Confused about Flax Meal vs Flax Seed carbs

[sadie147]

I purchased a bag of organic Flax meal yesterday and the carb count shows per 2 tbs: 60 cals 4 g carbs, 4 g fibre. Last week I had purchased organic Flax SEED which shows per 1/4 cup: 181 cals, 13.7 g of carbs and 7.1 g of fibre.

I thought I could just make my own flax meal out of the seed with a coffee grinder but am now buying the meal since it seems to be basically 0 net carbs when you subtract the fibre.

Would anyone happen to know why there such a difference in the meal vs. the seed?

[book]

Dr. Atkins showed in his Vitanutrient book that flax is not carb free. His count worked out to about a carb per Tbsp. My Bob's Red Mill whole organic flax shows 2 carbs per 3 Tbsp, but I am comfortble counting 1 carb per as Dr. A did. It takes 12 tbsp of seed to fill a cup, so 4 should fill a 1/4 cup. I don't know why your bag shows 6 carbs for that amount...but I truly think you are pretty safe at a carb per Tbsp and keep it at 3 tbsp a day or less.

book

[sadie147]

Actually thank you very much for that info...Mine is Bob's Red Mill as well (the flax meal that shows 4c and 4fibre) but I'm in canada and I have a feeling the standards may be different for what they list (perhaps under a certain amt they can list 0). So I will use your carb count rtather than theres... I will for the seeds too, I'm not sure where they got that from... Unfortunately it wasn't very cheap to buy so I hate to waste it! I tried it for b'fast this a.m. and you are right..it is awesome!
Thanks again

[Naja]

Re: Confused about Flax Meal vs Flax Seed carbs

Would anyone happen to know why there such a difference in the meal vs. the seed?

Volume. Weigh 1 cup of meal and 1 cup of seed, and the seed will be lighter because it is irregularly shaped and there ends up being more dead air space in the volume. Meal is ground up and compact, no air space there, so it's heavier and denser. Meal also holds more moisture (water weight) than the seed, if you are in a humid climate.

[Anonymous]

ensive

It's the ration of fiber and carbs that don't make sense.

Flaxmeal 4 carbs/4fiber

Flaxseed 13.7carbs/7.1fiber

[sadie147]

That's exactly what I thought as well. I've decided to stick with the meal, just in case since the fibre cancels the carbs out. I use the seeds once in a while if i make a microwave carb hamburger bun, i sprinkle a couple of seeds on the top..makes it look more like a bun ;-)