I love talking to my buddy Matt Swaim on Sacred Heart Radio’s Sunrise Morning Show each week. Today we talked about flax – did you know it’s one of the first cultivated seeds, beginning 6000 years or so ago?

Maybe this proverb means something to you: . “She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands”. 

Yes, flax is the source of linen so that’s where the connection is here.

What are flaxseeds?

Flaxseeds, sometimes called linseeds, are small, brown, tan or golden-colored seeds. Flaxseeds are a great source of dietary fiber, minerals, plant protein and one of the best sources of omega 3 fatty acids from plants. Along with being good brain food, they’re good for our hair, eyes, heart, skin and nails. Ground flax seed or flax seed oil is the best for all around health. 

The ancients wove the plant fibers into cloth, paper and rope and the Egyptians used the cloth for wrapping mummies. The Shroud of Turin is said to have been made with linen made from the flax plant. This makes sense since flax is source of linen.

Flax was one of the first food crops ever grown, second only to probably wheat.

My daughter-in-law Jess gave me this recipe years ago. It’s still a winner!

GRAIN, GLUTEN AND DAIRY FREE GRANOLA BARS

No baking required!

Ingredients

2-1/2 cups assorted nuts and seeds (part of the mix is 1/4 cup flax seed)

1 cup dried fruit

2 cups shredded coconut

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cinnamon to taste

Instructions

Chop 1 cup of nuts and seeds. Place in bowl.

Use your food processor to pulse the other 1-1/2 cups of nuts and seeds into a finer chop. Add to the bowl, stir in fruit and coconut.

Cook oil, honey, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon until mixtures starts to bubble, then pour over fruit mixture. Blend. Press down real hard into foil lined, sprayed pan. Cool completely, remove and cut into bars.