Let's learn about... linseed tea
Might seem a tad random, but it's been a hydrating gamechanger for me!
Good health starts at home, this is fundamental to my philosophy of Better Home Better Health. Simply put, if we set ourselves up with an environment that supports the creation, and continuation, of good habits, then we set ourselves up well for a healthy life. This is why I weave aspects of wellbeing into most of my writing, as there’s absolutely no point having a home replete with all the latest wallpapers and buzz words if it does not replenish and restore you.
Homing well is about so much more than aesthetics, what things look like. As I’ve covered in depth previously, it starts with the air that you breathe: air that you want to be clear and not replete with toxins from paint to fire retardants, to radiation or fumes from gas hobs or paraffin wax candles. In truth, studies have repeatedly shown that indoor air is routinely more polluted than outside, with children’s rooms being some of the worst affected. All covered in previous posts.
One of the other things I’ve started to talk about is how we choose to fuel and power our bodies. Hydration is incredibly important and no-one needs refined sugar. And as part of my Nutritional Consultant training, I attend virtual clinics where we observe our tutors consulting with patients. I confess, I’d not done many as the timings were problematic for me, but as per my February Letter, I’m pushing myself to do new, and I’m so glad already that I did.
It’s utterly fascinating. A session usually starts with the patient presenting the obvious symptoms that galvanised them to seek help, but it always seems to be that this is rarely actually the thing that’s bothering them. A true diagnosis lies in the skill of the consultant to draw out the background story, not only to get at the truth but also in search of potential causes. Not in any way to imply that patients come in lying, more that they/we often aren’t consciously aware of what’s actually the source of our ills. We mask, and carry on, burying significant parts of our story. Plus, it’s human nature to then want a quick remedy, pill or food fix. But when the body starts to complain, we need to listen. It is an alert whistle we ignore at our peril.
So imagine someone comes in with excema… they think it’s related to food. But how are you feeling otherwise? Stressed at work? Kids? Younger or older, how are they coping with life at the moment? How are your living arrangements, relationship? How are your periods, bowel movements? Any bloating, dark circles, tiredness, irritability? Family history. Recent or historical traumas? Relationship with parents, siblings, co-workers? Job satisfaction… you get the picture.
A symptom is not the same as a disease. But it can be a precursor.
We are complex beings, and yet we insist on keep on keeping on regardless. Sometimes it feels like we have no choice. And sometimes we really don’t. What I’m learning to do though is to take earlier action on those symptomatic red flags. I think we can get so used to our individual bodily quirks, that we fail to register them as cries for help. In my case, the persistent cramp in my neck, waking at 3 am, inability to quiet my mind, distraction, forgetfulness. All signs I’m pushing myself too hard and need to stop for some self-care.
So, all of this has been a prelude to me telling you about linseed tea!
Oh yes. Mentioned in every single one of my online clinics and I hadn't a clue what it was or why it might be beneficial. So I got researching and testing…
So what are linseeds? Linseeds (also known as flaxseeds) are the small, reddish-brown or golden-yellow seed of the common flax plant. Both are nutritionally similar, but golden flaxseeds are often considered milder in flavour. And yes, this is the same plant that's used to grow the fibre from which linen has been made for thousands of years.
Why are they good for you? Linseeds are an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids, particularly alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which supports heart health by reducing inflammation and promoting good cholesterol levels. They are also super rich in soluble fibre as well as phytochemicals called lignans.
Say what? Omega-3 fatty acids are the “healthy fats” that can support heart health. Your body doesn't naturally produce the amount of omega-3s you need to survive. So, you need to get them from the foods you eat. And the lignans (antioxidant compounds found in plants that help to protect cells from oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic disease) in flaxseed have been shown to reduce atherosclerotic plaque buildup (dirty tubes to your heart) by up to 75%! Plus, lignans act as phytoestrogens which can help balance hormones, reduce symptoms of menopause and support overall hormonal health.
And the fibre bit? Dietary fibre is the part of food that the body can’t digest or absorb, instead passing through the stomach into the intestines largely intact. There are two different types of fibre — soluble and insoluble. Both are important for gut health, but many of us tend to eat mostly insoluble (things like wheat, and whole grains, and potatoes). It adds bulk to your poop and tends to make food sweep through quite quickly. Soluble fibre on the other hand — as found in oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, peas, apples, bananas, avocados, citrus fruits, carrots, barley and psyllium — draws water into your gut, which softens your stools and supports regular bowel movements. It also feeds and nourishes the gut microbiome. And if you eat the actual seeds, they can also help to gently clean any muck from your gut as it sticks to it and helps you poop it all out. (If you’ve ever done a detox, you might have drink a liquid containing psyllium husk. This does the same thing.)
OK, but you mentioned tea? Well yes, because linseeds have an amazing quality that, when made into tea, allows the body to hold onto water. In fact, linseed tea is one of the most hydrating drinks you can have, coming a close second to water itself!
How come? Our cells, the building blocks of our bodies, are profoundly impacted by environmental cues, from the presence of pollutants to stress, diet and lifestyle. Imagine then your body as a highly structured cooperative community of about 50 trillion single-celled citizens, each imbued with intent and purpose. Individual cells are drawn to nutrients and flee from toxins; they are shaped by where they live ie they need the best possible internal environment to maintain optimal health. Zoom out and you have you, inadvertently exposing that community of cells to various environments, good and bad.
Two things crucial to cell health are oil and water. We need them to run our body systems, just like a car! So linseed tea is an excellent way to re-introduce both oil and water to our cells. Net effect, we enable ourselves to detox better, ie eliminate. toxins from our cells that could contribute towards disease. And, all those omega-3s and antioxidants can reduce inflammation, improve skin health, help with conditions like eczema or dryness, and contribute to stronger, healthier hair!
I’m sold, how do I make this tea? There’s a method that involves boiling the seeds for several hours on the hob but who has time for that! My quick method is as follows… Add 1 heaped teaspoon of organic (so you’re not getting a side order of pesticides) ground linseeds to a stainless steel flask (roughly 1 tsp to 500ml). Top up with hot boiled filtered water. Shake. Allow to steep in the fridge overnight. Drink the next day. Repeat. PS If you used whole flaxseeds, strain the tea through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds. If you used ground flaxseeds, no straining is necessary but you may not want to swallow all of the jelly-like mush (I keep some to one side and stir it into rice, or even scrambled eggs, which gives both a nice nutty dimension)! But start slowly. Detoxing too quickly gives me a headache, bodily aches and/or spots. None helpful. (Don’t believe people when they say, oh it means it’s working… it means you need to go more slowly.) As you get used to it, you could increase the amount of linseeds used to 1 x tablespoon/litre.
What does it taste like? Despite an admittedly rather unappealing cloudy gloupy look, linseed ‘tea’ doesn't really taste of anything much but is nonetheless oddly soothing to drink, whether hot or cold. You can add honey or lemon to taste, perhaps even chamomile, peppermint or ginger, but so far I prefer it pure. It’s also reputed to have a calming effect on your nervous system, perfect to help during stressful times.
How quickly does it have an effect? Well, I can only proffer my personal experience here, but having struggled to adequately hydrate for an age, and with dark circles under my eyes, after just 3 days, I felt like I was sleeping differently, ie deeper and I didn’t wake to go for a pee; also the skin on my legs was noticeably less dry after five days. I’ll feedback on longer results. Suffice to say, I was so blown away I wanted to get this out to you as quickly as possible!
[EDIT: Update after two weeks of concerted drinking, I think my skin looks glowy-er on my face and is 100% less dry on my body. And generally I’ve managed to up my overall hydration because it makes a nice change from just water. I drink a flask that’s been in the fridge overnight in the morning, and one hot in the afternoon, plus at least 2-3 glasses of water. I also poop twice a day now!]
Anything they’re bad for? Linseed and flaxseed oils should not be used for cooking as they have a very low flash point and can easily burst into flame. Use as a condiment on starchy foods or bland dairy products. Otherwise, mix with other oils in dressings for salads and vegetables. Oh, and keep your seeds in an airtight container in the fridge to help them stay fresh. Don’t buy vast sacks, ground flaxseeds can quickly go rancid due to their high oil content, so it's best to consume them relatively quickly once ground.
Final caveat Like other sources of fibre, flaxseed should be taken with plenty of water so try to drink this in addition to the six daily glasses of water I already recommend (remember, tea, coffee, juice doesn't count!). And there are some conditions where additional fibre may be a bad idea, so if you have an existing condition for which you take medication, always, talk with your doctor before trying anything new. Finally, some of my research indicated that pregnant women should avoid excessive flaxseed consumption because of its hormonal effects.
Enjoy your linseed tea! Nutritious, soothing and with health benefits.
Happy Inside: How to Harness the Power of Home for Health and Happiness
