Two Food questions: FLAX and Energy FOod for running

1) Does anyone know if you have to grind up Flax for it to be benefitial for us?  I have been thinking about adding the seeds to my protein shakes in the morning but don't know if it will help me if I don't grind them first. 

2) I notice a lot of athletes use energy foods (full of sugar during triatholons to help them keep going),  What can we eat before and during races that doesn't have all that sugar?  Pasta, also is hard for me to eat a bunch of and that is what people seem to eat the night before a race.

2) I notice a lot of athletes use energy foods (full of sugar during triatholons to help them keep going),  What can we eat before and during races that doesn't have all that sugar?  Pasta, also is hard for me to eat a bunch of and that is what people seem to eat the night before a race.


I Unfortunately, it is a real trial and error exercise to find what works to keep the energy up during long distance running.  For any run over about an hour, you may want something to boost your energy.  for anything shorter, don't bother.  I usually don't do anything special for any run under 9 or 10 miles which takes 1.5 to 2 hours.  In three years of experimenting, I have found that pretzles work well for my stomach when i run.  I have also tried ham sandwiches, begals, oatmeal cookies, granola bars and toast with limited success.  Sometimes diluted gatorade works and sometimes it leads to a bathroom stop about a mile later.  The energy gel's make for a pretty quick bathroom stop.  again, it's pretty much trial and error.  Ask over on the exercies and fitness board.  There will be more ideas there.  If you find the magic food, pass it along!

THanks for the information. Right now, I am simply getting ready for my first Sprint in June.  I have been running 5Ks so I don't necessarily need the energy at this point.  I will use one of your suggestions pre Sprint.  After the SPring, I plan on working towards longer distance runs and perhaps an Intermediate Tri.  Right now, I hardly ever run for more than an hour.  However, I did notice when I couple a bike ride with run that my energy starts getting depleted.

From what I understand you have to grind the flax seed to be able to get the nutrients from it. I buy it already ground. They have it at Kroger's and Wal-Mart. I empty it into a bowl and keep it in the fridge. Because of the natural oils in it, it can go rancid.

I take couple of tablespoons of milled flax seed, one half a cup of Kashi High Protein cereal, one Kroger's carb master vanilla yogurt and one small snack size no sugar added apple sauce. Mix it all up. Every now and then I add a few walnuts. Full of omega 3's and has protein and some carb and fiber. You can use different variations by leaving the cereal or the apple sauce or just cereal and yogurt.

I use the gels they don't bother me, but I have a high tolerance for sugar. Oat meal, whole grain bread, waffle, muffin maybe with some peanut butter on it makes a good pre run breakfast. I don't  really carb load before a race. I do eat more carbs every day because I run every day. I just  try to stay away from simple carbs and don't over do it.

pan head

I haven't tested the sugar yet, however I think that I may have problems with it based on what happened to me yesterday after eating a bunch of pinapple (really only about a cup or so).  My stomach was hurting all day and rumbling after that.  Thanks for the information on the flax, I think I will go and buy some already ground up.  It does taste good whole though.  I guess our teeth can grind it up, but that is harder to do in a drink or something.

Hey stephan, in order for the flax to be beneficial, you need to grind them up, preferrably with a coffee grinder. Your teeth won't grind then enough. I've even heard they may be harmful to you if they aren't ground, but I don't know that as a fact.

flax seed oil is good for your gall bladder and it helps out your heart.  I like ground flax seed fixed with protein drinks, on ice cream and mixed with pudding.  Do not try the liquid flax seed oil.  It taste awful.  Also don't break a pill and swallow it.  It will make you sick

Stephan, go to the food co-op, there is a small refrigerator next to the vitamin desk.  Bottom shelf has cold rolled flax seed.  It is already separated from the hull so it is absorbible, and being whole it's tast and texture is much better than ground flax seed.  I use 3 TBS in my Kashi cerial every day.