A brief introduction to flaxseed oil

Linseed oil is a traditional oilseed crop in China, but it is unknown in the deep mountains and people know its value. Flax is divided into oil flax, oil fiber flax, and fiber flax. Flax produced in the three northeastern provinces is used for textiles, such as the common flax mats or clothing. Oil flax is mainly produced in the central and western parts of Inner Mongolia, northern Shanxi, and Huining, Gansu. The flax oil here is also known as sesame oil locally, mainly because it was introduced to China by Zhang Qian during the Han Dynasty. Traditional Chinese medicine research shows that the flaxseed oil produced in the high-altitude and cold regions of Inner Mongolia is the best. Flax is mainly distributed in temperate regions, and the oil content in flax oil is generally 40-60%. Unlike other edible oils, the main fatty acid in flaxseed oil is linolenic acid, with a content of about 50%. The temperature in the growing areas of flax has a significant impact on the fatty acid composition of flax oil. In cold regions, flax oil generally has a higher degree of unsaturation, while in warm regions, flax oil produced has a lower degree of unsaturation. Linseed oil contains abundant alpha linolenic acid, which is a good way to supplement linolenic acid.