How to store flaxseed oil?

Flaxseed oil has a wide scope of application for a long time, as it contains many useful substances that have a beneficial effect on the human body.However, with long or inadequate storage, it loses its properties. In order for this valuable product to remain usable for as long as possible, you need to take care of its proper storage.

Obtaining this valuable product is a well-established process in those regions where flax grows. However, there are different ways of its production, affecting the qualitative composition of the final product. The most saturated with useful substances is the oil produced by cold pressing.

Raw materials are cleaned, crushed and put under the press. The resulting product has a beautiful color, it has a taste and light aroma. It maximally preserves all the useful components that the raw materials contained. This oil can be distinguished visually - it may contain a cloudy precipitate. This is a perishable product, although the most expensive.

Unrefined oil can be hydrated, that is, treated with water to remove precipitating substances; a small amount of sediment is sometimes present. The product retains almost all the properties inherent in the unrefined oil, however, the hydration process removes some useful components.

On sale you can find refined linseed oil. It is obtained from unrefined by mechanical and chemical processing. It has no sediment, it lasts longer, has a weak taste, color and aroma.

Refined oil can undergo another cleaning - deodorization. Deodorized oil is transparent, there is no sediment in it, it has almost no taste and smell.

In industry, it is used for the production of drying oil and quick-drying oil paints; natural linoleum is made from it. However, the abundance of nutrients makes it an indispensable product for a healthy diet, in medicine and cosmetology.

The beneficial properties of the oil give it contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and trace elements. Their diversity in composition is large, and this makes the oil a suitable product for various conditions of the body.

It is enough to use one or two tablespoons of the product per day to:

• normalize the gastrointestinal tract;
• heal damage to the gastric mucosa and prevent their appearance;
• reduce blood pressure;
• reduce the risk of acquiring cardiovascular diseases;
• strengthen blood vessels, improve their elasticity and clear them of cholesterol;
• regulate metabolic processes in the body;
• improve the body, improve immunity;
• prevent weight gain;
• look good, have healthy hair and nails;
• restore health after diseases and surgeries;
• normalize the menstrual cycle in women.

You should know that the beneficial properties of the oil as a food additive manifest themselves only if you take the oil as such, and not use it to prepare fried or baked dishes: heat treatment leads to the formation of carcinogenic substances. Therefore, add it to the ready, but not hot, dishes, or use as a dressing for salads.

It must be remembered that polyunsaturated acids lose their properties very quickly with the access of air. This means that you need to add butter only before serving the dish directly on the table. Do not refill too large portions - storage, even in the refrigerator, they are not subject.

Do not take too large doses of oil - it will lead to diarrhea, badly affect the liver, cause other unpleasant conditions.Also, oil is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance and some chronic diseases and when taken in combination with certain medications. In the presence of diseases, it will be helpful to consult a doctor.

In cosmetology, it is used for various skin lesions and is used as a wound healing agent. It can be added to creams and masks. The oil will perfectly moisturize the skin, relieve dryness, irritation and peeling. Just do not need to prepare large portions of funds - they are not stored for a long time.

The product can be used as a mask for hair. It will well affect split ends, strengthen hair follicles, help restore hair after coloring, make them more silky.

It is also useful to periodically treat them with nails. Oil will help with their delamination and fragility, will help to restore their elasticity and luster.

All the numerous properties of the product will manifest, if it is usable, not lost freshness. The expiration date printed on the packaging applies to the product in an unopened container of the manufacturer. But the fact is that after it is opened, flaxseed oil can be stored for about a month. Unsuitable storage conditions help speed up the loss of beneficial properties.

To prevent this from happening, you should store the opened oil correctly. It would be useful to write the date when you opened the bottle on the label. First of all, it is very important to respect the temperature.

The destruction of polyunsaturated acids and vitamins begins when the mark exceeds 23. The optimum temperature is 18–23. The product can be stored in the refrigerator door. Low temperatures may cause thickening of the product or precipitation. It's not scary - at room temperature, it will return to its original state. In no case can not warm it in the microwave or using a water bath.

Also need to take care of the container for storage. It is best if tinted glass or high-quality ceramics are used for its production, since the substances contained in the container should not enter into chemical interaction with the elements of the oil.

If you bought the oil in a plastic container, then after opening it should be poured into a glass, preferably brown bottle with a narrow neck and a tight stopper. If you do not have a dark bottle at hand, then light for better storage wrap thick paper.

The storage place should not be located near the stove or heating devices.

Be sure to minimize the time of contact of the oil with air. Do not forget to tightly close the cap on the bottle after each use to reduce the time of exposure of the air to the oil, which oxidizes it. For the same reason, the oil should be stored in a bottle with a narrow neck.

Since linseed oil cannot be stored long after opening, you should not buy it in a large package, more than 0.5 liters, it is unwise to purchase. Today, you can buy flaxseed oil in the store, in the pharmacy, and on the market. In the market it is sometimes offered to buy for bottling. And although in this case you will be able to purchase a small amount of it, you should still refuse from such a purchase - it is very difficult to create favorable conditions for the storage of the product on the market, it is not protected from temperature extremes and exposure to air.

Pharmacies can buy flaxseed oil in capsules. This is very convenient because:

• the product is dosed - it contains the daily rate;
• long shelf life;
• it is better protected from the harmful effects of the environment, the destructive processes are slow, and the oil remains suitable for the entire stated period on the packaging;
• in capsules, as a rule, there is only the product obtained by the method of cold pressing, that is, all the beneficial substances in it are maximally stored;
• convenient to keep or take on the road; you only need to protect from heat and exposure to sunlight.

If you feel that the oil has started to taste bitter or has acquired a characteristic smell, and also if you find that the expiration date stated on the label has gone out, then such a product should be discarded immediately, not sparing the money spent. In order to eliminate the damage done to the body by harmful substances, it may take much more money and effort.

See the following video for how to use and store flaxseed oil.