Flax, a plant whose seeds are literally miraculous for our body! What else should you know about him?

Flax, a plant known to be used to make linen textiles. In recent years, however, it has experienced a big “boom” in healthy nutrition. Why?

What benefits does it have for our body? Who can’t miss it on the menu?

You will learn everything in the following article.

Flax and its miraculous seeds

The first mention of flax comes from what is now Georgia already 30,000 years ago. Flax was processed here as a fiber for textile production.

Even today, it is associated with the production of linen cloth, but also with the consumption of flax seeds.

Animals, specifically cattle, also consume flax. Flaxseed meal is nutritionally nutritious for them.

This plant thrives best in temperate climates. What does he look like? It has light blue flowers, gray-green leaves and grows to a height of 1.2 m.

You can also use it for ornamental purposes in gardens and meadows.

Why consume flax?

It is mainly used for consumption because of the flax seeds. These are a rich source of fat and fiber.

If you are a vegan, flaxseed should definitely not be missing from your diet. It adds nutrition and a pleasant nutty flavor to vegan foods.

Linseed flour and linseed oil are made from linseed. We will get closer to those later.

Nutritional values

As already mentioned, only the seeds of flax are edible. These are rich in fiber, B vitamins and calcium.

In the following table you can see the amount of nutritional values, minerals and vitamins:

Types of flax

The plant is divided into perennial and annual species. The differences between them are minimal. They have a similar oil yield from one seed, only annuals produce 2-3x more seeds than multiannuals.

Perennial flax

Perennial flaxes include:

Durable linen

It tolerates extreme heat and cold and needs a minimum amount of water to grow. Perennial flax is a cold hardy plant. It tends to retain its green vegetation until the autumn season.

It is a good source of nutrition for farm animals.

It can be considered an essential element of the ecosystem as it is an important pollinator for bees, butterflies and flies.

Blue linen

It comes from Europe, specifically from the Alps and England. It grows up to a height of 60 cm. Its leaves are spirally arranged around the stem and are 1-2.5 cm long. The flowers are pale blue with yellow centers. It is resistant to drought.

The raw seed of this flax is toxic, but cooked it is perfectly safe to eat.

Golden linen

This type of flax comes from southern and central Europe. Prefers dry soils. It has yellow flowers.

It grows at high altitudes, making it ideal for rock gardens or alpine gardens.

Annual flax

Annual flaxes include the following species:

Scarlet flax

This species has red flowers and thin grey-green leaves.

Just sown

Also called Linum usitatissimum. The type of flax that is most used for us. Its fibers are used for the production of linen cloth, but above all it has edible flax seeds.

Flaxseeds are 6 – 10 mm in size, we will take a closer look at their benefits.

Cultivation of flaxseed

It is recommended to plant in early spring. In mild climates it can be planted in late summer or early fall.

It needs a lot of sun, so adjust the planting location accordingly. Sandy and well-drained soil is suitable. It will not thrive in heavy, wet soil.

After the first flowering, shorten the plant by half.

When growing, watch out for pests such as slugs or occasionally birds. Cover the seedlings, for example, with mesh.

Effects of flaxseed

We will mainly describe the effects of its seeds.

They are an excellent source of fiber and are effective against constipation. The seeds can improve blood sugar levels and increase proper bowel function.

They fight against high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity.

Processing of flax

The flax harvest begins at the turn of August and September. You can recognize flax when it is ready for harvest by its long and flexible fibers.

The seed pods are removed from the stalks using a special comb and the seeds are then threshed out. These seeds are then used to make flour, linseed oil or can be eaten on their own. But more on that later.

The stems are then soaked in water to remove unwanted woody bark. When the stalks are sufficiently soaked, they are dried and then stored.

Dry flax is broken and processed into small wood chips. This process begins to soften the fibers and removes unwanted waste.

The last step is the stretching of the fibers and the subsequent processing of the textile.

Cooking with flaxseed

You can eat the seeds alone, in cereal or make flour or oil from them.

You can use flax meal in cooking and baking. It is a good substitute for fat, a great thickener and nutritionally enriches dishes.

You can also make this flour at home. All you have to do is grind the flax seeds in a blender or in a coffee grinder. If you don’t have a coffee grinder at home, check out the review of electronic and mechanical grinders , it definitely shouldn’t be missing in your home.

By increasing or decreasing the grinding time, you will create a finer or coarser flour.

If you decide to bake with flax flour, you can add it to cookies, breads, muffins. Thanks to the large amount of oil from the seeds, they will be supple.

Vegans should include flax seeds in their diets. Thanks to the high fiber content, it will be nutritionally well balanced.

In a vegan diet, they can be cooked and baked. Therefore, be inspired by baking recipes that no vegan can resist !

You can use flax meal to make an egg substitute. For one egg substitute you will need:

• 1 tablespoon of flax flour
• 3 tablespoons of water

Method:

1. Mix water and flour in a bowl.
2. Let the mixture sit for 2-3 minutes.
3. You can add the resulting mixture to dishes.

Flax seeds

Flaxseed is one of the oldest crops in the world. Thanks to the high content of B vitamins, it helps the proper functioning of metabolism and cellular functions.

The recommended daily dose of flax seeds is 1-2 teaspoons. If you consume flax seeds every day, your cholesterol level will decrease.

You can add them to salads, smoothies, cereals or whole grain breads.

They are differentiated into brown and yellow (golden). The differences between them are minimal. Both types have a high content of ALA – omega-3 fatty acids, and a similar oil profile.

In addition to omega-3 fatty acids, they are rich in lignans. Thanks to which the probability of getting cancer is reduced.

What does flaxseed treat? Poor digestion, and also reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

The difference between flax and chia seeds

These types of seeds have been considered superfoods in recent years. They are nutritionally rich, serve as cancer prevention, lower blood sugar levels and support proper heart function. How do they differ from each other?

They differ in taste. Chia seeds are smaller and finer, flax seeds are larger and have a nutty taste.

You can see the slight difference in nutritional composition in the following table:

You can add chia seeds and flax seeds to porridge. Try recipes for healthy porridges that will be a good basis for your day.

Linseed oil

It is produced by cold pressing. This is so that the seed oil can be processed as efficiently as possible.

It is sensitive to heat and light, so it is best to keep it in a cooler place. Otherwise, it can go rancid quickly.

This oil is not recommended for frying, as it reduces its quality.

The oil contains more ALA omega-3 fatty acids than flaxseed alone. You can see the comparison here:

Upon closer examination of the nutritional value of flaxseed oil, we find that, unlike seeds, it does not contain fiber. Other nutritional values can be seen in the following table:

Flax products

Eyewash – eyewash with flax helps to soothe irritated eyes.

Soap – this is a natural soap that includes flax seeds. This soap moisturizes very well.

Skin gel – made from flax seeds. Use it if you have dry skin.

From the article, you learned a number of benefits that the consumption of flax seeds offers. In fact, a study proved that consuming 30 grams of flax seeds per day reduced blood pressure in people with high levels. So definitely include it in your diet!