I eat flaxseed in my yogurt every day, but I've heard it's fattening. Is this true?

It all comes down to calories in versus. calories out. If the flaxseed puts you over your calorie limit, you’ll gain weight. One tablespoon of flaxseed has 36 calories: If you think about it, that’s approximately one bite of a meal. So, the answer is no—flax is not any more fattening than any other food (if you eat it in the right amounts). And, although flaxseed is high in fat, it is also one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids (the heart-healthy fats found in fish).

I recommend eating 1-3 tablespoons every day to reap the nutritional benefits of flaxseed. Eating more three tablespoons adds too many calories without adding any nutritional benefits.

For further information on the benefits of including flaxseed in your diet see the following article from TheDietChannel: Flaxseed: General Info.

For information on the benefits of eating flaxseed to avoid cancer see the following article from TheDietChannel: Flaxseed: Does It Benefit Cancer Patients?

Erin Dummert RD, CD Contributing Expert

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