Do you know flaxseed gel? I bet you do. You can either buy it in a store or just prepare it at home, which is pretty easy. Ever since flaxseed was included in the list of superfood products, I’ve noticed that more and more bloggers tend to discuss its benefits on their blogs.
I thought that since I know this and that about flaxseed gel, I should provide you with some basic information about it too. Therefore, today I’m going to present you my ideas of using flaxseed gel. And I use it not only to improve my hair’s appearance (this is the most common use of flaxseed gel) but also to get prettier and healthier skin. If you’re eager to discover the properties and applications of flaxseed gel then please carry on reading. In a moment I’ll reveal a few of my useful ideas 🙂
Flaxseed – things you should know about it
Flaxseed is nothing else but the seeds of linseed, which is a pretty common plant growing inconspicuous, tiny, gray-and-brown seeds. Once forgotten, now we rediscover flaxseed wonderful health-improving properties. Trust me, flax seeds have enormous powers that deserve recognition.
Flaxseed is rich in nutrients that are proven to be essential not only for the dietary purposes but also to improve our physical appearance. What are the nutrients? Fiber, omega-3 acids, vitamin C and mineral salts (zinc, magnesium and iron). The oil extracted from the seeds of flax is a rich source of plant sterols, tokoferol and lignans. Let’s focus on the seeds, shall we?
Application of flaxseed in personal care
A lot can be said about the health benefits of flaxseed, its importance in cancer prevention or the fact that it helps obese people lose weight. This post, however, will give you some insight on how to make use of flaxseed to improve your appearance.
Owing to the high levels of vitamin E and essential fatty acids, flaxseed is a powerful tool to improve hair, skin and nails. I believe that linseed oil (a.k.a. flaxseed oil) is the easiest to use, yet I’m a big fan of flaxseed gel, which resembles a gooey substance. It causes literally no problems whatsoever to make it at home, provided that you have some seeds in your cupboards. Oh, and the best bit is that flaxseed gel is multi-purpose.
Flaxseed gel recipe
As I’ve already mentioned this a couple of times, flaxseed gel is super easy to prepare. However, I’d like to give you advice – don’t make too much of it because flaxseed gel loses its properties within 3 days (has to be stored in the fridge).
You will need:
- 1/3 cup of flax seeds
- 1/2 cup of hot water
- 2 drops of vitamin E (optional)
Directions:
Put the seeds either into a glass or jar. Pour hot water (but not boiling water) to cover the seeds and put on a saucer. You don’t have to stir it, yet you need to be patient since the gel extraction takes time. After more or less an hour (I guess you don’t have to wait that long, yet I prefer to give the seeds enough time), strain this dense suspension either through a gauze cloth or fine-mesh strainer. Optionally you can also add vitamin E that won’t only enrich your gel with some extra properties but also preserve it from spoiling for two or three more days.
My ideas for using flaxseed gel
It’s time for the most important part of this post, which is the answer to the question concerning flaxseed gel use. And there are a few ideas to make use of.
- Hand soak – just drown your hands into the flaxseed gel (you don’t even have to strain the gel) and keep them there for 5-7 minutes. This will help you speed up the skin’s self-healing processes in order to cure scrapes, soften the skin and bind the moisture inside.
- Hair styling – it’s incredibly easy to arrange the hair the way you like it if you have flaxseed gel at your disposal. Try using it to define the curls and waves and to fix the hairdo.
- Hair repair treatment – the best effects are achieved on curly hair when you use flaxseed gel as a form of a hair mask (you can either rinse it or leave on the hair). This homemade hair mask will make the strands smooth, soft and glossy.
- Heel mask – in the case of cracking heels, you can use flaxseed gel to help the skin get smoother, moisturized and softer. This gel will also encourage skin to heal faster. Keep applying the flaxseed gel at bedtime on a weekly basis.
- Foot soak – if you don’t have time to apply flaxseed to the heels, putting on socks and removing it in the morning, you can (just alike hands) foot soak to win nourished and smooth skin.
