Friday, October 28, 2011

Linseed Powder



Flax seed, also know as linseed, is noted to have high nutritional value, making it a priority choice of food for health conscious people. It is very helpful to diabetic and heart diseased patients. Recent research indicates that flax seed may have the ability to reduce blood pressure, lower level of harmful cholesterol, offer both estrogen-like and anti-estrogenic effects, and is being studied for its ability to protect against cancer. Every one  should include in your diet to 
strengthen your immune system. I hope you like it ....

Ingredients:
Linseed - 1 cup
Sesame seed - 1/4 cup
Ground nuts - 2 tbsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tbsp
Fennel seeds - 1 tbsp
Red chilli -2
Garlic pods - 10
Curry leaves - few
Dry ginger powder - 2 tbsp
Black pepper - 2 tbsp
Salt to taste

 Method of preparation :
  1. Drizzle oil in a heavy bottomed vessel and roast the black pepper on low to medium heat for 1 minute. Add  cumin seeds,fennel seeds,garlic pods, curry leaves and dry red chilli to the roasting black pepper and continue to roast till it turns golden. Remove and cool.
  2. In the same vessel, add the flax seeds and roast on low flame till they give a crackling sound like sesame seeds. Remove and keep aside.
  3. In the same vessel, add ground nuts and roast on low flame till the nuts are darker shade.   Remove and keep aside.
  4. Let all the roasted ingredients cool for some time and grind to fine powder. Add salt and dry ginger powder to linseed powder and mix well.
  5. Store in an air tight container. Serve it with idly or dosa or plain rice along with ghee.




Sunday, October 16, 2011

Linseed/Flax seed

 Nutritionists recommend us to eat more seeds, nuts because of their minerals, vitamin E, omega 3 fatty acids and dietary fibers. Lately linseeds have grown in popularity from a  nutritional standpoint. I know linseeds don’t sound like a appetizing food. Linseeds have more   omega 3 fatty acids than any fish. Fabulous isn’t it. By eating linseeds youwill lose weight and    protect your heart form diseases at the same time. The fatty acids from linseeds help your  bodyburn more calories, reduce your appetite, and are a blessing for your cardiovascular  system and brain. Your heart becomes stronger and you prevent the specific diseases that   affect it. Your nervous system and brain will also function better. If you want to avoid health  problems related to your liver, kidneys and even diabetes you should make sure gets more omega 3 fatty acid.




There are two varieties of flax seeds; brown and yellow or golden, with most types having similar nutritional values and equal amounts of short-chain omega-3 fatty acids.


 
 Because of the dietary fibers contained in linseeds you will have a lower cholesterol level and a lower blood pressure. The dietary fibers will also help you get rid of constipation. Doctor Gillian McKeith, the author of “Living Food For Health” mentions linseeds as one of the best foods for improving our health. She points out their anti-cancerous properties, reducing the risk of colon, breast or prostate cancer. Linseeds strengthen your immune system.

Have you ever tried linseed oil. It is said that linseed oil helps alleviate intestinal problems. Be careful where you keep your linseeds and linseed oil. Keep them in the fridge. Don’t use the linseed oil for cooking and don’t expose it to heat because it takes away from its beneficial healthy effects.

Nuts, peanuts, almonds and linseeds all have 150 calories per every 25 grams you eat. So don’t eat too much or you will get fat. You should eat 1 to 4 spoons of linseeds 2-3 times a week. You can eat then whole or you can ground them up. You can add them to your salads, or eat them with your cereals.

If you have the opportunity to eat linseeds, eat them. They have many health benefits and you should use them to become healthier.
 
 Culinary use :
Flax seeds are rich in poly-unsaturated fatty acids. Exposing the ground seeds for longer time in the powder form oxidizes their fatty acids and deprives them of their nutritional value. Therefore, generally, the flaxseeds are ground in a coffee or seed grinder just before their use in order to preserve their nutritional value.

They can also be enjoyed by roasting, salted or sweetened.
Flax seeds are nutty yet pleasantly sweet in taste. Ground seeds are a great addition as toppings in yogurt, desserts, shakes, cereal based dishes etc.
Ground seeds often sprinkled over salads, desserts, particularly sundaes and other ice cream based preparations.
Flax is widely used in confectionery, as an addition to biscuits, sweets, muffins and cakes.

Some of the potential health benefits of flax seeds that have been reported:

  1. Increased energy, vitality, and stamina
  2. Increased sense of calmness under stress
  3. Reduced threat of blood clots
  4. Protection against cancers, particularly hormone sensitive cancers such as
  5. breast and prostate
  6. Lowered blood cholesterol levels
  7. Lowered high blood pressure
  8. Better regulation of blood sugar levels
  9. Eases inflammatory tissue conditions, including arthritis
  10. Alleviation of dry skin, eczema and psoriasis
  11. Enhanced immune system
  12. Increased metabolic rate with a positive impact on weight management
  13. Helps with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
  14. Natural laxative
Some call it one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet. There’s some evidence it may help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. That’s quite a tall order for a tiny seed that’s been around for centuries: flaxseed.

Fiber: Flaxseed contains both the soluble and insoluble types.

Linseed oil is also referred to as flaxseed oil:

The oil is extracted or derived from he dried ripe seeds of linseed. Linseed benefits are due to the presence of omega-6 and omega-9 essential fatty acids which makes it an ideal alternative to fish oil for vegetarians. Raw linseed oil is obtained by pressing and crushing the linseeds followed by solvent extraction. Raw linseed oil which is cold pressed oil is the best form of linseed oil that holds maximum medicinal properties.

The consumption of flaxseed oil is also recommended in preventing coronary heart disease which is a phase of arteriosclerosis that involves the fatty deposits (atheromas) inside the arterial walls, thereby narrowing the arteries. It is also useful in relieving the symptoms of atrophic arthritis which is a chronic autoimmune disease with inflammation of the joints and marked deformities that can lead to the destruction of all components of the joint. In addition, flaxseed oil or linseed oil is also beneficial in enhancing the assimilation of calcium in the body.
 
The high amounts of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids in linseed oil is also known to build finger and toenails and improve the functionalities of the liver. Obese people who are aiming to lose weight can benefit from consuming linseed oil as it induces fat cells and step-ups the metabolic rate thus making it easier to burn off fat faster than conventional methods.

Linseed oil refers to the liquid extract that is derived from linseeds, also known as flaxseeds. Linseeds are very popular, mainly for the different health benefits that have been associated with them. Even though linseeds and flax seeds have been around for decades, people have only recently realized that there are several benefits of linseed on the health. This is probably the reason that the consumption of linseed and linseed oil has gone up to a great extent in the past few years, according to various studies conducted. One of the main advantages of linseed oil on health is that it is very high in natural fiber, lignans and omega 3 fatty acids. These nutrients are an integral part of the health benefits of linseed and linseed oil, since they can boost a person’s immunity and restorative abilities, if consumed regularly.

There are two types of linseeds. The first type is the oil seed variety, which is mainly grown for its seed use. The second type is used for the production of fiber. There are many commercial food manufacturers that use linseed in their products, to increase the nutritional value and fiber content, especially since the awareness of linseed benefits has increased considerably in the last few years. Commercial foods that include linseed are breakfast cereals, whole grain breads and other baked items. Health and fitness experts too advise people to increase their consumption of this product, after touting the various health benefits of linseed oil.