Sunflower seeds are one of those seedy foods which we have a lot to be thankful for. Snacking on any seed is generally healthy but sunflower seeds are excellent little packets of nutrition. For a start they help support the immune system and offer heart protection benefits not seen with other nutrititious seeds.
Best added to a salad, trail mix or even sprinkled over roast vegetables and other foods like porridge to give it that tell-tale crunch.
No allergens associated with them which makes them extremely friendly to all those with other nut and seed allergies. Oh and what else?
Well, they have some other impressive health benefits.
Sunflower Seeds And Heart Health
Yes – they are good for the heart but you may ask why ? They have a rich store of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These are the “good” ones and are associated with lowering the levels of harmful cholesterol in the blood. That means reducing the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
Supporting Immunity
A strong and stable immune system is a sure route to overal good health. Sunflower seeds support the immune system by providing plenty of vitamin E as well as two key minerals we always bang on about – selenium and zinc.
Sunflower Seeds Help Keep The Pounds Off
Maintaining a healthy weight is all about consuming plenty of fibre and eating in moderation (as well as exercise). Eating sunflower seeds helps on both counts because they are full of fibre of all sorts and it acts in a satiety way – helping yo feel full longer if you eat them instead of high energy bars and other snacks.
The seeds also help with digestion and also regulating blood sugar too so there is a link with minimisng the effects of type-2 diabetes for example.
The Eyes have It.
being rich in vitamin E also means the eyes have plenty of support because vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. The National Institutes of Health has plenty of information on this vitamin so check out their webpage on the benefits and of course we talk a great deal about this critical and essential vitamin too. Along with lutein from other sources such as spinach, sunflower seeds will provide ammunition for warding off age-related macular degeneration.
Have you tried unsweetened sunflower butter – great on toast topped off with fruits and vegetables?
Muscle Support
Protein is everything when building muscle. To grow strong muscles just look for protein rich foods and sunflower seeds are n there somewhere. They are about 20% protein and one cup delivers 10g or protein obtained from the dehulled seeds.
We have added them to yogurt and smoothies just to get extra protein.
Interesting stuff, thanks.
Given the Covid crisis, I have become increasingly aware of zinc as an important mineral. Is it known how it supports the immune system?
I am not a big fan of supplements. what other natural sources of zinc are there out there and are the natural sources better for you than supplements?