Where is the best place to store linseed oil? How to Consume Flaxseed Oil Products

There are more and more fans of a healthy lifestyle every year. People who take care of themselves try to eat natural products, replace medicines and cosmetics with folk recipes.

These include linseed oil - a product known for its properties since ancient times. Golden pomace from flax seeds requires special storage conditions; if they are violated, it loses its taste and can be harmful to health.

Flax is a plant cultivated by the Slavs from time immemorial. The range of its application is quite wide:

• fabric manufacturing;
• medicine;
• cooking;
• cosmetology.

Oil is made from flax seeds in several ways. The most gentle is the cold pressing method, the absence of heat treatment allows you to save all its healing properties. Other methods: hot pressing and extraction (using solvents).

Flaxseed oil is a viscous liquid of golden color with a pleasant, unobtrusive odor. Its taste is somewhat reminiscent of peanuts.

At low temperatures, the product thickens, and upon contact with air, it oxidizes and becomes covered with a transparent, rather dense film.

The product contains many valuable vitamins and fatty acids for humans:

• folic acid;
• vitamins C, E;
• polyunsaturated fatty acids Omega3 and Omega6: linoleic, oleic, linolenic (in this indicator they surpass even fish oil);
• plant hormones;
• proteins.

When taken orally as little as 30 ml of flax seed oil per day, it has a beneficial effect on the functioning of many systems.:

• normalizes bowel function;
• heals damage to the gastric mucosa and prevents them;
• lowers blood pressure;
• strengthens blood vessels and cleanses them of cholesterol plaques;
• regulates metabolic processes in the body.

Flaxseed oil is extremely useful for women, it normalizes the menstrual cycle, improves the condition of the skin, hair and nails, and also helps to maintain normal weight.

However, when overdosed, it can be harmful: it makes the blood thicker, which can lead to diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Where can you buy essential oils

The demand for flaxseed oil is quite high, so it is important to know where you can get it. If earlier it was possible to buy it mainly in a pharmacy, today it is sold in stores and even on the market.

Flaxseed oil can be refined and unrefined, the latter is considered more useful, it has the shortest shelf life - a year from the date of extraction, and in an open package, on average, a month, subject to all conditions.

Refined oil is purified, components are added that increase its shelf life by several months, however, such a product does not bring much benefit.

Pharmacies sell encapsulated oil, one unit contains a daily dose of consumption, it is convenient to buy it for medicinal purposes. Its shelf life is 12-18 months.

Linseed oil quickly loses its properties at high temperature and contact with light and air.

Criteria for buying a quality product:

1. Place.

It is better to buy in a pharmacy or a store. There is a constant temperature regime, unlike the market. If the room is hot and the bottle is in bright light, it is better to refuse to buy in this place

1. Spill date.

After opening, the oil retains its properties for about a month, so it must be fresh.

1. Compound.

Quality little should not contain deodorizing additives and preservatives.

1. Volume.

Due to the short shelf life, it is better to buy small bottles if you do not plan to use it in large quantities.

1. When buying oil for bottling, you need to smell and taste it.

A poor-quality product will be bitter and have a rather unpleasant odor.

If the oil is planned to be used for cosmetic purposes, the presence of additives that increase the shelf life is acceptable. If the product will be used in food as a dietary supplement, it is better to give preference to unrefined or buy it in capsules.

How to properly and how long to store the oil after opening

So that linseed oil does not lose its valuable properties, it is important to create certain conditions for it and know how long an open bottle can be stored:

1. Temperature regime.

Polyunsaturated acids and vitamins are destroyed at temperatures above 23°C. The optimal mode is 20-23°C. In extreme cases, you can keep it in the refrigerator door.

At this temperature, it may thicken, but, upon returning to room temperature, it will return to its normal state. You can not heat it in the microwave and in a water bath.

1. Illumination.

Useful elements lose their properties when exposed to sunlight. The place where the product is stored must be dark.

1. Humidity. Flaxseed oil should be stored in a dry place.

Particular attention should be paid to the container in which the product will be stored. It should be made of tinted glass or high-quality ceramics. It is desirable that it has a narrowed and hermetically sealed neck - this will reduce the contact of oil with air. The best option is a small brown glass bottle with a natural cork.

After opening, a bottle of unrefined oil can be stored for 2-4 weeks, preferably in the refrigerator door. In this case, sediment may appear on the bottom. This phenomenon is quite common for a raw product and does not affect its quality.

Refined oil can be stored for up to 6 weeks in a dark cupboard (away from stoves and radiators) or in a pantry. Capsules retain their properties for up to one and a half years.

Flaxseed oil is used to support the work of the digestive, cardiovascular systems, it has a particularly beneficial effect on the female body. Properly stored, it will be of great benefit to fans of a healthy diet.

The popularity of linseed oil as a carrier of components that are especially useful for the human body is becoming more and more every year.

People acquire this product, unique in its composition, in different quantities and natural, in connection with this, the question becomes: how and where to store linseed oil.

How storage affects the properties of linseed oil

• as a useful food supplement;
• for the treatment of certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, heart;
• for cosmetic purposes;
• with dietary nutrition;
• to improve the condition of wool in animals;
• as a prophylactic.

For different purposes, a certain dosage and frequency of taking linseed oil is required. As a result, special attention must be paid to how to store flaxseed oil. It should be understood that improper storage can not only reduce the activity of beneficial properties, but also cause intestinal disorders and disorders in the work of many systems.

Particular attention should be paid to how to store linseed oil after opening the bottle. Since the high content of fatty acids is the main reason for the rapid drying of the oil composition in air, when the molecules of fatty acids stick together, they form polymer units. As a result of this reaction, the polymers differ in their characteristics from the previous molecules, which provokes the loss of the beneficial properties of flax.

Storage Requirements

People who use this product for long-term therapeutic or preventive procedures should follow certain rules on how to store flaxseed oil after opening.

Should be considered:

1. After opening, the oil bottle cannot be stored without a cap.
2. Products in which oil has been added - salads, cereals, should be eaten immediately.
3. Since open oil quickly oxidizes, allowing free radicals to form, close the lid immediately after taking the required amount.
4. The place where to store cold-pressed linseed oil or its unrefined composition is a refrigerator in which the temperature does not exceed 5 degrees.
5. When sediment appears, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the product can be used further only on the condition that this sediment is no more than 1% of the total volume.
6. Refined linseed oil is stored in a dark, cool place.
7. If the oil is rarely used, then it is better to purchase a small amount of it - a small bottle of 100 g.
8. The shelf life of the purchased oil can be found on the packaging or in the instructions attached to the product. Each manufacturer has its own storage requirements.
9. Fresh flaxseed oil has little or no nutty flavor. Unrefined fresh oil may be slightly bitter. If rancidity is felt in the oil, it has already deteriorated and cannot be used for food.

The shelf life of linseed oil after opening is standard - no more than two weeks, if stored in a cool place. No more than 1 month should be stored medicines that are prepared on the basis of linseed oil and other types of fat-containing components - vitamin E, fish oil, etc. This applies to cosmetics prepared at home and mixtures for animals.

According to generally accepted standards, bottled flax oil is stored at a temperature of no more than 23 degrees in a dark place, with low humidity. Shelf life if properly stored and unopened is 1 year from date of manufacture.

How long flaxseed oil is stored depends on how it is prepared under production conditions. Flaxseed oil, which goes on sale, is:

• refined;
• cold pressed.

Refined oil can be stored longer than cold-pressed flaxseed oil. In any case, you must follow the instructions on the packaging. According to useful characteristics, unrefined oil leaves more useful vitamins in the process of pressing using low temperatures, while refined oil leaves more fatty acids. The only difference is the shelf life.

In no case should flax oil be boiled or used after the statute of limitations has expired.

How to choose linseed oil

How useful linseed oil will be, storage affects, of course, in the first place.

But it is also worth paying attention when buying this product to other equally important features.

There are some important factors to consider:

1. There are several forms of production of linseed oil. It is sold in bottles of 100 ml, 250 ml, 500 ml and 1 liter, as well as in the form of capsules. Preference should be given to small packages if the intended service life is not more than 2 weeks.
2. Large bottles of flaxseed oil are best used for large animals or large numbers of people.
3. Capsules are very convenient for long-term use of flax oil as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent. They already have a dosed composition that is easy to use with a single application.
4. When choosing linseed oil, you need to look at the date of manufacture - the oil must be fresh.
5. The packaging in which the oil is stored must be dry, especially for capsules. High humidity can cause rapid deterioration of the product when it is opened.
6. Do not sound the alarm if a precipitate has formed in the purchased oil. This is often the case with cold-pressed oils.
7. You should pay attention to how linseed oil is stored in a pharmacy or store. If the requirements are violated, it is worth finding another place to buy it.
8. If the oil is used as an oral supplement or treatment, care should be taken to ensure that there are no additional impurities in the oil. Such options can only be welcomed in cosmetology.

It should be remembered that flax oil is beneficial only if it is properly selected and stored.

Linseed hair oil is made from flax seeds. The healing properties of this oil were known even to the inhabitants of ancient Colchis. There are sources that even the "father of medicine" Hippocrates actively used flaxseed oil in the treatment of his patients from burns and severe pain.

The use of linseed oil

First of all, oil is used to prepare a variety of food products. It is added to all kinds of salads, in Germany it is seasoned with cottage cheese, and in Canada it is used to make margarine. Recently, people have been especially active in using flaxseed oil for cosmetic purposes: it restores hair and stimulates its growth, cares for the skin, eliminates black spots, softens calluses, relieves inflammation ... The list can be long.

Main Applications

• food products;
• Medicine;
• Cosmetology;
• Technical industry (production of quick-drying varnishes, varnishes, oil paints).

Brands of leading manufacturers

• organic;
• Dial Export;
• Biocor;
• BIASK;
• Slavyanka Arina.

Advantages and disadvantages

The benefits of linseed oil lies in the high content of unsaturated fatty acids, enzymes, trace elements (manganese, copper, zinc),. Among the advantages:

• It has a low fat content (suitable for any type of skin and hair);
• Restores the fat balance of the scalp;
• Eliminates dandruff;
• Reduces hair loss, makes them thick and healthy;
• Strengthens damaged and dry hair;
• Gives shine.

However, as with any tool, linseed oil has its drawbacks:

• Polyunsaturated fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6, which are part of the oil, oxidize very quickly in air and when heated. When oxidized, they become toxic. Therefore, linseed oil should be applied to hair and skin without heat treatment, and it is generally better to store the bottle in the refrigerator, away from light.
• An opened bottle must be used within a month. In addition, you need to monitor the expiration date. Expired oil (even if the bottle has not been opened) will certainly not bring any benefit.

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of flaxseed oil apply only to its ingestion.

Recipes for masks using linseed oil

Such a simple mask perfectly helps with hair loss, provides excellent care for the scalp.

Additional information:

• With a strong loss, it is necessary to make a mask 2-3 times a week for 1-2 months.

Additional information:

• The mask allows you to quickly grow long hair;
• It is recommended to make a mask once a week for 1-2 months.

Additional information:

• Nourishing regenerating mask, protects the ends of the hair from splitting;
• Alcohol irritates the scalp, which contributes to better penetration of the oil;
• It is recommended to make a mask once a week. The result will be noticeable in 3-5 weeks.

Here is a compilation of some of the harmful properties of flaxseed oil. Pay attention to them, some negative properties can be serious.

1.Rapid oxidation spoils the product and leads to fire

Flaxseed oil is not intended for heat treatment, as it is subject to rapid and severe oxidation. This happens when interacting with air and the process accelerates when heated.

Oxidation produces harmful free radicals. Therefore, you can not fry on it or add to hot food. Do not store it outdoors in an open container. Store only in the refrigerator.

If the conditions and terms of storage are violated, the oil will go rancid. Due to the presence of ketones, epoxides and aldehydes in rancid oil, it should not be eaten.

For the curious: oil is a liquid continuous medium, with a molecular weight of 450-500 and a density of 0.9, we get a mole of about 0.5 liters. For the addition (complete oxidation) of 1 double bond, 22.4 liters of oxygen = 100 liters of air are needed. In this case, everything must be mixed well. A half empty 0.25 L bottle contains 125 ml of air, or about 0.01 mole of oxygen. 125 ml oil = 1/4 mole. Therefore, the limiting oxidation state = 4%. Too much! Conclusion, you need to buy oil in a small container.

For the curious: Linseed oil spontaneously polymerizes in the open air with an exothermic reaction. A cloth soaked in oil may ignite spontaneously.

2. sunlight will ruin the oil

Linseed oil deteriorates from exposure to direct and indirect sunlight. Therefore, it must be stored in a dark place, and it is desirable to purchase it in a darkened container. Otherwise, the body will receive harm, not benefit.

3. short shelf life even in the refrigerator

After opening the bottle, the shelf life of healthy linseed oil is 1 month. The sooner it is eaten after opening, the less likely it is to saturate the body with free radicals instead of useful omega-3 acids.

Tip: buy products from a well-known manufacturer and pay attention to the expiration date.

4. harm of linseed oil for women

Although there are not many specific harmful properties, it is still better to know about them. Here is a description of the harmful qualities of flaxseed oil for women's health.

5. excessive consumption

There are no specific recommendations for this. The product usually does not cause allergies, and its overdose does not threaten serious side effects. The main harm from excessive consumption of flaxseed oil is that it causes loose stools.

Excessive consumption of oil can harm the following categories of people:

• pregnant women;
• nursing mothers;
• suffering from hormonal imbalance.

It is worth noting: flaxseed oil contains phytoesrogens that duplicate the hormone estrogen.

6. if there are stones

Contraction of the muscles of the urinary and biliary tract can lead to the infringement of the stones present in them. This will cause an attack of pain at the site of infringement. Therefore, people with stones in the organs should not use pure linseed oil (like any other vegetable oil), or this should be done with extreme caution.

7. harm from flaxseed oil when taking medication

Flaxseed oil can be harmful to people who use painkillers, as well as certain drugs for lowering blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, and against diabetes. People taking blood thinners should also avoid flaxseed oil, as it prevents blood from clotting.

The use of the product is contraindicated for those taking antiviral drugs and antidepressants, as well as for women using oral contraceptives. Avoid using flaxseed oil if you are taking laxatives.

In any case, when taking medications and with chronic diseases, you should consult your doctor. Perhaps you need a special diet and there will be no place for linseed oil in it.

Flaxseed oil can also be used in salad dressings, and added to homemade hair masks and skin care products. But how to store linseed oil after opening it, because then its shelf life is reduced, and useful qualities quickly disappear. Let's figure out how to properly store flaxseed oil and how to use it.

Features of storage of linseed oil

Flaxseed oil is a storehouse of vitamins and nutrients. Useful properties of this product are achieved due to the content:

• a large amount (in percentage terms) of unsaturated fatty acids Omega-3 (lanolin), Omega-6 (linoleic) and Omega-9 (oleic);
• B vitamins, including folic acid, C, F, vitamin E (tocopherol) and phytohormones, analogues of female estrogens.

Flax seed oil is used in many areas:

• in industry - for the manufacture of paints and varnishes and floor coverings (linoleum);
• in cosmetology, including for the preparation of home care products with their own hands;
• in folk medicine and dietetics;
• as a dietary supplement of general strengthening and preventive action.

Dishes with linseed oil are popular with those who adhere to the rules of a healthy diet, follow the figure and prefer to use only natural products. But can you cook with flaxseed oil?

This product must not be heated or heat treated as epoxides, aldehydes, carcinogens and other compounds are released after exposure to heat. Eating food fried in flaxseed oil is dangerous.

Storage methods: 5 rules

The instructions supplied by the manufacturer with each flaxseed product contain information on use and describe the optimal storage conditions for flaxseed oil.

After purchase, linseed oil is stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of about 5 ° C. You can also place the bottle in the refrigerator door, but the container must be made of dark glass and tightly closed.

Such strict requirements are due to some features of the product. For example, it is associated with the following properties:

• When in contact with oxygen a polymerization process occurs when a dense film of sticky fatty acid molecules forms on the surface. Of course, all useful qualities in this case will be lost.
• Under the influence of heat and sunlight rancidity of the oil and the release of harmful substances.

Dishes with linseed oil dressing are best consumed immediately after preparation, because after half an hour irreversible processes start, the product rapidly loses all its valuable qualities, while changing taste and smell. If the oil is bitter, then it is better to refuse to use it.

What are the best ways to store and where to store linseed oil after opening?

Image	Description
	Rule 1 It is good if the bottle is made of dark green or brown glass. If the product was purchased in a plastic container or a transparent bottle, it must be poured.
	Rule 2 The bottle must always be tightly closed. Do not store oil without a lid. The ideal option is a lid with a dense plastic or natural cork. It is extremely important to minimize contact with air so that the product does not deteriorate.
	Rule 3 Optimum storage conditions - in the refrigerator. In a place where it will not freeze and crystallize. You can also hide the bottle in a kitchen cabinet or cellar, as long as it is cool (up to 23 °C) and dark. The shelf life directly affects the useful qualities of the product, so it is important to observe the temperature regime.
	Rule 4 For oil, it is better when there is no light at all. A dark and cool place - a nightstand, locker or cellar - is what you need.
	Rule 5 Do not forget that the shelf life of flaxseed oil shortens after opening the bottle. If pronounced rancidity is felt, the expiration date has expired, and the product is not suitable for internal use.

It is advisable to purchase linseed oil in small dark glass bottles with a tight lid, as in the photo. The likelihood that you will use up a liter container in a fairly short time is minimal, but small containers are easier to store.

Manufacturers may provide different information about expiration dates. But usually the shelf life after opening does not exceed a month (30 days). Ideally, the contents of the bottle should be consumed within two weeks.

The shelf life of oil in its original packaging without integrity damage can vary from six months to 12 months. Therefore, when buying, choose the bottle whose contents are “fresher”.

Where to use expired flaxseed oil? Unfortunately, like any spoiled product, it will have to be thrown away. Some manage to use it as a component of hair masks, but you should not expect a positive and healing effect.

Conclusion

Beautiful appearance and good health are the price of a proper lifestyle and healthy nutrition. The use of linseed oil in food and in the creation of homemade beauty products for personal care is extremely useful, because a rare product can boast such a rich composition.

The maximum preservation of all useful qualities during the entire shelf life is achieved if the storage conditions are observed. I talked about this in detail. The video in this article will reinforce the words with visual instructions. And if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments.