Q: I recently started adding flaxseed to my diet by sprinkling seeds on my breakfast cereal.  A friend says that I won’t get health benefits unless I grind the seeds before consuming them.  Is this true?  I hate to add another step to my morning routine unless it’s needed.  Besides, I like the way the seeds taste.

A: Most people aren’t capable of chewing flax seeds up, so they swallow them whole.  (They are tiny.) That is why nutrition experts recommend grinding them first to release the fiber and the beneficial fatty acids.  Flaxseeds are helpful for constipation and may lower cholesterol as well.

Ground flaxseed goes rancid easily, however, so it should be kept in the freezer until you are ready to use it.  If you buy it ground, you wouldn’t have to use the blender or coffee grinder to break up those seeds before you have breakfast.

• Article by Joe and Teresa Graedon
• Copyright The Seattle Times