Organic Brown Linseed/Flaxseed - Stock & Prep - 1.5kg

What is Linseed? What is Flaxseed? Linseed (which also goes by the name Flaxseed) is the small seed which comes from the flax plant, also known as Linum usitatissimum. It usually comes in two varieties, Brown Linseed and Golden Linseed, which as you might’ve guessed is due to their colour. People may claim that one is better for you than the other, but there is very little nutritional difference between the two. Linseed is generally sold either as whole seeds or ground into a coarse powder, it also comes in the form of an oil. Whilst you can consume them either way, most experts recommend the ground form as it is much easier for the body to digest. Whole Linseed may pass through your intestine undigested, which means you might not receive all the nutritional benefits. A long time before Linseed was the super food we know it as today, its primary use was actually to make textiles, such as clothing. Linseed oil is still used today for a variation of other things such as wood finish, linoleum, oil paint and even moisturiser. For even more background on Linseed, please take a look at our previous article What is Linseed. But we’re here today to talk to you about the good stuff - Food! Adding Linseed to Your Diet There is a wide variety of ways you can include Linseed in your diet. It can be added to food or taken as a daily supplement. It’s an easy food to include as neither Whole nor Ground Linseeds need to be cooked before being eaten. Linseed is mild in taste, in fact a lot of people find it rather neutral, but it does vary slightly depending on which variety you go for. Brown Linseed has a deeper, earthy, nutty flavour, whereas Golden Linseed is slightly lighter in taste and nuttier in flavour. Ground Linseed also tends to be richer in flavour compared to Whole Linseed, as the grinding process releases more of the oils. Due to the subtle taste, you can sprinkle Linseed on pretty much anything! If you’re looking for an easy way to incorporate it daily, why not try putting a dusting on top on your morning porridge, cereal, or yoghurt. It can even be used to make tea! Linseed is also an impressive binding agent due to its oil content. It can also be used as a replacement for flour. From cookies and muffins to bread and pancakes - Linseed can help make them all! So, for any vegans, coeliacs or people on a plant-based diet, Linseed could be the perfect answer for your baking needs. For more details on how to bake with this healthy superfood, look no further than Baking With Linseed Linseed Oil can be mixed with other oils to make dressings or vinaigrettes for salads and vegetables. Much like the Ground Linseed it can also be added to soups, mixed into smoothies, and used to make hummus. Just make sure that you have at least 150ml of fluid per tablespoon of Linseeds taken. This is due to the high content of fibre in Linseed. Increasing fibre in your diet means you should also increase your water intake to counterbalance it. You could even add a tablespoon of Linseed into your water, or any other type of drink you prefer, and take it that way! Health Benefits of Linseed If you’re looking for a food source that is full of nutritional benefits - then look no further! There’s good reason Linseed is classed as a superfood. Though small, they are rich in the omega-3 fatty acid ALA, protein, lignans and fibre, which have all been proved to have many potential health benefits. If you don’t eat fish or are on a plant-based diet, Linseed is a great source to get in your omega-3 fats. ALA is one of the two essential fatty acids that your body does not produce naturally so it needs to be obtained from the food we eat. ALA fatty acids are linked to a lower risk of stroke and have been proven to have heart health benefits. Linseeds actually contain up to 800 times more lignans than other types of plant food. Lignans are plant compounds that have antioxidant and oestrogen properties, these can both aid in lowering the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer and improve health overall. Due to the high amount of fibre in Linseed, people suffering with digestion issues, may benefit from eating it regularly. Their impressive fibre content works as a natural laxative and promotes regular bowel movements. Fibre can also help with weight management, as it helps you to feel fuller for longer. Linseed is also a great addition to your diet if you want to help keep your skin healthy. As they contain a high amount of oil, it can in turn boost the production of your body's natural oil, keeping skin soft, moisturised, and hydrated. As stated earlier, it is suggested to opt for Ground Linseed rather than Whole Linseed. You may not reap as many benefits from eating them whole, as your intestines cannot always break down the tough outer shell of the seeds. However, you can always grind Whole Linseed yourself using a blender or food processer. If we’ve convinced you to try it out, then look no further than our range of Linseed right here at Wholefood Earth.

For anyone who wants the short answer to the question “what is the difference between Linseed and Flaxseed” the answer is; none. Linseeds and Flaxseeds are the exact same thing. Confusion around these two names stems from the two big English-speaking countries. In the UK, we alternate between linseed and flax, while in the United States and Canada, both are referred to as flax. But what is flaxseed? What is linseed? Flaxseed or Linseed is a small seed which comes from the flax plant Linum usitatissimum. The plant produces two types of seeds in different colours: Brown Linseed and Golden Linseed. They have a very similar nutritional profile. You can buy whole flaxseed, ground flaxseed or flaxseed oil. What is linseed used for? Flaxseed/linseed is considered a superfood. It is used to help the digestive system and relieve constipation. Flaxseed may also reduce the risk of heart disease because it helps with blood cholesterol and lowers bad cholesterol levels. Doctors recommend the ground linseed variety as it is much easier for digestion and allows the body to absorb all the nutrients. Whole Linseed may pass through your intestine undigested. Linen is also used to make textiles for cloth and linseed oil can also be used for wood finish, linoleum, oil paint and in cosmetics as moisturiser.

Nutrients are the building blocks for health, whether that's making sure your bones are strong or your heart is healthy, they are crucial to a long and healthy life. It can seem difficult to make sure your diet is loaded with enough nutrients to really feel the benefits but eating healthily has never been easier, and these powerful wholefoods are a great way to start improving the nutritional content of your cooking. Lentils Lentils should be a staple of any healthy diet, however their high protein and iron content make them particularly crucial to those on a vegetarian or vegan diet. Not only are lentils packed full of protein and vitamins, they are also high in fibre but low in fat and calories making them a great wholefood for those looking to manage their weight. As well as their health benefits lentils are an incredibly versatile legume, they are a widely used ingredient in Indian, Greek and Mediterranean cooking while also being a great meat substitute in plant based dishes. To prepare lentils, simply soak in water for 20 minutes, then boil them in fresh water for 10 minutes, before simmering them for 30 minutes. Quinoa Quinoa is perhaps one of the best known wholefoods in the world and with good reason. Despite technically being classed as seed, quinoa is a wholegrain that originates from the Andes Mountains, where it has been a staple of South American cuisine for the last 5000 years. Quinoa is a complete protein, which essentially means that one serving contains all 9 amino acids that humans can’t produce on their own. As well as being protein dense quinoa is a great source of iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E and fibre. Because of its many incredible health benefits quinoa is a great addition to pretty much any diet, but in particular it is an easy way for those on a low gluten or vegan diet to make sure they get enough protein. Quinoa is best used as an alternative to rice or couscous, and it is incredibly easy to prepare, simply add quinoa to a pan with water, bring it to a boil and then simmer for around 15 minutes before draining, then fluff with a fork and enjoy. Chickpeas Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) are one of the healthiest beans you can introduce into your diet. Originally from the Mediterranean and the Middle East, chickpeas are now a staple in cuisines all over the world, primarily for their versatility and significant nutritional content. Like most beans chickpeas are high in both fibre and protein, however uniquely they also contain vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, D and E as well as iron, zinc, potassium and calcium. Chickpeas have a wide range of uses, but they are especially important in making hummus and falafels, or as a meat substitute for those on a plant based diet. To prepare fresh chickpeas simply soak them overnight in water and then drain, rinse and boil for approximately 30 minutes. Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin seeds are one of the healthiest seeds you can incorporate effortlessly into your diet. By eating them straight from the bag or sprinkling them straight into your cooking you can obtain a huge amount of nutrients and antioxidants from pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are high in fibre, which is great for boosting digestive health, but also rich in protein and vitamin E. As well as their high nutritional content pumpkin seeds contain a multitude of antioxidants to keep your body healthy. Pumpkin seeds also make for a perfect snack in between meals, as their fatty acids provide slow releasing energy to keep you feeling fuller for longer. Almonds Almonds are one of the most widely consumed nuts in the world, mainly due to their unique slightly sweet flavour and sheer number of uses, but they also have countless health benefits. Almonds have a very high concentration of fatty acids that are vital for promoting healthy skin and hair, as well as this almonds contain 2 nutrients crucial for brain health, Riboflavin and L Carnitine both of which can be very hard to obtain from other foods. Alongside their high fibre and protein content, the regular consumption of almonds has also been shown to help maintain a healthy cholesterol level. Organic Pitted Prunes Prunes are one of the best dried fruits in regard to their nutritional content, and if pitted are even easier to enjoy. Prunes are dried plums, and are best known for their benefits to digestive health, they have a subtle sweet taste and a slight chewy texture but their incredible nutritional content is often overlooked. Not only are prunes famously packed with fibre, they also have an abundance of vitamins and minerals including potassium, iron and vitamin K which is needed for blood clotting to help heal wounds. Golden Linseed/Flaxseed Flaxseed comes in two varieties, gold and brown and while they differ very little nutritionally golden flaxseed has a slightly more rich taste. Flaxseed is most commonly used in baking to bind ingredients as an egg alternative, it is also a superfood in its own right. High in wheat free fibre and protein, flaxseed is a great alternative for those trying to cut down on gluten. Flaxseed is also an amazing source of omega 3 fatty acids, including Alpha Linolenic Acid, which can otherwise be very hard to obtain for those on a vegetarian diet. Flaxseed can be sprinkled into both sweet and savoury dishes, or even mixed with water and enjoyed on their own. It is however important to note that as you increase your intake of flaxseed, you should also increase your water intake to around 8-10 cups per day. Oats Oats are naturally gluten free, high in fibre and protein, with an abundance of B vitamins and a slow releasing energy source, making them a truly one of a kind wholefood. The high amount of soluble and insoluble fibre in oats allows them to both lower cholesterol and aid digestion. Not only do oats contain vitamins B1 and 2, they also provide the hard to obtain beta-glucan which is amazing for heart health. Alongside the countless health benefits, oats also have a very low glycemic index and so their energy is released slowly throughout the day, which makes them very useful for managing appetite and assisting in weight loss. Oats are also very simple to prepare, simply add double the amount of water/cream to oats and cook for 8 minutes. These wholefoods are just some of the incredible ingredients you should be keeping in your pantry, and thousands more are waiting for you to discover. Whether you are using them to cook with or just as a healthy snack, it is never too late to make great long lasting changes to your diet and you’ll be feeling the difference in no time. All of these amazing nutritious foods have countless uses, perfect for aspiring chefs, bakers or those who just want to live a cleaner healthier life.