Hi everyone,
This was in the Times and other papers at the weekend but as you have to subscribe to the Times so here's an article in the Mail on Sunday.
According tothe recent EFSA report that linseeds contain a type of "cyanogenic glycoside" that can produce cyanide gas as it degrades, this is obviously important to all of us who regularly cook and bake with ground flax seeds, when 1 tea spoon could be too much for young children, so here's the article:
Morning Hidden
I was chatting about this very issue yesterday to another member of the forum, and she gave me some information as follows:
"Q: I recently read that flaxseed contains cyanide. I have been consuming two to three tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily for several years. Should I be concerned? Does this quantity of flaxseed provide a clinically significant amount of cyanide?
A: Lynne M. Ausman, DSc, RD, director of the Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition Program at Tufts’ HNRCA Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory, says you have nothing to worry about. Many foods, including not only flax but cashews, almonds, some beans and other plant products, naturally contain very small amounts of cyanide compounds. You’re more likely to ingest these trace amounts of cyanide when such foods are consumed raw, as heat breaks down the compounds. Even when flaxseed is eaten raw, the body has a natural capacity to break down a certain amount of these cyanide compounds. A 1994 study found that, in healthy individuals, daily consumption of as much as 60 grams of raw flaxseed—more than eight tablespoons—was safe."
I am not sure of the original source of those quotes, but Dr Lynne Ausman's reply is quoted, and she is the Director of the Biochemical & Molecular Nutrition Program at Tufts' HNRCA Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory.
I was actually quite relieved that my golden linseeds that I put on my porridge aren't ground up - I tend to rely on my teeth, and discussed that with Kai-- one time, who had been looking into the issue as well. I think maybe freshly ground ones would be better than pre-packaged and ground up ones?
I would be interested to see what others think about it.
Zest 
Hi Zest, I have looked into ground and unground and you might want to look into it yourself but what I took away from the information is that they need to be ground or they just go straight through your system with none of the health benefits. Also you need to grind them in a coffee grinder or blender in small quantities as they can go rancid quickly. Therefore I buy them whole and grind them myself. (They are not good if you have diverticulitis or bowel problems).
As for cyanide if you look into cyanide in food it’s in spinach, beans, nuts, soya, bamboo shoots etc.
I have about a dessertspoon of them a day and I don’t have any concerns about the cyanide 😁🌱👍Ali
Hi Ali,
Thanks so much, I appreciate all this information - I already knew about grinding them in a coffee grinder and using small quantities, and that's what I used to do, but I must admit I forgot where I put the coffee grinder, and then ended up just buying them and sprinkling them as whole entities - and I did think it probably meant they were mainly going through me without much chewing! I must try to find my coffee grinder and start doing the grinding again. I am trying to de-clutter in the kitchen currently, so hopefully it will turn up.
Thanks for your help, the information is really useful.
Zest
I looked into it a bit more yesterday and found a video explaining that you would almost have to eat more than is humanly possible to get cyanide poisoning so yes, find your grinder and get grinding with no worries. Good luck with your hunt and you never know what else you might find in your de clutter 😁
Here’s the link but the mans tone is rather difficult to listen to so to save you the trouble the bottom line is that flax seeds are not at any real risk of poisoning you unless you ate a ridiculous amount all in one go on an empty stomach.
nutritionfacts.org/video/sh...
Ali 🙂🌱
I appreciate this Ali, thank you! My hubby thinks he knows where our coffee grinder is, so I should be grinding away again in no time! lol
Zest
That’s reassuring, I eat a tablespoonful daily on soup, and also eat mung beans, and any other other bean I can in a day, I should be in that holiday ad., “I shouldn’t be here”. Dee
The article Jerry posted was from The Daily Mail (mainstream media) so I take anything the mainstream media say with a pinch of salt.
If the papers were to say the world will end next week or some other disaster will occur next week then I usually say to myself “yeah right”.
I am still waiting for the United Kingdom to completely freeze over and I read this bit of info years ago.
Thank you for sharing Jerry, I'll have a closer look at that.
I've read Zest 's reply so will also have a look on the internet.
Once again, thank you.
Thanks Alicia, I think baking is the best way of using ground flaxseed but didn't like reading this. ☹️
Couldn't agree more Jerry. I'm a bit hesitant about using the ground flaxseed I have in my cupboard, silly thing is I don't know what recipe I bought it for now🤔
Wow, didn't know that? I had bought some awhile ago, but lost interest in them so I didn't eat them. Could that be they weren't cook properly? The same applies to beans, if they are not cooked enough you stand the chance of cyanide poisoning also. Thanks for the info.
Hi Want2BHappy3 you are right beans/legumes like soy contain phytic acid which stop the absorption of vital minerals unless prepared properly.
I usually buy my beans ready made, I've tried cooking my own when I'm being cheap, lol I Always over cook them, they end up looking like baby Poop 😖.
Hi, I know exactly what you mean. There must be a knack to doing it properly but can't get it right so like you I buy tinned at a price!!!!😸
Hi Jerry, maybe you can help as to where I've gone wrong all the time with cooking beans etc? Maz😸
Hi BoohPear I soak them and simmer them gently, here's a guide:
bonappetit.com/story/how-to...
Jerry 😊
Hi Jerry, thanks a lot for that. I always was of the opinion you had to fast cook them for some time then turn them down til cooked. They looked awful with the skins floating on the top.!!! 😸
Hey BoohPear thats cooked to destruction, its like waiting for the smoke alarm to go off...😁
Hi Jerry,that's boosted my confidence no end !!!! 😢🐱 ha ha
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