Can flax seeds themselves be eaten? Flaxseed food culture

It has been a long time since the risk of obesity and lifestyle-related diseases has been attracting attention due to the westernized diet and excessive intake of easily purchased processed products. Nowadays, a healthy diet with excellent nutritional balance is attracting attention. It has become common to review a well-balanced diet and incorporate natural foods into your diet. Flax seeds are also often noticed, and many products can be found by searching for flax seeds on major mail-order sites. Introducing its wonderful health benefits and delicious ways to eat.

Flax seed, flaxseed

Did you know that flax seeds, also known as flax seeds, can be eaten? First, I will explain what kind of species flaxseed is.

Commentary on flaxseed

Flaxseed (flaxseed) is "flaxseed". Since jin refers to seeds and seeds, it means "flax jin = flax seed".

The English name is Flax Seed, and the scientific name is Linum Usitatissimum. Linum means "linen" and Usitatissimum comes from usitaus, which means "most beneficial". As I will tell you, the facts about the health benefits of flaxseed can be said to be exactly what this scientific name represents.

It is a wonderful nutrient of flaxseed, but it has been recognized since a very old age. Traces of using seeds have been found in Swiss ruins dating back to the Stone Age, and in 800 AD, the French Emperor Charles Mani ingested the seeds as food, saying, "French subjects should eat flax." We have even made it legal. Since then, flax has been cultivated in the United States and Canada, and at the same time flax seeds have been used as food and herbs. Nowadays, even in Japan, you can easily buy edible flax seeds at organic shops and online shops. It looks very similar to sesame seeds, but it is one size larger than sesame seeds and comes in two colors: brown and fox.

Flaxseed is a seed of flax flower

Now, how can flaxseed be taken? There is a plant called flax, which is cultivated in cold regions and whose fiber becomes linen. Flax is said to be one of the first plants cultivated by mankind and was cultivated in Egypt as far back as the 5000 BC.

In this way, flax, which has been popular since ancient times, has been used for Shinto rituals in countries such as Egypt and Greece because the fiber from the stem becomes linen, and it has been cultivated in Hokkaido since the early Meiji era in Japan.

Flax is an annual plant of the flax family, but it blooms beautiful light purple flowers in summer. After the flowers bloom, the fruits are about the size of a grape. There are up to 10 seeds in it. It is this small seed that contains a nutrient called a superfood and can be eaten deliciously.

About eating flaxseed

Flaxseed is a small species shaped like sesame seeds, but it is noted that its small grains contain wonderful nutrients and can be expected to have health benefits.

Description of nutrients contained in flaxseed

The health benefits of flaxseed are attracting attention, but you may be wondering what kind of nutrients it contains. First of all, it can be said that the first thing I want to take up is "α-linolenic acid," which is an omega-3 fatty acid. Essential fatty acids that the body cannot make are omega-3 and omega-6, but modern diets lack omega-3 for excessive intake of omega-6. Omega 3 is especially found in fatty fish, but the modern diet does not have enough of this omega 3, which must be taken from food.

Omega 3 lowers your health risks by reducing cholesterol, preventing blood clots, anti-aging, lowering blood pressure and improving the intestinal environment. Therefore, flaxseed is attracting attention. It supplements the nutrient omega 3, which is deficient in α-linolenic acid, which is abundant in flaxseed.

Fortunately, flaxseed also contains lignans, dietary fiber, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins B and E, and more. In some cases, doctors recommend eating flaxseed daily to regulate female hormones. Flax, a blessing of nature, is called a superfood because it contains many of these nutrients that the body needs. In particular, lignans and dietary fiber seem to decrease considerably when flaxseed oil is used, so it can be said that it is a merit to take flaxseed as it is.

Reference: What are omega 3 fatty acids?

How to eat flaxseed deliciously?

So how do you incorporate flaxseed into your diet? Flax shells are hard, and if you eat them without chewing them well, they will be excreted when they are digested, and you will not be able to get the effect. Also, as a caveat, it seems that some cyanide is contained, so it seems that it is safer to take it by heat treatment.

Therefore, the most effective way to get the nutrients of flaxseed is to "grind it into pieces". If you enjoy grinding coffee beans at home, you can use a coffee mill, or you can easily grind flaxseed with a spice mill that grinds spices. If you don't have either, you can grind it in a mortar.

Flaxseed oil can be made from flaxseed

The seed flaxseed can be obtained from flax, but there is flaxseed oil (flax oil) made by extracting from this flaxseed. We will also focus on flaxseed oil here.

How to make flaxseed oil

Flaxseed oil is made by carefully extracting flaxseed by a method called the "cold press method".

Flaxseed oil, extracted in this way without the use of heat or chemicals, does not destroy the natural nutrients of flaxseed. The unrefined Ichiban Shibori flaxseed oil is dark in color and has a slight astringency. For those who want to use flaxseed oil without habit, there are refined ones.

The effect of flaxseed oil and how to eat it effectively

The effect of flaxseed oil is close to that of flaxseed. It can be expected to have positive effects for modern people to lead a healthy life, such as prevention of lifestyle-related diseases, improvement of immunity, and anti-aging. Linseed oil is attracting attention as a superfood, and is widely used in NHK, commercial TV programs, Internet information on health, and magazines.

Here's the best way to get flaxseed oil most effectively. It is a method of "eating raw". This is because a-linolenic acid, which is abundant in flaxseed oil, is sensitive to heat and easily oxidizes.

To eat raw, you must eat it fresh, but for that purpose it is important to store the flaxseed oil in the refrigerator after opening it and use it up within a month. To eat fresh flaxseed oil raw, you can eat it as it is, or you can sprinkle it on cold pasta or salad like extra virgin oil, or mix it with vegetables. The key point of how to use it is "sprinkle, mix, mix". The proper intake of flaxseed oil is about 1 teaspoon a day. Please protect your intake and maximize your health benefits.

Summary

Despite the fact that flaxseed and flaxseed oil are available and easy to buy, the health benefits you get are more than you might expect. Flax also proves that foods that have long been considered good are reliable and good. The abundant omega 3 cannot be made by the body and is lacking in modern humans. But once you know the health benefits of omega 3, you can understand that it shouldn't be left alone. That is why flaxseed and flaxseed oil are attracting attention. Simply adding a teaspoon of flaxseed to your diet can improve and prevent a variety of illnesses. The biggest attraction of flaxseed is that it supplements the nutrients that modern people lack, and because it is a natural food, it can be eaten with peace of mind. Incorporate flaxseed into your diet by simply "sprinkling, mixing, and mixing."

Reference: Precautions when eating flaxseed oil and appropriate intake

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