ABSTRACT
Flaxseed is an age-old known oilseed derived from the blue-flowered flax plant that chiefly grows in cold climates. This chapter describes the functional/bioactive ingredients derived from flaxseed, while further elaborating on the processing techniques used for extraction or isolation of these ingredients. Flaxseed is considered a “superfood.” The functional components of flaxseed are generally recognized as safe for human consumption. The demarcation of nutraceuticals from functional foods must be understood before going further. Functional food is very much identical to conventional food as it is part of a regular diet. Such a food demonstrates physiological benefits and leaps ahead of basic nutritional functions to reduce the chances of chronic disease. Before the onset of extraction process, some prerequisites are performed to facilitate the recovery of protein from the raw flaxseed. These are extraction of mucilage, removal of flax gum, milling, and defatting of flaxseed.
