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clinden
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Why does ground flax seed consume about 30% more volume than whole flax? It would seem to me the finer particle size would result in the ground requiring less volume, as the "sphere packing" inefficiencies would be less?
No reference-just my experience from grinding 8 ounces of seed this afternoon.BillTre said:You have a reference for this?
Is this something that does not occur in the grinding up of other seeds/nuts?
Perhaps inside the seed shell, the contents are:
- under pressure and expand when released from the shell (kind of like pop-corn), causing a rapid expansion.
- kept separate from the surrounding environment. When released from the shell, the contents cen react with their surroundings (like, perhaps, water in the air (humidity)) and swell up due to the added mass. This would result in a delayed and environment dependent expansion.
Plausible sounding ideas.BillTre said:Interesting question.
You packing argument seems good to me, but I'm not particularly knowledgeable about these things.
Does the weight change?
What if you crush it down? Maybe the small particle spring out branches pushing them apart. (look under a microscope)
This too makes sense. More so than my original premise that finer particles (spheres) should pack more efficiently. In reviewing some sphere packing algorithms, I now find that the radius of the sphere does not affect packing efficiency.DaveC426913 said:If you dig hole with dirt and then try to fill that hole with the same dirt, you will invariably have some dirt left over. The dirt - which was very tightly compressed before - is now mixed with air, and poorly packed.
I think heart of the issue us that whole flax seed is hard and smooth, and will very easily slip into an efficient packing arrangement. Ground seed is fibrous and spongy and will initially pack very loosely as the various fibrous bits grab each other - it will not easily settle to a more efficient packing arrangement.
Given time and a bit of encouragement though, it will likely settle into a more compact form than the whole seed.
This is my opinion.
Within the flax kernel you have a densely packed amount of material.clinden said:Plausible sounding ideas.
Crushing down doesn't do much. Ground and whole both pretty much in-compressible.
Kitchen scale shows no discernible weight difference.
clinden said:More so than my original premise that finer particles (spheres) should pack more efficiently
Ground flax seed takes up more space because the process of grinding breaks down the seeds into smaller particles, increasing their surface area. This increase in surface area allows the ground flax seed to absorb more water, making it expand and take up more space.
The nutritional value of ground flax seed is the same as whole flax seed. However, the ground form may be more easily digested and absorbed by the body, allowing for better absorption of its nutrients.
The size of the flax seed does not significantly affect its properties. However, the smaller particles of ground flax seed may make it easier to incorporate into foods and beverages, making it a more versatile ingredient.
Yes, you can still get the same health benefits from ground flax seed as whole flax seed. Both forms contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and other important nutrients that contribute to a healthy diet.
There may be a slight difference in taste between ground flax seed and whole flax seed, but it is minimal. Some people may prefer the texture of ground flax seed over whole flax seed, as it is finer and less noticeable when added to foods.