[jenkuh]

Can someone give me the low down on flaxseed? I'm sure it's been posted here a million times but I've been looking it up and still have some questions because of things I've heard.<br><br>
1) Do I have to be careful about cooking? I've read on here that certain ways of cooking it can be harmful? Though i could be totally off base.<br><br>
2) Do I have to be careful about the amount and how I give it to my toddler?<br><br>
3) Anything different I'd have to be careful about as far as pregnancy goes? (not pregnant, just saying ;-)<br><br>
4) I've read some about the estrogen levels - what's the deal with that? Good/ bad?<br><br>
Thanks!!

 

[NatureMama3]

1. nothing is harmful to cook it, but it can reduce the amounts of essential fatty acids.<br><br>
2. no, you can't OD on flax seed (meal or seed).<br><br>
3. No, perfectly safe in pregnancy (good even!).<br><br>
4. It's not terribly estrogenic (as opposed to borage or evening primrose-they are more estrogenic by a lot).<br><br>
Keep it in the fridge in hot weather, to keep the oils from degrading. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[Lady Lilya]

And in the dark. They are light sensitive too, as well as heat sensitive. I keep my flax seeds and flax seed meal and flax seed oil in opaque containers in the fridge all year long, just to be safe.