[brushfoot]

> I was a vegan for 10 years, and found out I had basically zero Omega 3 in my blood

I see your disclaimer, but just for more context, vegans can get Omega 3 without taking pills per se. Flax seeds are an excellent source. I often add a spoonful to a bowl of oatmeal or as a pancake topping along with fruit sauce and granola.

[canucker2016]

Grind the flaxseed before eating them so your digestive system can access more of the nutrients in flaxseeds.

from https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-maga... :

  Eating ground flax seeds gives you more benefits than whole seeds, as whole seeds remain undigested and pass through the system.

from https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/must-you-grind-flax...

  Most people can’t chew flaxseeds effectively, so they grind them first or swallow them whole. (They are tiny.) Nutrition experts do 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 those seeds up before you have breakfast.

[mistercow]

Flax seeds are a very tedious and inefficient way to get omega-3 as a vegan, particularly because they contain ALA, a short chain omega-3, which our bodies are extremely inefficient at turning into long chain fatty acids.

Just get an algae oil based DHA+EPA supplement.

[the_pwner224]

Flax seeds & other seeds provide ALA but not EPA & DHA. You need all 3.

The body has some ability to convert ALA to EPA & DHA, but at extremely low rates (particularly for DHA) - it's not a consideration in practice.

So no, eating seeds will not fulfill your body's requirements.

[pydry]

Flaxseeds are probably the most flavorless things I've ever tasted.

Chia seeds taste ok but you need to prep them by soaking which is a pain (or experience bloating).

All other seeds have more omega 6 than omega 3.

[grvdrm]

Funny - I feel the opposite about chia. Soaked and plumped is when I hate them. Dry on salads/etc. or just submerged in an active bowl I'm eating is when I like them most - the crunch adds texture to what I'm eating.