If you’ve ever eaten sunflower seeds, you’ve probably heard that they’re good for your health. However, if you aren’t eating them on a regular basis (and even if you are), it’s worth taking some time to review their many health benefits and the surprising ways in which these benefits can affect your life. So without further ado, here are five incredible health benefits of sunflower seeds that you probably didn’t know about but will definitely enjoy!
Type of sunflower seeds:
There are three types of sunflower seeds: black oil, striped and brown. The type you choose will impact on your health in different ways. Black oil sunflower seeds have been linked with lower risks for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.
White striped sunflower seeds tend to be higher in fat content which means they’re better for your heart than black oil seed varieties. Brown varieties tend to be cheaper but also have fewer health benefits as compared to their counterparts.
Scientists believe that eating black oil sunflower seeds can help lower your risk of developing high blood pressure. This is because it contains a lot of magnesium, which is an important nutrient for maintaining normal blood pressure levels. Here’re different type of sunflower seeds that are available in the market:
1. Smackin sunflower seeds:
When it comes to snacking, nothing’s easier than munching on a bag of sunflower seeds. Smackin’ offers an excellent selection — each one tastes great, and you’re sure to find one that fits your taste buds!
In addition to being delicious and affordable, smackin sunflower seeds are also packed with nutrients.
2. Chinook sunflower seeds:
If you’re like most people, your first thought upon seeing sunflower seeds was probably hmm, how can I lose weight? Well chinook sunflower seeds may not be a miracle ingredient that makes you slim overnight, but they do have some nice benefits to offer. Chinooks are easy to add to any diet because they’re gluten-free and 100% natural.
3. Rabiz sunflower seeds:
According to new research, rabiz sunflower seeds are filled with vitamins C and B6. Just one-quarter cup of rabiz contains 10 percent of your daily recommended intake for vitamin B6, which may prevent depression.
But that’s not all: A diet high in vitamin B6 is also associated with a reduced risk for heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, they contain 85 percent of your daily required intake for vitamin C!
4. Burpee sunflower:
A good way to get sunflower seeds into your diet is through these burpee sunflowers. Simply plant some in your garden and eat them as you need them, perhaps while doing a few burpees.
Eat them raw or roasted; either way, they are delicious and good for you. What’s more, they contain lots of vitamin E, which reduces heart disease and cancer risks by protecting cells from oxidative damage in your body.
5. Pollenless sunflower seeds:
If you’re looking to reap some serious health benefits, grab a bag of pollenless sunflower seeds. These tiny nuts are incredible — they contain some amazing nutrients that can benefit your body in a number of ways.
Because they’re free from pollen (and therefore free from pesticides), they’re one of nature’s most potent foods.
6. Pioneer sunflower seeds:
The pioneer sunflower seed is huge, covered in a large hard shell, and has lots of crunchy seeds. The pioneers grew and enjoyed sunflowers—thus, it’s also called a pioneer sunflower seed.
5 Health benefits of sunflower seeds:
Here’re 5 huge benefits of eating sunflower seeds:
1) Nutrients they contain:
Sunflower seeds are packed with fiber, protein and healthy fats. They also contain monounsaturated fats, which can help lower cholesterol and reduce your risk for heart disease, as well as oleic acid which reduces inflammation in your body.
They’re a great source of vitamin E, which is known to protect against cancer and keep your skin looking youthful. One cup of sunflower seeds contains more than 100% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin E!
Sunflowers are good for you. Not only do sunflowers make great snacks but they’re also good for you!
Research has shown that regular consumption of sunflowers can improve blood circulation by increasing nitric oxide levels in your blood vessels. This helps prevent plaque buildup in your arteries while lowering your risk of developing hypertension.
They’re high in antioxidants: Antioxidants are one of nature’s best defenses against free radicals — unstable molecules that contribute to premature aging and chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Sunflowers have been found to be particularly rich in antioxidants, making them an ideal food for anti-aging purposes. If you don’t already eat them regularly, it might be time to start adding some sunflower seeds into your diet!
2) Their fiber content:
I think we all have a pretty good idea that fiber is healthy, but did you know that it’s also one of nature’s best weight-loss foods?
That’s right: Fiber takes more energy to digest than most nutrients, so it helps promote satiety and keeps blood sugar levels stable, both of which help prevent overeating. A quarter-cup of sunflower seeds contains 3 grams of fiber.
Their magnesium content: Magnesium is an essential mineral for your body, and many people don’t get enough in their diet. It plays an important role in many different processes in your body — including muscle function, protein synthesis and glucose metabolism — and helps regulate blood pressure levels. A quarter-cup of sunflower seeds provides about 20% of your daily value for magnesium!
Their zinc content: Zinc is another nutrient that’s commonly deficient in diets today, especially among vegetarians (who are at risk of developing a condition called vegetarian osteoporosis).
Zinc supports immune health and wound healing, as well as cognitive function and memory formation. A quarter-cup of sunflower seeds delivers almost 10% of your daily zinc needs.
3) Antioxidants:
It’s well-known that antioxidants are essential to preventing disease and staying healthy.
These powerful compounds help prevent cell damage, which can lead to conditions like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. But did you know that sunflower seeds contain some of these important antioxidants?
They’ve got plenty of vitamin E, which boosts your immunity and helps keep your skin clear. As an added bonus, they’re rich in selenium — an antioxidant that’s been shown to protect against cancer. The best part is that all of these benefits come from just a handful of seeds!
Next time you want a snack, grab a bag of roasted sunflower seeds for a tasty treat with health benefits to spare.
As if that weren’t enough, you also get plenty of magnesium from eating sunflower seeds. Magnesium plays a crucial role in many different functions throughout your body.
For example, it supports muscle function and helps stabilize blood pressure to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. A 1/4 cup serving contains over 30% of your daily recommended value!
So go ahead — make snacking on sunflower seeds a part of a healthier lifestyle today by enjoying them at breakfast or as an afternoon pick me up!
4) They help fight inflammation:
This is especially important in aging bodies, as inflammation can contribute to many health problems and diseases. By adding sunflower seeds to your diet, you’ll reap the benefits of their natural anti-inflammatory properties.
As an added bonus, you’ll also get a healthy dose of protein without any excess fat or carbs. This makes sunflower seeds ideal for people with diabetes and other conditions that require them to monitor their glucose levels and overall caloric intake.
They contain vitamin E: Vitamin E isn’t just good for preventing wrinkles; it also protects your cells from oxidative stress, which contributes to heart disease and cancer.
Sunflower seeds are packed with vitamin E — one serving contains more than half of what you need each day — and have been shown to lower cholesterol levels by reducing oxidative stress on artery walls.
They help keep bones strong: Calcium helps keep bones strong, but many people don’t consume enough calcium on a daily basis.
5) Good for your hair and skin:
While sunflower seeds are mostly thought of as a protein-packed snack, there’s more to them than meets the eye. They’re actually loaded with minerals that benefit your health and beautify your hair and skin.
Below are five amazing benefits you can enjoy every day.
The heart-healthy nutrient linoleic acid: A diet high in monounsaturated fats — which is found in many nuts — can help lower cholesterol levels, but only if they replace saturated fat or trans fat.
Not only do sunflower seeds contain healthy monounsaturated fats, but they also provide two other important nutrients: magnesium and selenium.
Magnesium helps regulate blood pressure, while selenium plays an essential role in immune function and cancer prevention.
Omega-6 fatty acids: These are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that our bodies cannot produce on their own so we need to get them from food sources like fish, nuts, eggs and sunflower seeds.
PUFAs play an important role in brain development during pregnancy and infancy. In adults, omega-6 fatty acids reduce inflammation and prevent cardiovascular disease. Both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids have been shown to improve cognitive function, including memory and learning skills.
Vitamin E: This antioxidant vitamin protects cells against free radicals that cause premature aging and degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. Vitamin E has also been shown to reduce symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome such as breast tenderness, bloating and irritability.
Conclusion
Did you know that sunflower seeds are packed with health benefits? In addition to lowering cholesterol and preventing heart disease, they can protect against different types of cancer and even boost your memory. If you want to take control of your health, then start eating more sunflower seeds. They’re easy to incorporate into any diet — and they’re totally delicious!
Enjoy the health benefits of sunflower seeds!