This entry was posted 13 years, 11 months ago.
June 29, 2009
Not many of us know that a handful of grilled sunflower seeds can be a great healthy snack for everyone. These little seeds are an unparalleled source of natural energy and Vitamin E. Some people try to avoid eating sunflower seeds thinking that this food has very high caloric content and can stimulate weight gain. However, it is a wrong consumption as sunflower seeds contain only vegetable oil which is not getting stored in our body as fat. Sunflower seeds are quite popular throughout the world and currently, Russia, the US and China are the world’s leading producers of sunflower oil and sunflower seeds, followed by Argentina, India and South Africa.
100 g of sunflower seeds can charge you with a great portion of energy (about 560 kcal). This amount of seeds has 49 g vegetable fat (including monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and saturated fats), 22 g proteins, 10.5 g of dietary fiber and 2.5 g sugar. The nutrients and useful minerals containing in sunflower seeds include potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, sodium, manganese, Vitamins E and C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid and many more.
Sunflower seeds can provide our body with a great dose of Vitamin E, a natural antioxidant with significant anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and anti-cancerous effects. Another very important heath benefit of sunflower seeds is lowering cholesterol levels in our veins and arteries. According to the findings of the research published the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, sunflower seeds contain great amounts of phytosterols, natural chemicals which can reduce bad cholesterol level and improve the function of our heart.
Besides, the experts underline that sunflower seeds, 100 g of which contain 120 mg of calcium, are a perfect natural source of this mineral necessary for bone strengthening and reconstruction. Sunflower seeds can provide our body with good amount of fiber essential for our good digestive health. Magnesium is among the key minerals which has positive effects on the function of our nerve and muscular systems. Finally, sunflower seeds are considered to be an excellent addition to almost every possible dish, especially salads, stewed vegetables, breads, and even fruit desserts. Add a palmful of sunflower seeds, this unique natural source of vitamins and energy, to your healthy diet and you’ll remain active and healthy for many years.
Author Info: Hi! My name is Carla and I am a 5th year medical student at HYMS. I am interested in alternative medicine and I have done months researching the topic of herbal medicine. Besides, I like interviewing people and learning more about their experiences with one or another type of herbal treatments. I am willing to contribute to this site with my knowledge, and I would be happy to help you out to the best of my ability with any specific questions or problems related to alternative medicine.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:22 am
Thank you for sharing this. i love to eat sun flower seeds.
See you around.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:53 am
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