Calories in Flaxseed

No Room Rent Capping | No Medical Check-up up to 55yrs | Tax Benefit up to Rs.75,000 | Buy Health Insurance starting @ ₹160 pm Check Plans

Flaxseed is derived from flax, which was originally grown in ancient Egypt and China. A look back at Indian history also shows us that flax was used in Ayurvedic medicines for several millennia. Flaxseed can be taken today in various forms, right from seeds and powder to capsules and tablets. There is also flaxseed flour available for use in everyday food items. No matter what form you wish to consume flaxseed in, you need to have a fair idea about the number of calories in flaxseed. Interestingly, most of the calories in flaxseed comes from healthy fats.

How Many Calories Does Flaxseed have?

The calories in 1 tablespoon of flaxseed comes up to around 55 calories. And if you are looking for the number of calories in 100 grams of flaxseed, that would be around 550 calories. Apart from this, flaxseeds also have fat, protein, and some other vitamins and minerals. Check out the detailed nutrition profile of flaxseeds below.

Nutrients in 100 grams of flaxseed	Amount or quantity
Calories	550
Saturated fat	3.8 grams
Polyunsaturated fat	30 grams
Monounsaturated fat	7.8 grams
Cholesterol	0 milligrams
Sodium	31 milligrams
Potassium	840 milligrams
Carbohydrates	30 grams
Fiber	28 grams
Sugars	1.6 grams
Protein	19 grams
Vitamin C	1% of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI)
Calcium	20% of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI)
Iron	33% of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI)

Calories in Common Food Items with Flaxseed

Since flaxseed can be consumed in so many different ways, it is easy to add it to your everyday foods. You can add some seeds to your salad, throw in some flaxseed powder in your smoothie, or even add it to your chapati flour. It can also be used to bake chips and muffins. So, given the wide range of common food items that can be made using flaxseed, it is important to note that the calorie count will also vary based on the other ingredients used.

Food items made with flaxseed	Number of calories
Flaxseed oil (1 tablespoon)	120
Flaxseed meal (13 grams)	70
Flaxseed muffin (132 grams)	320
Flaxseed oatmeal (237 grams)	180
Flaxseed paleo chips (4 grams)	10
Flaxseed oatmeal pancakes (104 grams)	190
Flaxseed tortilla chips (1 chip)	15
Light flaxseed oil (1 tablespoon)	50

Health Benefits of Eating Flaxseed

Flaxseed contains many nutrients that offer many health benefits. Since it is a plant-based food that is rich in antioxidants, it offers immunity and protection against many critical illnesses too. Whether you already include flaxseed in your diet, or you’re just planning to start consuming flaxseed, you will definitely benefit from learning about how this food can be great for your health. Here are the health benefits of flaxseed.

Reduces risk of cancer

The omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed have been linked with reduced risk and development of different types of cancers. In addition to this, flaxseed also contains antioxidants like lignans, which slow down the growth of tumors in the body. A survey showed that women who consumed flaxseed regularly had reduced risk of developing breast cancer.

Alleviates the symptoms of arthritis

Flaxseed could also help reduce the pain and stiffness around joints caused by arthritis. This is perhaps because flaxseed reduces inflammation in the body in general. So, consuming flaxseed can alleviate the main symptoms of arthritis. You can take flaxseed in the form of ground powder, capsules or as an oil.

Eases hot flashes

For women in their menopausal stage, reducing levels of estrogen can lead to uncomfortable hot flashes. Flaxseed has been linked to a possibility of reducing the severity of these hot flashes, since it contains the right mix of nutrients.

Improves heart health

The combination of fiber, lignans and omega-3 fatty acids in flaxseed also make it a superfood for people keen on improving their heart health. Additionally, flaxseed also contains phytosterols, which resemble cholesterol structurally, but prevent the intestines from absorbing cholesterol.

How Much Flaxseed Should You Consume Every Day?

As you’ve seen above, there are many different ways in which flaxseed can be consumed. And because of this, there is no specific guideline for the daily recommended intake of flaxseeds. But based on its calorie count and the other nutritional content, nutrition and health experts advise limiting your consumption of flaxseed to 1 or 2 tablespoons for good health.

Conclusion

Flaxseed is often included in healthy diet plans, mainly because it offers so many health benefits. In addition to this, flaxseed also helps make a diet more balanced, and a balanced diet is one of the main ways to maintain a healthy BMI. It also keeps your body’s Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) at the right levels.

Furthermore, having good BMI and BMR levels also makes it easier for you to purchase a health insurance cover at affordable premiums. Being overweight or obese may put you at risk of developing health complications, and this could lead to a rise in health insurance premiums.

And all things considered, it is always a good idea to get a health insurance plan when you are young and healthy, since the risk is lower and therefore, the cover will be more affordable. If you are looking for the best health insurance plans, you can always head to Bajaj Markets and buy a health cover to secure your finances today.