Like Clockwork?
No one likes to talk about it. People get uncomfortable if you even mention it. We all think about it and children giggle over the jokes. Poop. I said it.
Along with so many of the allergy and intolerance issues comes the very clear indicator of regular or not regular. Being a mom of three boys, potty training has always been ‘ a delight’. Finding out that one of my son’s had bowel issues made me feel less like failure in the Baby Olympics and relieved that he wasn’t just ‘lazy’. The bowel was.
Enter the World of Fibers.
The lady in the swirling tummyless dress on TV does not make Metamucal any more fashionable. I confess to not having read much into all the various contents of each of the different fiber options, I simply took the Dr’s advice, bought Clearlax for my son and have managed to set it up as just part of our day now. At 6, he gets to make his own juice every morning (ya ya.. and working on the evening regiment still.).
Then I got to thinking what if I could find a product that had some food value to it as well. Not just a ‘pipe scrubber’ but something to help the poor little guy get some kind of nutritional value!
Flax Seed?
Flax Seed is High in Fiber: You’d be hard-pressed to find a food higher in fiber — bothsoluble and insoluble — than flax. This fiber is probably mainly responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effects of flax. Fiber in the diet also helps stabilize blood sugar, and, of course, promotes proper functioning of the intestines.
The flax seed carries one of the biggest nutrient payloads on the planet. And while it’s not technically a grain, it has a similar vitamin and mineral profile to grains, while the amount of fiber, antioxidants, and Omega-3 fatty acids in flax leaves grains in the dust.Additionally, flax seed is very low in carbohydrates, making it ideal for people who limit their intake of starches and sugars. It is high in most of the B vitamins, magnesium, and manganese, but this little seed is just getting started. There are three additional nutrient groups which flax seed has in abundance, and each has many benefits.
Ok, looks reasonable. Four key side effects were noted in several of my readings. 1) Laxative effect. 2) The oils turn rancid quickly 3)Phytoestregens – a THUS FAR proven effective hormone 4) Cyanide.
UMMM CYANIDE? Hello!
“ Like many other foods (cashews, some beans, and others), flax contains very small amounts of cyanide compounds, especially when consumed raw. Heat, especially on dry flax seeds, breaks these compounds down. However, our bodies have a capacity to neutralize a certain amount of these compounds, and the U.S. government agencies say that 2 tablespoons of flaxseed (~3 T of flax meal) is certainly safe and is probably an “effective dose” for health purposes. Various researchers who have used up to 6 daily tablespoons of the seed in different studies indicate that the amount they were using was safe.”
Ok. seems reasonable. Now… Gluten? Everything I have read so far says GREEN for Flax. It’s not a grain it’s a plant. ( I know, wheat is a plant too.. but you know what I mean.) So. It sound like one of those ” try it… see if it works for you.” case by case thing. Going to give it a shot.
Wonder how the kids will feel about a “Milk Shake” for breakfast EVERY morning?
Wish me ( and my son) luck.
Some links :
Make it healthier even…
milled flax seed with a banana, a couple leaves of kale with the stem removed and some form of frozen fruit….toss some juice or water in to make it blend…very tasty. I did this for about three weeks and I loved drinking it every morning. When I took it to work I got funny looks because it was very green, but it tasted fantastic.
I am loving the links you are sending me! Can’t wait to try some. Jeremy is really a fountain of information. Someday’s thought I feel like I am drowning in it.
Apparently, berries are lower in sugars than bananas… so we have been indulging in every frozen and fresh berry we can find. PS… Spinache and Blue berry with a bit of mint was pretty good. mom thought I was BAT NUT CRAZY but she loves her peach and strawberry. I don’t think it will be a hard sell to get the boys drinking “shakes” every morning.