Flaxseed vs. Linseed

Is Linseed the same as Flaxseed?

Table of Contents

  1. What is linseed?
  2. Are there any differences between flaxseed and linseed?
  3. What are the nutritional benefits of flaxseed?
  4. Linseed vs flaxseed. Who won?

One of my favorite parts of being a dietitian is adding new foods that pack a powerful nutrition punch.  So often I hear of foods that people eliminate in order to be healthier.  I love to add new things or reintroduce some long-forgotten food item back into the daily rotation.  Some of my favorite’s additions are seeds especially chia seeds, hemp and flaxseeds.  A question I got recently, stumped me.

“Are linseed and flaxseed the same?”

I wasn’t sure.

What is Linseed?

Linseed is also known as flaxseed.  They come from the flax plant, also known as Linum usitatissimum, which belongs to the Linaceae plant family. The flax plant is a small, beautiful single-stemmed annual that grows to about 2 ft (0.6 m) tall and has grayish green leaves and sky-blue flowers.

The health benefits from linseeds are attributed to the omega-3 fatty acids, lignans and fiber they contain.

Are there any differences between flaxseed and linseed?

Some may think there is a difference between flax seed and linseed due to the difference in possible uses of flaxseed oil and linseed oil.  Many believe that flaxseed oil is the only edible form and linseed oil is used commercially.  Linseed oil can be used commercially as a preservative for wood, concrete and as an ingredient in paint.  Linseed oil and flaxseed oil can both be consumed if used in the form that is suitable for human consumption

What are the nutritional benefits of flaxseed?

Nutrition in 1 tablespoon of flax seed

Nutrients
Calories37
Protein1.3 grams
Carbs2 grams
Fiber1.9 grams
Total Fat3 grams
Omega 3 fatty acids1,597

The battle of linseed vs. flaxseed.  Who won?

There appears to be no significant nutritional difference between flaxseed and linseeds.  They are from the same plant, are a nutrition powerhouse and a fantastic addition to breads, pancakes, breakfast cereals and baked goods.