Want To Buy Flax Seed But Confused By The Choice? - How To Choose What Is Ideal For you.

When you look to buy flax seed, the choice can be overwhelming with so many different types for sale. How do you make up your mind? Here is an overview of the positives and negatives of each form this great little seed comes in to aid you make your mind up.

Initially it is best to list the main benefits you get when you buy flax seed. Firstly flaxseed provides the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid. After it has been converted by your body, the end product helps to maintain proper brain functioning, helps to control cholesterol and fat levels, necessary for great skin, improves your immune system functioning etc etc. Secondly, you get flax seed fibre. Soluble fibre helps to control blood sugar levels and insoluble fibre bulks up the contents of your bowel and helps it to move along your digestive system. Flax lignans are also obtained, which are a type of phytonutrient. These compounds are oestrogen like and also act as antioxidants. Finally, Flaxseed is a great source of minerals e.g. calcium, zinc, magnesium etc.

Whole Flaxseed: The main benefit of this type is its shelf life. With a long shelf life you can buy flax seed in bulk and so save yourself money. It doesn't seem to matter whether you purchase golden or brown flaxseed. The other main benefit of whole flaxseed is you get all of its potential benefits which are listed above. A lack of convenience is the only real downside. Your body cannot digest whole flax seeds and they will pass through you essentially unchanged and so you would waste your money. To get around this, you need a coffee grinder and a little energy. The end result is ground flaxseed, a form from which you can obtain all its goodness.

Flaxseed Meal: Leading on from the last paragraph, the main benefit is you get convenience. With no need to grind it down, you just open up the packet and scatter over your cereals, soups and yogurt etc. This form of flax provides all the benefits covered above and the only real negative is its shelf life. Flaxseed meal is susceptible to oxidation, a process that means the oil in it goes rancid and so cannot be used by your body. Keeping the flax meal in your fridge will help to prolong its shelf life but you will still need to use your stock reasonable quickly.

Flax Seed Oil: The main benefits are that it is a convenient form to use as you can just spread it over your food and that it offers a great source of the essential fatty acid. You don't get however the fibre, all the minerals and the lignans. Another negative is that like the flax seed meal, the shelf life isn't huge as it is prone to oxidation so it is worth storing it in your fridge.

Flax Seed Oil Capsules: If you want a great source of the essential fatty acid but don't like the flavor or the texture of the neat oil then this form could be for you. You won't however get the full complement of benefits mentioned at the start because you don't get the fibre and lignans (however some manufacturers add them to their oil). You also don't get the same amounts of minerals.

The last thing to think about is whether you wish to buy flax seed that is organic. If you scour the web there is a big debate about organic food and whether it is better for you or not either nutritionally or safer with no pesticide residues. My belief is that if I can afford it, organic means that I won't be chemically bombarding my body more than I need to but you will need to decide if the extra cost is worth it for you. A final thought, to have a complete diet that is also balanced and convenient, it maybe better to buy flax seed in various forms.