On Wed, 13 Jun 2001, Amadeus Schmidt wrote:

> Flax does have some phytin btw. but I read that in oil seeds it would be
> even beneficial for some reason.

This is because of its antioxidant properties.

> Flax seeds are like most seeds a very good package of nutrition.
> They have more protein than meat (24%) and a very high fat content (30%)
> which is missing in game meat.
> However you can't make flax seeds a staple because of it's mucilage and too
> high omega-3 fat part (You call it laxative effect which I can't notice).

The laxative effect is a result of the insoluble fiber, making
the seeds hard to digest.  Grinding them probably helps with this
somewhat.

> Have you seen how the flax seeds come in nature?
> I've seen my first in a stone age house project.
> Cute little packages of a few seeds only.

I've seen them.  My impression is that they would be difficult to
harvest, and grinding them would require even more energy
expenditure.  It just doesn't seem to me that it would have been
worth it.

Todd Moody
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