Sunflower seeds
Native to North America and used by Native Americans as a high energy food source, sunflower seeds have been culivated for over 5000 years. Packed with nutrients, the sunflower seed is actually the fruit of the sunflower plant. More commonly eaten as a healthy snack than as part of a meal, they can also be used as garnishes or ingredients in various recipes. The seeds can also be sprouted and eaten in salads.
The seeds may be sold as in-shell seeds or dehulled kernels. In-shell sunflower seeds are particularly popular in Mediterranean and Asian countries. In Turkey, Syria and Israel they can be bought freshly roasted in shops and markets and are a common stadium food, while in Malaysia they can be bought freshly packed in various roasted flavors.
In addition to linoleic acid, sunflower seeds are also an excellent source of dietary fiber, some amino acids, Vitamin E, B Vitamins, and minerals. They are also rich in cholesterol-lowering phytosterols. Sunflower seeds are a good source of magnesium, which helps reduce the severity of asthma, lower high blood pressure, and prevent migraine headaches, as well as reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Sunflower seeds are generally available in prepackaged containers as well as bulk bins. When purchasing unshelled seeds, make sure that the shells are not broken or dirty. They should be firm and not have a limp texture. When purchasing shelled seeds, avoid those that appear yellowish in color, which may be a sign of rancidity.
Source: www.wikipedia.org, www.whfoods.com
Image by Madthew (Flickr) available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license
Native to North America and used by Native Americans as a high energy food source, sunflower seeds have been culivated for over 5000 years. Packed with nutrients, the sunflower seed is actually the fruit of the sunflower plant. More commonly eaten as a healthy snack than as part of a meal, they can also be used as garnishes or ingredients in various recipes. The seeds can also be sprouted and eaten in salads.
The seeds may be sold as in-shell seeds or dehulled kernels. In-shell sunflower seeds are particularly popular in Mediterranean and Asian countries. In Turkey, Syria and Israel they..
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