What is the difference between Flax seed and flaxseed oil?
Flaxseeds can be used as roasted and milled seeds, while flaxseed oil can be used in various food formulations in the form of neat oils, stable emulsions and micro- and nano-encapsulated powder. Bakery sector in the west has resorted to the method of adding ground flax seed into mixed grain bread for the purpose of meeting customer demands.
What is flax seed oil?
Flax seeds produce a vegetable oil known as flax seed oil or linseed oil, which is one of the oldest commercial oils. It is an edible oil obtained by expeller pressing and sometimes followed by solvent extraction. Solvent-processed flax seed oil has been used for many centuries as a drying oil in painting and varnishing.
How many fatty acids are in flax seed oil?
As a percentage of total fat, flax seeds contain 54% omega-3 fatty acids (mostly ALA), 18% omega-9 fatty acids (oleic acid), and 6% omega-6 fatty acids (linoleic acid); the seeds contain 9% saturated fat, including 5% as palmitic acid. Flax seed oil contains 53% 18:3 omega-3 fatty acids (mostly ALA) and 13% 18:2 omega-6 fatty acids.
What are flax seeds used for?
Flax is grown for its seeds, which can be ground into a meal or turned into linseed oil, a product used as a nutritional supplement and as an ingredient in many wood-finishing products. Flax is also grown as an ornamental plant in gardens. Moreover, flax fibers are used to make linen.