The Health Benefits of Sunflower Seeds

Tired of the same old snacks? Try out a handful of sunflower seeds! They are as delicious as they are nutritious. Sunflowers are thought to have originated in Mexico and Peru. They were one of the first plants to ever be cultivated in the United States. For more than 5,000 years they have been used by Native Americans not only for food and a source of oil, but for other purposes including dye pigment. Here are some of the health benefits of eating sunflower seeds.

• Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of vitamin E which has been suggested to help promote good brain health. Vitamin E is also helpful for neutralizing freeradicals that can damage fat-containing structures and molecules such as cell membranes, brain cells, and cholesterol. It also plays an important role in preventing cardiovascular disease.
• Sunflower seeds are a concentrated source of manganese, copper, vitamin B5, phosphorus, and tryptophan.
• It has been shown that eating sunflower seeds can contribute to having a health brain (due to it’s amount of vitamin E).
• Because these seeds have a high fat content and are prone to rancidity, it is best to store them in an airtight container in the refridgerator.

Did You Know?

•  Sunflower seeds have been used for more than 5,000 years by Native Americans. They use the seeds for food, oil, and the flowers, leaves, roots, and stems are used for various purposes including dye pigment!

References

Mateljan, G. (2007). The Worlds Healthiest Foods. Seattle, WA: George Mateljan Foundation.

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.