Flaxseed is one of the most nutritionally rich foods! Seed Guide

Flaxseed is a food that has been praised for centuries and according to available sources, its importance was already known to Charlemagne, who ordered his subjects to eat it regularly to maintain physical health. As it happens, flax has been somewhat forgotten over the years and although scientific studies have found a variety of benefits, few people have flaxseed in their diet. Maybe our article today will change that, where we will introduce you to the most important benefits of flaxseed and give you tips on how to use it in the kitchen.

Article content:

• What is flaxseed?
• What are the benefits of flaxseed?
• How to use flaxseed?
• What to take away from today's article?

What is flaxseed?

Flaxseed is one of the oldest crops that has been widely cultivated since ancient Egypt. Firstly, it was cultivated for its linen textile fibre, which was later used to make clothing, but also for its seeds, which are a source of a wide range of vitamins, minerals and other substances that are beneficial to our bodies. The table of nutritional values for 28 grams of flaxseeds according to NutritionData clearly shows the content of each macronutrient:

Although flaxseed used to be very important, today it is kind of forgotten.

What are the benefits of flaxseed?

Flaxseed has a variety of different benefits that are primarily related to the fact that they contain a variety of different vitamins, minerals and other important substances that affect our overall health. Studies dealing with flaxseed have found that:

They may have anti-inflammatory effects

Flaxseeds are a very good source of omega 3, which we wrote a separate extensive article about. Since they are not an animal source of fatty acids, you won't find EPA or DHA in them, but only an acid called ALA, which must first be converted to one of the two omega 3s mentioned. Human studies have then shown a possible correlation between regular consumption of ALA and lower cholesterol levels.

Support digestion

Even though flaxseeds are small and relatively inconspicuous, they contain a good portion of fibre. As we mentioned in a separate article on fibre, there is a distinction between soluble and insoluble fibre, and flaxseeds contain both. This means that the fibre contained in the seeds has been shown to be good food for our gut bacteria and therefore our overall health.

Regular consumption of flaxseeds can support your digestion and thus your overall health.

They can protect the heart

In addition to aiding digestion and possible anti-inflammatory effects, regular consumption of flaxseeds may also be good for our cardiovascular health. In fact, in people with high blood pressure, a correlation has been shown between flaxseed consumption and a reduction in blood pressure. This means that including flax in your diet can reduce your risk of a number of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack or coronary heart disease.

How to use flaxseed?

You can add flaxseeds almost anywhere, because they have a completely bland taste, but they provide the body with a variety of health benefits. For example, you can add a teaspoon of seeds to your favourite breakfast cereal, fruit smoothies, salads or homemade baked goods. Some vegans also recommend using flaxseeds soaked in water as an egg substitute, and it's even possible to add them to mustard or mayonnaise.

You can also commonly get flour made from flaxseeds that can be used for baking.

What to take away from today's article?

The main thing you should take away from today's article is that flaxseed is one of the most nutritionally rich foods, containing, among other things, a lot of fibre, vitamins and minerals. Scientific studies confirm that they can have anti-inflammatory effects and protect our cardiovascular health. Their use is very simple and the seeds themselves cost a few crowns. In our shop you can find high-quality flax seeds, as well as flaxseed flour suitable for baking or flaxseed oil in organic quality. Alternatively, you can choose from dozens of other products in the Nuts and Seeds section.