Here's a really great link about purslane with excellent close up pictures. Fascinating information here. Thanks for the reminder about purslane, laceyvail. Yes, we've all got it growing in our gardens. http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Purslane.html Thanks also for the link to the fourteen super foods, Sproutshonor. I have a list of those foods tacked to the inside of my kitchen cabinet. The top 8, according to a radio program I heard recently are, yogurt, spinach, carrots, black beans, tomatoes, blueberries, walnuts, and oats. Everyone should eat yogurt for the digestive enzymes it offers. I am having a yogurt-mango smoothee this morning. My grocery store carries mango and guava puree in the frozen section. Real handy. I raise my glass to Tony Snow who did a fine job when he was with the Whitehouse and whose Sunday morning commentaries on Fox News I too liked very much. God Bless his family.

debi 2006 - - "Meal" is the ground seed - whether it's been commercially milled (ground to a powder - coarse to fine), or you mill your own at home. It is also known as flax flour. The difference is how long the oil of the milled product has been exposed to oxygen, which quickly oxidizes the oil and causes them to go rancid. These oils are very volatile and begin to oxidize and turn rancid almost as soon as the grain/seed is ground. "Rancid oils contain free radicals that contribute to premature aging, heart disease and other degenerative diseases. Free radicals are also formed when grains/seeds are milled at high temperatures." The exposure to oxygen also quickly degrades the nutrients (as well as heat and light). This happens because that protective coat (bran) has been crushed. Up until then, the inside of the seed has been protected from oxidation by that hard coating. If you make your own flax meal at home, you are assured the freshest oil and nutrients possible. - "Tightly sealed" meal means there is still oxygen in the container/bag and oxygen is what destroys the oils as well as the nutrition. Only vacuum-sealed storage will prevent oxidation. But you have no idea how long the meal was exposed to air before it was packaged, when using commercial flax meal. - Refrigeration slows down the oxidation of the oil in the flax meal, and freezing slows it even more, but neither refrigeration or freezing completely prevents the oil from going rancid. Nor does freezing/refrigeration prevent the degrading of the nutrition, just slows it. I make 2 cups of flax meal at a time, vacuum seal the container and store it in the freezer. I usually use it in about 5 days. I keep the whole flax seeds in a cool/dark storage area in my basement. I vacuum-seal the seeds in canning jars. Refrigerating or freezing the seeds is perfectly fine. I just don't have that kind of freezer space - I only have the freezer on my refrigerator and I store hundreds of pounds of seeds/grains. These same principles apply to all grains and seeds that have a hard (bran) coat, which is why I freshly-mill flour - from all grains/seeds. -Grainlady

I did a rough calorie estimate. You can get flax from your health food store in bulk. They sell it powdered but it's better to grind your own. It is really good for you. Here's some information on flax health benefits. The calories are high at 195 per slice, but the carbs are so low that for me it's worth it. I can see how it wouldn't be worth it for other people. It depends if you are calorie counting or low carb, I guess! Which, I'm pretty much off of all refined carbs (bye bye bread!) and counting calories. Also, it is really filling and flax is super good for you. Most of the calories are in the flax at 133 calories.

Has anyone tried Hyaluronic eye drops for dry eye syndrome? Seems as if it might help. WebM.D. "Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in the human body. It is found in the highest concentrations in fluids in the eyes and joints. The hyaluronic acid that is used as medicine is extracted from rooster combs or made by bacteria in the laboratory. People take hyaluronic acid for various joint disorders, including osteoarthritis. It can be taken by mouth or injected into the affected joint by a healthcare professional. The FDA has approved the use of hyaluronic acid during certain eye surgeries including cataract removal, corneal transplantation, and repair of a detached retina and other eye injuries. It is injected into the eye during the procedure to help replace natural fluids." A link that might be useful: www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1062-HYALURONIC%20ACID.aspx?activeIngredientId=1062&activeIngredientName=HYALURONIC%20ACID