What is Flax Seed and How to Use It

The flax plant is a part of the Linaceae family and is a fiber. The plant is a low growing shrub, with beautiful purple or yellow flowers. The flax plant is cultivated for its fiber, which is used to make linen fabric (yes, you sleep on flax every night), and for its seed that is sometimes referred to as linseed.

The golden flax seeds are harvested from the yellow flowering plant, and the dark brown seeds are harvested from the purple flowering plant. The nutritive value of both kinds is very similar. Oil can be extracted from the seed; however, it can also be used whole or milled and used as flax seed meal.

What are the Benefits of Flaxseed?

1. Beautifies the skin – regular consumption of flaxseed beautifies the skin from within. The oil in the flax seed makes the skin smooth, velvety, and radiant, saving you the need to use expensive external creams.

2. Flax seed is an excellent source of essential fatty acids – linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acids are both essential for human health. Flax seed also contains a protein that has all the amino acids essential for adult’s health, and an extra one called histidine, which is essential for infants.

3. A great source of fiber, minerals and vitamins.

4. Flax seed is the best natural laxative – it can correct digestive disturbances. It protects and smooths the stomach and intestinal lining. It prevents irritation and keeps the contents in our stomach moving along smoothly.

5. Flax seed is one of the best sources of omega 3 and omega 6 – those two fatty acids are very important for human health. Our body can convert omega 3 and 6 into essential substances needed in the membranes surrounding our cells and organelles within them. Our body can also convert omega 3 and 6 into substances needed for balancing our metabolism. In addition, omega 3 and 6 fats provide the fluidity needed for proper transmission and reception of impulses between brain cells, helping to improve brain functionality.

Where to Buy Flax Seed?

You can probably find whole flax seed in your local grocery store. If you can’t, try online here or here.

Milled flax seeds can be purchased here. While looking around for brown flax meal, which seems to be less common, I found this brown flax meal for only $o.89 a lb (at time of posting). It is an ad-on product, but if you have other things you are planning to purchase from Amazon, this will defiantly be a great something to add.