Just the flax

Flaxseeds, traditionally known as linseeds, are tiny seeds packed with a variety of health-boosting components, including alpha linolenic acid, which is a heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acid.

Pass the nuts, please

Eating a moderate amount of fat every day may help support weight loss over a longer period of time. Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston studied people on two weight-loss diets. Both diets contained the same number of calories (1,200 for women and 1,500 for men), but one was low in fat, while the other was higher in healthy monounsaturated fats, such as olive and canola oils, peanuts and other nuts. The interesting results: both groups lost about the same amount of weight, but twice as many people stuck to the higher-fat diet than the low-fat one.

Originally published in Canadian Living's cookbook special, Eat Right for Life.

Also check out Diet File: Flaxseed by registered dietitian Fran Berkoff.

More on fat
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• 101 ways to cut fat from your diet