Flax is the most popular ingredient among our nuts and seeds. With flax’s high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and high dietary fiber content, it’s no surprise. Flaxseed is particularly rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential fatty acid which appears to be beneficial for a variety of health problems, including heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and arthritis.

A passion for flax isn’t anything new, either—the ancient Egyptians used flaxseed for many nutritional and medical reasons. The flax plant offers more than just tasty, crunchy, tidbits of nutrition, though: deep blue flax flowers are a popular garden ornamental, and the flax plant has been used to make cloth for just as long as the seeds have been eaten. In the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty, the princess is poked with a sliver of flax. (Okay, fine, it didn’t work out so well for her, at least in the short run—but we don’t need you to weave it! )

Learn more about the history and nutritional value of this great seed if you like, or heck–just go ahead and taste it. Because it’s not just good for you.  It’s plain good.