Flax & low carb.

In article ,
says...
I'm going to try the low-carb way again! The reason why I had to stop
several times, was a problem with constipation.
I'm wondering how can I take 2 to 3 tblsp. a day of flax, without making
everything taste horrible.
I tried to take it dry,,,,,,and that was gross!
Mixing it into a container of yogurt wasn't too bad,,,,but there are carbs
in yogurt.
Any good ideas out there?

I've gotten into the habit of having flax cereal every day for breakfast
(sometimes I have it for dinner instead, just for a change of pace). I think
it's PERFECT for keeping me regular and it makes passing stools quite comfortable
(not so comfortable I crap my pants, but definitely not a problem :-). A cheap
electric coffee grinder works GREAT to grind whole flaxseeds (they just uselessly
spin around the edges in my mini food processor). I think my version tastes a
lot like Maypo in taste and texture. Here's what I have if you make a single
serving:

2 tbl ground flaxseeds
2 tbl ground hazelnut (or almonds)
1 tbl milk & whey protein powder
1 tsp butter buds
dash or 2 of salt
1/2 tsp Frontier brand maple flavoring (Whole Foods)
sweetener to taste

Heat up about 1/3-1/2 cup of water for about 30-40 seconds in the microwave.
Pour into dry ingredients and mix well. Add maple flavoring and sweetener. Heat
up for 1 minute in the microwave. Enjoy!

If you find that you like it, you might want to make up a big batch for
convenience. Here is my recipe for a big batch (use a BIG bowl to mix the dry
ingredients). Cut it in half if you only want to fill up a single jar.

SAFFIRE'S CEREAL MIX

2-2/3 cup hazelnut flour (Trader Joe's)
1.5 cup milk & egg protein powder (Whole Foods bulk)
2-2/3 cup flaxmeal (from bulk bin at Whole Foods)
1/2 cup butter buds
1 tsp salt

The number of servings varies -- I think it just depends on the bulk of the
ingredients and how loosely or densely you measure. I usually come out with
approximately 7 cups of mix which I then store in 2 quart-size mason jars in the
fridge. (Flax should be refrigerated once it has been ground because it can
spoil/grow rancid at that point.

Figuring about 20 servings, (not including the maple flavoring which I add at the
time I cook the cereal) the nutritional info for a 1/3-cup dry mix serving is:

[NET carbs: 4.8]
carbs: 12.1
fiber: 7.34
cals: 224
fat: 16.4 (1.5 saturated)
sodium: 288
protein: 7.8

I specify the Frontier maple flavoring because it is alcohol-free and
concentrated. I tried the usual maple flavoring from McCormick and it wasn't
NEARLY as good as the Frontier brand -- the difference with having alcohol in it
is quite apparent when you compare the two. Butter Buds are optional, of course
-- they may not be politically correct, but I choose to use them in this case
anyway. I use protein powder to cut down the slime factor in the ground
flaxseeds, and it's quite palatable that way. I like to use hazelnut meal
instead of almond meal because I don't like the overwhelming almond aroma that
comes with the latter (makes me think of really old, hot cars and cyanide). I
specify 1/3 cup of mix per serving because that's what works well for ME. 1/2
cup is really too much, but 1/4 cup is too little, so 1/3 is JUST RIGHT for ME
:-) Same for the water, although the water needed can vary from one batch to
another. 1/3 is USUALLY enough, but the last batch had a slightly different
texture and absorbed more water very quickly, so I needed 1/2 cup of water to 1/3
cup of mix. My current batch is back to 1/3 cup.

You can, of course, use different flavoring, such as cocoa powder, vanilla,
cinnamon, etc, or none at all. I like to add 1/2 to 1 tbl of Irish butter to it
to give it a nice taste and creamy texture. Works for ME!

--
Saffire
205/148/125 - 5'1.5"
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

Roger Zoul wrote:

Use plain no sugar/fruit yogurt - carb free. Use a LC yogurt from the
store...
snip

Plain yogurt is low carb but it's not carb free.

Jeri wrote:
|| Roger Zoul wrote:
|||
||| Use plain no sugar/fruit yogurt - carb free. Use a LC yogurt from
||| the store...
|| snip
||
|| Plain yogurt is low carb but it's not carb free.

Right...but how many carbs?

sandy wrote:

I'm going to try the low-carb way again! The reason why I had to stop
several times, was a problem with constipation.
I'm wondering how can I take 2 to 3 tblsp. a day of flax, without making
everything taste horrible.
I tried to take it dry,,,,,,and that was gross!
Mixing it into a container of yogurt wasn't too bad,,,,but there are carbs
in yogurt.
Any good ideas out there?
Thanks.


Flax is good, but don't forget about almonds and walnuts.
After induction, that is.

Marsha/Ohio

Roger Zoul wrote:
Jeri wrote:
Roger Zoul wrote:

Use plain no sugar/fruit yogurt - carb free. Use a LC yogurt from
the store...
snip

Plain yogurt is low carb but it's not carb free.

Right...but how many carbs?

http://www.lowcarbluxury.com/yogurt.html

Jeri wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote:
::: Jeri wrote:
::::: Roger Zoul wrote:
::::::
:::::: Use plain no sugar/fruit yogurt - carb free. Use a LC yogurt
:::::: from the store...
::::: snip
:::::
::::: Plain yogurt is low carb but it's not carb free.
:::
::: Right...but how many carbs?
::
:: http://www.lowcarbluxury.com/yogurt.html

Thanks.

In article , sandy
writes
I'm going to try the low-carb way again! The reason why I had to stop
several times, was a problem with constipation.
I'm wondering how can I take 2 to 3 tblsp. a day of flax, without making
everything taste horrible.
I tried to take it dry,,,,,,and that was gross!
Mixing it into a container of yogurt wasn't too bad,,,,but there are carbs
in yogurt.
Any good ideas out there?
Thanks.


I love flaxseed, and use it in the lowcarb bread I make. Or grind it
and mix with protein powder for good warm porridge. Add Da Vinci and
scoff. Or I make a pancake and waffle mix with soy, whey, vital wheat
gluten, a FEW nuts, and ground flaxseed.

Or take psyllium husks instead .
--
Jane Lumley

In article , Cubit
writes
Since candy made from sugar alcohols acts as a laxative, it may be possible
to use a small measured amount each day to prevent constipation. I have not
had a constipation problem, so I am speculating on this.

I tried this on a trip once, and I really don't recommend it; it still
causes horrible gas and pain, and days of constipation followed by a big
explosion. Find a natural method.
--
Jane Lumley

Jane Lumley wrote:
|| In article , Cubit
|| writes
||| Since candy made from sugar alcohols acts as a laxative, it may be
||| possible to use a small measured amount each day to prevent
||| constipation. I have not had a constipation problem, so I am
||| speculating on this.
||
|| I tried this on a trip once, and I really don't recommend it; it
|| still causes horrible gas and pain, and days of constipation
|| followed by a big explosion. Find a natural method.

If you ask me, using SA candy is a means to keep regular is really poor
advice. For one thing, many people have no idea how the products will
affect BG levels. Also, they have no idea how much it takes to cause
problems. Even more, then have no control over how long the gas and pain
will last. I could go on, too. Really poor advice, IMO.

sandy wrote:

The reason why I had to stop
several times, was a problem with constipation.

Are you aware that only lasts 2 weeks for most and under a month
for nearly everyone? Perhaps your time scale is wrong.

Any good ideas out there?

Most of the good plans list plentifull veggies as mandatory. Eat
the required amount of veggies and you won't remain constipated.

Did you avoid veggies while you were previously low carbing?