Liquid gold: the role of linseed oil for our health

Linseed oil - a food with tradition

Linseed oil has a long history in relation to our health. The Greek physician Hippocrates and the naturalist and healer Hildegard von Bingen already knew how to use it as a medicine against various illnesses, such as diarrhoea or stomach ache. In Sebastian Kneipp's "Little Medicine Chest", linseed oil is listed as a complementary substance to a healthy diet. And even today, the golden-yellow liquid is becoming increasingly popular. Not without reason...

Linseed oil is obtained from the seeds of the linseed plant. The flax plant is one of the oldest useful plants in Europe. Its scientific name "Linus usitatissimum" (common linseed) indicates the versatility of the plant. Flax is not only used as a foodstuff, but also as a medicinal plant or fibre for textiles. The cold or slightly heated seeds of the flax plant are pressed to produce edible oil. The maximum temperature is 40 degrees Celsius. This so-called cold pressing largely preserves valuable fatty acids and vitamins and gives the linseed oil a more intense flavour.

Linseed oil - the vegan among omega-3 fatty acidsuppliers

Linseed oil is rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. It is characterised by its particularly high content of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). This is an essential plant-based fatty acid that is rarely found in other oils. Essential fatty acids are vital for us, but cannot be produced by the body itself. We must therefore obtain them from our food. With a content of up to 60 per cent alpha-linolenic acid, linseed oil is a real front-runner among ALA suppliers.

But why is it important to supply our body with omega-3 fatty acids and what are the positive effects of consuming linseed oil? Omega-3 fatty acids have a wide range of health-promoting effects. For example, they are important for the function of our brain and nerve cells and play an important role in our cardiovascular system and metabolism. Omega-3 fatty acids also regulate our blood pressure and have a positive influence on our blood sugar levels. The alpha-linolenic acid contained in linseed oil has an anti-inflammatory effect and can lower our cholesterol levels. In addition, the body can produce a small amount of the other omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from it.

The daily requirement of a healthy adult for alpha-linolenic acid is around 2 grams. This corresponds to about 1 to 2 teaspoons.

Raw vegan enjoyment with linseed oil

Nutty and mild - a good linseed oil is characterised by this taste. As linseed oil is sensitive to heat, it should only be used for preparing cold dishes or added after cooking. Heating not only causes the flavour and health-promoting ingredients to be lost, but can also lead to the formation of harmful substances. If you bear this in mind, there are no limits to your creativity and flavour. Linseed oil is particularly popular for smoothies, dressings and dips. It is also ideal in muesli, for vegan spreads and for drizzling over vegetables. But linseed oil is also a real treat on its own.

What you should look out for when using linseed oil

Linseed oil is a sensitive food. Heat, UV light and oxygen lead to a rapid decomposition process of the omega-3 fatty acids. You should therefore store linseed oil in a cool place protected from light and never heat it. It is also advisable to consume it quickly, as linseed oil only has a relatively short shelf life even when unopened. This is why the fresh linseed oil from Keimling Naturkost fresh linseed oil is only pressed once a week to order and dispatched the following day. An opened bottle should be used within 3 weeks. At Keimling Naturkost you receive the weekly freshly pressed linseed oil in a 250 ml bottle. This quantity corresponds to a three-week requirement for one person.

The Keimling Naturkost fresh linseed oil can be conveniently ordered by subscription and the delivery frequency can be customised. If required, for example during a holiday, you can easily suspend the subscription. However, if you do not use up your stock, linseed oil is also suitable for external body care for dry or sensitive skin. For the production of fresh linseed oil Keimling Naturkost only uses organic linseed in raw food quality and ensures gentle cold pressing at a maximum of 30 degrees Celsius. As a result, the Keimling Naturkost fresh linseed oil retains its important nutrients.

Click here to go to Keimling Naturkost Frisch-Leinöl - also available as a subscription!