Friends of the Heart

I was reading the packages for the wheat germ and flaxseeds I have, and here are a few ideas I found interesting. I usually put wheat germ and flaxseed meal in my hot cereal in the morning (steel cut oats, quinoa, ect.) or in my smoothies.

Wheat Germ: Wheat Germ is the heart of the wheat berry. It has a delicious nutty flavor, and is packed with nutrition. A two tablespoon serving will provide two grams of dietary fiber, thirteen percent of recommended daily value of folic acid, ten percent of phosphorous, magnesium and zinc, and fifteen percent of your vitamin E and thiamin requirements. You can use Wheat Germ to replace up to one half cup of flour when baking cookies, muffins and breads. Use it as a topping for fruit pies, fruit salads, yogurt and ice cream, or as a nutritious breading for chicken or fish.
Vitamin E, best known for its positive association with heart disease prevention, has also been linked with many other health benefits including strengthening the immune system.
Folic acid (also known as folate or folacin) is a B vitamin necessary for heart and blood vessel health and for proper cell replication.
(During the making of white bread, flour that has had the germ removed is used.)

Flaxseed Meal: Whole ground flaxseed meal has a robust, nutty flavor and tastes really great! Two tablespoons added to your cold or hot cereal, pancakes and waffles or baked into your breads and muffins brings to you amazing nutrition. According to several studies, flaxseed meal may be one of the most powerful natural cholesterol controllers yet discovered. An acronym for FLAX:
F - fiber. Just two tablespoons of flaxseed meal deliverse 4 grams of fiber. Studies prove that when flaxseed meal is added to the diet, harmful LDL cholesterol drops, while good HDL cholesterol stays put.
L - lignans. Flaxseed contains high levels of lignans, a natural antioxidant and a member of the family of plant estrogens (phytoestrogens). The lignans in flaxseed can maintain breast and colon health by binding circulating estrogens and other substances that might promote unchecked cell growth. Many plant foods have some lignans, but flaxseed has at least 75 times more than any other.
A - alpha-linolenic acid. Modern diets, even healthy ones, are routinely deficient in omega-3s. Flaxseed is a mega source for the plant version of omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid. The oil in flaxseed is about 50%, compared to canola and walnut oils--the next highest sources--which have about 10%.
X - Excellent choice to add to your diet.