NOW Foods, Organic Golden Flax Seeds, Source of Essential Fatty Acids and Fiber, Certified Non-GMO, 16-Ounce (Packaging May Vary)

Golden flax seeds are basically nature's way of hiding fiber and essential fatty acids inside something that looks like birdseed but tastes like wheat germ that got a promotion. NOW Foods grows these organically, keeps them Certified Non-GMO, and leaves them whole and golden instead of the darker, more assertive flax you might be used to. Golden flax has a milder, nuttier flavor, which is a nice way of saying it doesn't fight back when you sprinkle it on things.

What's Actually In There

Flax is a natural plant source of essential fatty acids, specifically the omega-3 called ALA, along with a solid amount of fiber. The fatty acids support cardiovascular wellness and healthy cell function, and the fiber supports digestive comfort and helps maintain regularity, assuming you eat more than one seed at a time, which, given the size of a flax seed, you will need to.

What You Do With It

You don't really "take" flax seed the way you take a pill. You put it into other food and let it hang out there quietly doing its job. It goes into cereal, pancakes, muffins, bread, meatloaf, meatballs, and yes, yogurt. Whole flax seeds also pass through a food processor or coffee grinder just fine if you want to grind them fresh, which people who care about that kind of thing say helps your body actually use the fatty acids inside. I'm not a nutritionist, but I do know a whole seed and a ground seed are not the same experience for your digestive tract.

• Natural plant source of essential fatty acids (ALA omega-3)
• Good source of dietary fiber that supports digestive health
• Mild, nutty flavor, lighter and more approachable than dark flax
• Certified Non-GMO and grown organically
• Versatile enough for baking, smoothies, oatmeal, or homemade bread

Why Golden Instead of Dark

Golden flax and dark flax are nutritionally similar, but golden flax is lighter in color and, according to most people's taste buds including mine, more flavorful. It blends into baked goods without turning your muffin into something that tastes like a decision you regret. That's really the whole pitch: same essential fatty acids and fiber, better manners at the dinner table.

Each 16-ounce bag holds a lot of very small seeds, which sounds obvious until you actually pour some out and realize just how many "a lot" turns out to be. Store it in a cool, dry place, and it'll keep contributing fiber and fatty acids to your meals for a good while, quietly, the way flax seed does everything.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.