Flax porridge - useful properties and contraindications

Flaxseed porridge cannot be classified as a cereal present in our daily diet. But in its composition, it can easily compete with any kind of rice, oatmeal and even fashionable quinoa. But its main advantage is a very affordable price with rich nutritional value. How useful is flaxseed porridge, and how to make a really tasty dish out of it, which even children will not refuse?

Flax Specific Features

To obtain cereals, ordinary flax is used, which is widely represented in supermarkets and stores specializing in healthy eating. It is packaged in 50-100 grams and sealed in small bags. Sometimes on the shelves you can find flax in cans or cardboard packaging.

As for quality, it’s better to buy whole, non-fried seeds, as they retained more vitamins and minerals.

How to choose and store flax seeds

To get the most out of a product, you need to choose and store it correctly. To do this, pay attention to the following recommendations:

1. Packaging. The main criterion responsible for the condition of the seed is the quality of the container. Good packaging does not have any flaws. If we are talking about a package, then it should be sealed in the factory. Do not buy flax by weight - it may contain small debris, dust and germs. There will be no benefit from such porridge.
2. Structure. A good flax eliminates the presence of any additional components in its composition. There are ready-made mixtures in which fruit slices have already been added, but the quality of such additives always leaves much to be desired. It is much more reasonable to buy pure seed and to diversify it with natural ingredients, for example, nuts or sprouted wheat grains.
3. Shelf life. Give preference only to fresh seeds, which are available for a maximum of a month. If stored improperly in the store, they begin to deteriorate quickly, although you cannot see this with the naked eye.

How to understand that purchased flax is fresh? Very simple - its natural taste has a pronounced nutty note and it does not bitter. It has practically no characteristic aroma, so you can focus only on the integrity and brown color of the seed.

After purchase, it must be poured into a ceramic or glass container with a tight-fitting lid. It should not be exposed to direct sunlight or moisture. Otherwise, the product will deteriorate quickly. At home, flax can be stored for 30 days, after which it is advisable to dispose of the remaining product.

Advantages of Flax

Now let's talk about why it should be eaten.

The most important advantage of flax is a high concentration of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are responsible for the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system and the brain. Omega-3 also reduces the inflammatory processes that are the root cause of autoimmune diseases, arthritis and allergies. Clinically proven to be effective in combating Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of which is inflammation of the brain. In terms of fatty acid content, flax is not inferior to fish oil, which is considered a storehouse of Omega-3. But its main disadvantages are the high price and pollution of water with heavy metals, which accumulate in fish.

A high concentration of plant hormones is another argument in favor of regular consumption of flax porridge.They are antioxidants and suppress allergic processes, slowing down the aging of cells. With regular use of foods rich in phytoestrogens, you can normalize hormonal balance and improve the condition of the body when menopause occurs. And also provide yourself with additional protection against breast and ovarian cancer.

Men who care about their health should definitely supplement the daily menu with flax porridge. It is considered a good preventative against prostate cancer and raises testosterone levels, increasing sex drive.

Pregnant women also need to pay attention to this product, since flax is rich in protein and elements such as potassium, calcium, iron, chromium and magnesium. Their combination promotes proper intrauterine development of the fetus and increased lactation.

With systematic intake, flax can lower blood sugar. Moreover, it will help in the fight against extra pounds, as it saturates well with minimal calorie content. To assimilate it, the body also synthesizes collagen, which is the main health of hair, nails and skin.

The effect of flax on the digestive tract

During heat treatment, flax secretes specific mucus and linomarin glycoside. They protect the walls of the stomach and intestines from irritating external factors (the effects of antibiotics, pathogenic microflora), reduce inflammation and pain. The product can become the main in the diet of a person suffering from ulcers, gastritis, colitis and cholecystitis.

Flaxseed porridge improves intestinal motility, has a minimal laxative effect and promotes healthy digestion.

Seeds are also rich in vitamin C, A, vitamins of group B. They also help the digestive tract:

• do not allow irritation of the mucosa with excessive secretion of gastric juice;
• increase the immune function of the gastrointestinal tract;
• contribute to the engraftment of beneficial lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.

Flax porridge contraindications

The uniqueness of the product also lies in the fact that it has no restrictions on reception. She will not provoke any negative reactions. An exception is individual intolerance, which is very rare. A negative reaction to flax porridge is most often manifested when synthetic flavor enhancers and fragrances that can act as allergens are added to it.

But with its regular use in food, nutritionists and gastroenterologists recommend increasing the amount of water consumed. Flax absorbs a lot of liquid, so in order to prevent problems with the stool, you must adhere to the standard drinking regimen - up to 2 liters per day.

Flax porridge recipes

To make porridge, you also need a coffee grinder or blender. Tentatively, one serving is three handfuls of seed. They must be poured into a container and crushed to a state of flour or fine crumbs. The resulting powder will serve as the basis for many dishes: from steamed porridge to baking.

Pour the cereal into a deep plate and fill it with water at room temperature so that it completely covers it. We give her a little time to absorb moisture. Since flax has good adsorbing properties, select the amount of water to your taste. It all depends on the consistency that you want to get in the end.

This is a variation of porridge for raw foodists. Flaxseed powder can also be boiled like any other cereal. To do this, pour it into boiling water, turn off the heat and leave to insist for 15 minutes. To enhance the taste, feel free to use sea salt or your favorite seasonings.

The resulting porridge can be eaten immediately, or you can let it brew for 15 minutes until the flax swells. As a dressing, use honey, wedge syrup, molasses - any natural sweetener available at hand. For a richer flavor, diversify the dish by adding dried fruits, fresh or frozen berries to it.

Flax porridge in milk with banana and almonds
This option is more nutritious and nutritious, so it’s perfect as a breakfast. For him you will need:

• ground flaxseed: ½ cup;
• milk: 0.5 l;
• sugar: 1 tablespoon;
• banana: 1 piece;
• almonds: 1 handful.

First, pour the milk into the pan, boil it and reduce the heat. Add the ground seed to it and cook it, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes. We cover the pan with a lid, remove from the stove and wrap it in a towel. We recommend adding the finished porridge with sugar, chopped nuts and a banana. If you wish, you can use any fruits and berries.

Provided that the porridge based on flaxseed is stored and prepared properly, it will become a tasty and useful addition to an already established diet. It will easily become the main source of protein for dietary or therapeutic purposes. Its low cost also allows you to diversify the lean menu without compromising the nutritional value of the diet.

Video: making morning flax porridge and flax jelly