When Michaela was first diagnosed with an egg allergy, I searched for egg substitutions. Flaxseed was one of many that I discovered along my research and found there are many benefits of Flaxseed. Egg allergies present an additional challenge in baking. There are several ‘recipes’ available but the one I have had the best results with when using Flaxseed as an egg replacement is to blend 1 heaping tablespoon until it is a fine meal, add ¼ cup cold water, continuing to blend approx. 3 minutes, until it is thickened and resembles the consistency of eggs. This recipe will replace 1 whole egg.
But Flax also lends other health benefits to our diet. According to Web MD, it is highly concentrated with, and when ground into meal, releases Omega-3 essential fatty acids, Lignans (contain both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities), and fiber.
Flax seed is also high in the B vitamins, which play an important role in cell metabolism, along with magnesium and manganese, which are needed for proper body function.
When this is all put together, research is revealing that Flax seed may play an important role in the aspect of preventing cancer, especially breast; prostate; and colon cancer, according to Kelley C. Fitzpatrick, MSc, director of health and nutrition with the Flax Council of Canada. Apparently, the Lignans protect against hormone-related cancers.
Elaine Magee, MPH, RD notes in her article on Web MD, that Flaxseed contains 75-800 times more lignans than other plant foods. She goes on to address that the role Lignans play in protecting against cancer is by blocking enzymes that are involved in hormone metabolism, and by interfering with the growth and spread of tumor cells. The protection against heart disease is attributed to the amount of Omega-3’s in Flaxseed. You can see how this tiny seed could prove important to our health as it is developed and more research is completed.
In our every day lives, most of us are concerned about maintaining our weight. With the healthy ratio of fat and high fiber in Flaxseed, it is quickly becoming an important key ingredient for individuals interested in weight loss. For those who are concerned about their starch and sugar intake, Flaxseed is ideal due to its low carbohydrate percentage. In recently speaking with a friend who has Diabetes, she reports she has found Flaxseed helpful in maintaining her sugar levels.
**Something I feel is important to note here is that when using Flaxseed as an egg replacer, you may want to consider inter-mixing your replacers if you are doing a significant amount of baking, only due to the fiber content in Flaxseed.
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Great nutritional information here, Mary! I will definitely put flax seeds on our grocery list.
Blessings!
Martha, be conservative when first beginning to use flax seed in your diet and build up. Our first Christmas after we found out Michaela couldn’t have eggs, I used flax as an egg-replacer in ALL of my cookies. I sent my whole family into turmoil LOL, if you know what I mean ☺
We have flax seeds with our morning porridge, Mary. Never realized that it was a substitute for eggs. Great information!
Yes, Corinne, and it works quite well. It actually gels up some after mixing with water. A great and healthy alternative to eggs in baking and cooking ☺
That is so cool, I have flaxseed in my cereal as well but had no idea it was an egg replacement. that would be of help with my diet for sure. Thank you!
Jan, the more comments I read, the happier I wrote on this topic. I guess I just took it for granted that flax used as an egg-replacer was common knowledge. Go figure though, I wouldn’t haven’t know myself if my daughter didn’t have an allergy to egg ☺
FLAxseed oil not only dropped my blood sugar it worked for headaches and other aches in the body…2 teaspoon fools a day is all you nee…rub the oild where your headache is a poof…cast about $10 a bottle for the pure stuff…it really works…As always…XOXOXOXOXOX
Cool to know Bongo! I’m sure that people have found other remedies by it’s use. I’ll have to try it for headaches since I seem to get them quite frequently these days. Thanks!
Hi Mary,
Didn’t know about the egg thing, that sure is some good information, and I will be using this recipe. I do know flax is really powerful for the body in several ways.Keep the healthy info coming. Thank you…..Judy…..
I didn’t realize, Judy, just how un-healthy my family was eating, me included, not until my daughter’s diet changed. I remember when I first started reading ingredients…I told my husband that I couldn’t believe how much junk was actually listed in the label on foods and that we had been ‘just eating it’ every day. Now that I have been forced into checking every ingredient in a food item, we are all eating much healthier. If I can’t make it from scratch and it doesn’t have good, healthy ingredients in it, then we just don’t eat it anymore ☺
Thanks for the excellent nutritional information Mary. I have been using some flax seed oil in my porridge. I will definitely continue using it and see it in a very different light. Once again thanks for the information.
You are about the 5th person, Loddy, that has told me that they add it to their cereal, or porridge. I’m certainly going to have to look into that avenue. And my curiosity is up regarding porridge. That is not something you commonly hear referred to here in the states. I assume it is similar to our grits or hot oatmeal? It definitely would be a dependable way to ingest your daily intake eh?
I knew of many Flax benefits, but for use as an egg replacement… I did not know — cool! I also did not know about lowering blood sugar or headaches… that is good to know. Glad I stopped by!
Amy, I am learning so much about the different uses of different foods and the positive effects they have on the body. It so very interesting. I have terrible headaches sometimes, and I’m gonna have to definitely give it a try as well.
Thanks for sharing this great nutritional information, actually flax-seeds are one of the best source of essential Omega-3’s for vegans as well as vegetarians. We can use them in multi-way from soups, salads as well as in smoothies. But be sure to increase the water intake ( app 400 ml) if you are taking 1 tablespoon of flax seed in your diet.
Wow Daisy! Thanks for sharing that little, important piece of information. I knew the effects of flax seeds, but have never even given much thought to increasing our water intake. Appreciate you!