Flaxseed Meal Vs Almond Flour?

#1

I was at the store today and noticed Flaxseed Meal next to the Almond Flour I was picking up. I also noticed the price of the Almond flour, of course, which is at least twice as much as the Flaxseed Meal and sometimes more. Flaxseed Meal also has less net carbs and some other possible benefits.

But, my question is, how differently do they work in cooking/baking? For instance, could I swap in the flaxseed meal for Almond Flour in a recipe? Big one I think of is Fathead Pizza crust, which I find to be the best keto pizza crust and my sons (3 and 5) really love as well. If it would taste pretty close in that kind of recipe since most of the crust is not the Almond flour, and if the consistency would hold the same, then I might opt for the cheaper Flaxseed Meal.

Anyone have any experience with Flaxseed Meal and any comparisons?

#2

Flaxseed and almond flour have different tastes. In fact, first thing to do when using flaxseed as a substitute is omit the salt
as the flaxseed meal is salty on its own. It also has a thickening effect, which allows it to be a substitute even if it’s grind is much coarser than almond flour. But, you cannot escape the fibrousness of the resulting texture of the final product. Sort of like bran muffin quality
like fibrous cardboard-like texture. You can still make it work, though. Perhaps in a pizza crust, add some spices (like dried thyme and dried garlic) to embed some flavour to trick the tongue that’s it’s “tasty cardboard” :slight_smile:

I wouldn’t consider it a substitute for more subtle baked goods, like cookies. It would come out too fibrous. But, something like a pizza crust that would be covered with meats, veg and cheese, perhaps doable.

(Victoria Olson) #3

I have pretty much replaced almond flour with flaxseed meal, that I’ve pulsed a few times thru a mini-chopper to refine, for some cake recipes. It works very well with keto carrot and chocolate cakes, i use it as is/from the bag for the Keto King’s flaxseed bread. Hubby and I prefer the whole grain texture of flaxseed meal, plus the omega-3s.

(Zu) #4

Flax seed is nowhere near as healthy as almond meal. Its dis-balances the omegas in the body and it also disrupts hormones, I think (don’t quote me on this one as its been a while) by promoting oestrogen dominance and can be particularly nasty for males and prostate.

So I would fork out the extra for the almond meal
 or buy both and only slight cut the almond meal with bits of it. Flax or linseed meal is very sticky/gooey like and can be used as binder instead of eggs, and is a good source of fibre.

(Zu) #5

and its a bit on the bitter side
 no where near as nice
 Why not try LSA Linseed, sunflower and almond mix? or cut straight almond with LSA?

(Jessika Nilsson) #6

Livsmedelsverket, one of our agencies in the government who handles food, have given warnings that there is traces of cyanide in flaxseed and advices to limit the intake of whole flaxseeds to just 1-2 tablespoons a day. They also advice to not eat flaxseed meal as the trace amounts of cyanide is made more available then.

So even though there are som pros compared to almond flour there are also some cons


(Carpe salata!) #7

Traces of cyanide (same compound causes the bitter flavour of marzipan) and otherwise known as Laetrile or Vitamin B17 is considered to be an immune booster in some circles.

There often seems to be a flip side to dietary advice. Cyanide at some level is of course a deadly poison.

(Jessika Nilsson) #8

Good to know, never knew there might be an upside to traces of cyanide :open_mouth:

#9

Indeed.

  • Paracelsus (16th c.)
#10

There is cyanide in Almonds too though, especially bitter almonds but sweet almonds as well. That’s why cyanide capsules (the deadly dose) are often said to smell like almonds, and from time to time you hear about almond recalls (particularly organic almond recalls) due to too high levels of hydrogen cyanide.

(Victoria Olson) #11

I assume youre no nutrition professional, youve made no such claim, and not mentioned anything negative I’ve read about almond meal. I’m not a nutrition professional, either, but I have reading comprehension skills, and a graduate degree, so I’m not without my own research capabilities. The ‘advice’ in forums like this must be taken with a grain of salt. For instance, I’ve read almond flour is very high in polyunsaturated fats which are high in PUFAs and oxalates (also present in flaxseed).

PUFAS suppress mitochondrial energy production. In non-chemistry language, PUFAS slow down the metabolism, not wise for dieters.
PUFAS encourage an inflammatory response in the body.
PUFAS cause digestive issues by impairing the action of certain digestive enzymes.
PUFAS slow down thyroid function.
PUFAS inhibit detoxification enzymes.
PUFAS deplete antioxidants in the body.
PUFAS inhibit production of progesterone and androgens while activating production of estrogen. This encourages estrogen-dominancy in the body and this contributes to many health issues like weight gain, PMS, hormonal acne and more.

That last items nullifies your defense of almond meal with respect to flaxseed and oestrogen.

Oxalates bind to minerals in the body, preventing absorption and creating crystals that lead to formation of kidney stones. Almonds are very much higher in oxalates than flaxseed.

While present in both almonds and flaxseed. cyanogenic glycosides appear to be neutralized during the cooking process.

My point is almond meal ingestion is not without major drawbacks.

#12

I find flaxmeal and almond flour work very differently in baking. Flaxmeal is great as a binding agent or to make crackers. Almond meal is better for cookies and muffins as you get that fluffy “bread-like” texture more whereas flaxmeal will produce a “wetter/oily” texture.

Also for flaxmeal, I would make your own by grinding up flax seeds fresh as flaxmeal goes rancid really fast.

(VLC.MD) #13

All food is bad for you 
 fasting is the cure !!! :clown_face:

(Neha Lakdawalla) #14

Hej! Jag bor i Sverige med :slight_smile: tÀnkte frÄga dig om VarifrÄn köper du dem mesta keto alternativer, typ mandelmjöl, pumpkin Spice krydda. Kokosmjöl Och sÄ vidare
JÀtte tacksam för svaret :slight_smile:

(Carpe salata!) #15

We have a ‘health food shop’ that has those less popular ingredients. Some of them you can find in the supermarket, we got coconut flour at the regular supermarket.

(Neha Lakdawalla) #16

Where is the health food shop ?? Im living in Gothenburg not until next year and then Örebro.

(Carpe salata!) #17

I guess Sydney Australia is a bit out of your way then.

(Neha Lakdawalla) #18

Hahaha true that :rofl:

(Jessika Nilsson) #19

Hej!
Du kan hitta mandelmjöl och kokosmjöl i de flesta matbutiker, ev mer vĂ€lsorterade :slight_smile: Jag brukar Ă€ven anvĂ€nda ‘pepparkakskrydda’ som pumpkin spice krydda.

Om du inte hittar nÄgot i affÀren brukar det vara kanon att bestÀlla pÄ bodystore.com, de har alltid fraktfritt och ofta bra rabatter :smiley:
De har bland annat jÀtte bra kakaosmör som Àr superbt att ha med sig som en extra fett-stash i vÀskan :slight_smile: (aka purse-fat)

(Neha Lakdawalla) #20

Tack sĂ„ jĂ€tte mycket för tipsen ! Bodystore har jag kollat flera gĂ„nger men aldrig köpt nĂ„got dĂ€rifrĂ„n! Pepparskrydda som pumpkin spice hmmmph :thinking: vĂ€rt ett försök​:blush: bestĂ€llde pumpkin Spice frĂ„n Gymgrossisten och det var inte alls bra :roll_eyes:
Ska testa Kakaosmör, lÄter farligt god :heart_eyes: