Flaxseeds – one of the world’s healthiest foods

Flaxseeds have a long, rich history. The Flax seed plant has been known since before the stone ages, and was used for culinary purposes as far back as Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Maybe even further back! Rome, a civilisation that was one of the pioneers of the food and spice trade, widely praised the health benefits of flax seeds. But their popularity declined with the fall of the Roman Empire, and it wasn’t until Charlemagne in France that Flax Seeds got popular again.

Flax Seeds also have a history in medical use. Not that the following does not constitute as medical advice, it is simply what we have heard in the trade. Their main usage is use to relieve pain, control coughs and soothe irritated tissues, as well as use as a laxative. Flax is a highly environmentally friendly plant, and we’ve managed to make efficient use of nearly every part of it! Various parts of the plant are used to make dyes, paper, fabric and even soap! Of course, at Regency we’re interested in the seeds most of all.

Flaxseeds are also extremely nutritious! Below are nutrition values per 1tsp (3.4g) of Flaxseeds

Proximates

• Water 0.24
• Energy 18kcal
• Protein 0.62g
• Total lipid (fat) 1.43g
• Carbohydrate, by difference 0.98g
• Fiber, total dietary 0.9g
• Sugars, total 0.05g

Minerals

• Calcium, Ca 9mg
• Iron, Fe 0.19mg
• Magnesium, Mg 13mg
• Phosphorus, P 22mg
• Potassium, K 28mg
• Sodium, Na 1mg
• Zinc, Zn 0.15mg

Vitamins

• Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid 0.0mg
• Thiamin 0.056mg
• Riboflavin 0.005mg
• Niacin 0.105mg
• Vitamin B-6 0.016mg
• Folate, DFE 3µg
• Vitamin B-12 0.00µg
• Vitamin A, RAE 0µg
• Vitamin A, IU 0IU
• Vitamin E (alphatocopherol) 0.01mg
• Vitamin D (D2 + D3) 0.0µg
• Vitamin D 0IU
• Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 0.1µg

Lipids

• Fatty acids, total saturated 0.125g
• Fatty acids, total monounsaturated 0.256g
• Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated 0.977g
• Cholesterol 0mg