Linwoods – Superfood Pouches Packed Full of Essential Nutrients, Omega 3 and Fatty Acids

All too often, micro-nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids our body needs to maintain a healthy heart and boost our energy to support a well-balanced diet and active lifestyle, get overlooked by what we know as macro-nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fat and fibre). We should all make a concious effort to consume micro nutrients as part of our daily diet for optimal health.

I came across the Linwoods brand upon whilst researching micro-nutrients about a month ago and must say I’m so thankful I found them as there products are now a firm staple in my daily diet.

Linwoods Background

The Irish brand was founded in 1985 and was successfully developed in retail stores across Ireland during the years that followed. In 1996, the company built a new bakery at its current location on Armagh’s Monaghan Road to provide a high quality range of bakery products.

2003 was the turning point for Linwoods when first initiated their interest in Flaxseed and healthy super food products. The Manager Director of Linwoods grew up grew up on a farm and remembered as a young boy how healthy their farm animals were when being fed on a meal of Flaxseed and how glossy the animal’s coats were.

Whilst attending a Natural and Organic fair in the United States some years later, John once again came across Flaxseed and recalled this memory. It occurred to him that if it made the farm animals so healthy, then it must be good for humans also. Upon researching the health benefits Flaxseed had to offer he set about adding this a product line to his brand and has since created innovative new products to their consumers changing needs.

The Linwoods team kindly sent me three of their products to try and below is my review.

Milled Organic Flaxseeds

Flaxseed, one of nature’s richest plant sources of Omega 3, with 51% of the fat coming from ‘fatty acid’. This is great news for vegetarians and vegans as they can get the benefits of Omega 3 by consuming Flaxseed.

Omega 3 is an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid used by the body and may help to maintain a healthy heart and brain function. It is ‘essential’ because our body cannot make Omega 3 but rather it must be obtained through our diet.

A daily 30g serving (two heaped dessert spoons) of Linwoods Organic Milled Faxseed provides the following nutrient rich benefits:

• 7.2 g of Omega 3 per serving
• 51% of the fat is Omega 3
• 8.7 g Fibre per serving Low Glycemic Index (GI) for weight management
• 10% RDA Calcium per serving

Cals 153 g Protein 6.6 g , Carbs 0.5 g , Fat 13.9 g

Milled Flaxseeds Sunflower Pumpkin Sesame Seeds and Goji Berries

It has all the great benefits of Flaxseed, but the additional ingredients introduce vitamins such as Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and B Vitamins into the mix. The combination of these four different seeds together with the chewiness of the goji berries works a treat and is a great addition when added to my home-made pea and ham soup. I have also use this in my Sunwarrior Brown Rice Chocolate Flavoured protein shake for extra protein and nutrients post training.

A daily 30 g serving (two heaped dessert spoons) provides the following nutrient rich benefits:

• 3.3 g of Omega 3
• 14% Daily Value of Zinc and 11% Iron
• Low Glycemic Index (GI) for weight management
• 5.9 g of Dietary Fibre per serving

Cals 155 Protein 6.2 g, Carbs 2.3 g, Fat 13.4 g

Milled Flaxseed Walnuts Brazil Nuts Almonds and Q10

Out of the three sent this packet is my stand out favourite as far as taste and flavour goes. If you love nuts and seeds like I do you would definitely appreciate this delightful mix Linwoods have made. Mainly grounded and blended with Almonds, Brazil Nuts and Walnuts, this mix delivers a host of nutritional benefits with the added bonus of Co Q10.

Co-Q10 occurs naturally in the body but natural production declines with age so dietary sources are important to help maintain adequate levels. It is one of the most important nutrients that your body requires as it contributes to the production of energy in every cell in the body and improves  the way the body functions It is also a highly effect antioxidant.

A daily 30g serving provides (two heaped dessert spoons) provides the following nutrient rich benefits: 

• 4.9 g of Omega 3
• 13% Daily Value of Zinc and 10% Iron
• Low Glycemic Index (GI) for weight management
• 5.4 g of Dietary Fibre per serving

Cals 167  Protein 5.4 g, Carbs 0.96 g, Fat 15.7 g

This is an absolute treat sprinkled over natural greek yoghurt, a homemade fruit salad or dare I say… sprinkled over protein ice-cream (I use WheyHey). A tablespoon or two is also used in my ‘powerhouse breakfast’ which simply put, is porridge using only Asda Scottish Oats, 1 tablespoon of Sunwarrior Brown Rice Protein Power and Water as ingredients, ensuring that I hit those protien and nutrient numbers before my day starts whilst leaving me full, statisfied and full of energy.

I have yet to get adventurous in the kitchen with my Linwoods Superfood pouches, but rest assured you can expect a handful of maritial recipes to be posted over the coming weeks. To get a head start in perfecting my recipes, I will making a special trip to Holland and Barrett this evening to purchase their Flaxseed, Cocoa and Berry pouches in an attempt to bake some healthy, sweet treat alternatives.

For anyone wishing to increase their nutrient intake I highly recommend Linwoods. How you consume it is entirally up to you. You can keep it simple or get super creative and innovative. Either way, your body will be thanking you for it in the long run.

Should you wish to find out more about the Linwoods Brand and their array of different superfoods products, they can be found online by visiting the Linwoods website, Linwoods facebook or by following them on Twitter.