get vitamin d, calcium, and vitamin C, and how they are reducing their cholesterol.

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smoothies

Vegan Berry Banana Smoothie with Ground Flax

So, why do we add flax to our meals???

Our bodies do not naturally produce Omega 3 so we need to get it from the food we eat! Enter flaxseeds!!!  Flaxseeds (also called linseeds) are a rich source of micronutrients, dietary fiber, manganese, vitamin B1, and the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, also known as ALA or omega-3. So how does all that benefit us?

With the addition of flaxseeds to your meals, you may see:

  • Higher fiber intake
  • Healthy skin and hair
  • Reduction of cholesterol
  • Gluten-free source of omega 3
  • Antioxidant-rich
  • Digestion friendly/colon cleansing
  • Cell membrane growth
  • Controlling blood clotting
  • Metabolism increase (help with weight loss)

I hope this helps you see the importance of adding whole food ingredients that supply the body with essential nutrients to your daily meals.  So get a bag of ground flax and add it to your smoothies, oatmeal, or top your pasta or brownies with it – be creative.  Just get your daily dose to ensure you get those necessary omega-3 fatty acids!  As you create ways to incorporate flax into your meals, comment below.

XO,

Kathy