Calories in
seeds, flaxseed
534 kcal per 100 g Seeds, flaxseed contains 534 calories per 100 grams, or about 55 calories per tbsp, whole. Per 100 g it provides 18.3 g protein, 28.9 g carbohydrate and 42.2 g fat.
By calories that splits 20% carbohydrate, 13% protein, 67% fat.
Calories in a typical serving
Per-100 g figures are useful for comparison but nobody eats 100 g of anything on purpose. These are the USDA's own household measures.
| Serving | Grams | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tbsp, whole | 10.3 g | 55 | 1.9 g | 3.0 g | 4.3 g |
| 1 cup, whole | 168.0 g | 897 | 30.7 g | 48.5 g | 70.8 g |
| 1 tbsp, ground | 7.0 g | 37 | 1.3 g | 2.0 g | 3.0 g |
| 1 tsp, whole | 3.4 g | 18 | 0.6 g | 1.0 g | 1.4 g |
Full nutrition, per 100 g and per tbsp, whole
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per tbsp, whole |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 534 kcal | 55 kcal |
| Protein | 18.3 g | 1.9 g |
| Total fat | 42.2 g | 4.3 g |
| Saturated fat | 3.7 g | 0.4 g |
| Carbohydrate | 28.9 g | 3.0 g |
| Fibre | 27.3 g | 2.8 g |
| Sugars | 1.6 g | 0.2 g |
| Sodium | 30.0 mg | 3.1 mg |
| Potassium | 813.0 mg | 83.7 mg |
| Calcium | 255.0 mg | 26.3 mg |
| Iron | 5.7 mg | 0.6 mg |
| Vitamin C | 0.6 mg | 0.1 mg |
| Vitamin A | 0.0 µg | 0.0 µg |
| Cholesterol | 0.0 mg | 0.0 mg |
| Water | 7.0 g | 0.7 g |
USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (FDC ID 169414). A dash means the nutrient was not measured for this item, which is not the same as zero.
How seeds, flaxseed compares
Among the 37 nut and seed products items on this site, seeds, flaxseed ranks 19 of 37 by calorie density, against a category average of 450 kcal per 100 g — so it is about 19% more calorie-dense than typical for its group.
It carries 3.4 g of protein per 100 calories, so it is not a meaningful protein source.
To burn off one tbsp, whole (55 kcal), a 70 kg adult would walk for roughly 11 minutes — see the walking calculation on our sister site, or pick a different activity. Treat that as a sense of scale rather than a rule: eating and moving are not a simple ledger.
Questions
How many calories are in seeds, flaxseed?
Seeds, flaxseed contains 534 calories per 100 g, which works out to about 55 calories per tbsp, whole. It also provides 18.3 g of protein, 28.9 g of carbohydrate and 42.2 g of fat per 100 g.
What is the macro breakdown of seeds, flaxseed?
By calories, seeds, flaxseed is roughly 20% carbohydrate, 13% protein and 67% fat. That makes it a predominantly fat-based food.
How long does it take to burn off a tbsp, whole?
About 11 minutes of ordinary walking for a 70 kg adult (MET 4.0). That is a rough guide for scale, not a prescription — appetite and activity interact in ways a simple subtraction does not capture.
Is this figure exact for the seeds, flaxseed I bought?
No. These are USDA reference values, averaged across samples. Real foods vary with variety, ripeness, growing conditions, cut, brand and how they were cooked — 10–20% either way is normal. Use them for planning, not precision.
Similar foods
Closest in calorie density within nut and seed products.
Source: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy — public domain. Full USDA description: "Seeds, flaxseed". General information only — not medical or nutrition advice. Values are averages for a food type and vary by brand, ripeness and preparation.