Sunny Bites
Whether it’s sprinkled in with your yogurt, baked into a cake, or just in a convenient trail mix, sunflower seeds are an excellent way to get a nutritious snack. Not only does it provide a nutty, flavorful taste in anything you put it in, it is also packed with essential vitamins and minerals.
Introducing Sunflower Seeds
The sunflower, a plant native to North America, is known for both its resemblance to the sun and its flavorful seeds, which are a common snack for many. Sunflower seeds have a long history, from being ground into cakes by prehistoric Indians to being used for medicinal purposes to cure injuries and snakebites. Nowadays, sunflower seeds are most well known for being a high-energy source of fuel, which started from when they became an important agronomic crop in the 1950’s. During this time, due to the sunflower’s increasing popularity, the practice of selling sunflower seeds specifically became popular, originating from Minnesota and North Dakota. Since the 1950’s, sunflower seeds have grown quickly in popularity, mostly due to being a quick and easy snack to have handy wherever you go. Whether you eat it in-shell, meaning the hard exterior is left intact with the “meat” of the seed inside, or as kernels, meaning the hard shells have been removed before being sold, sunflower seeds are hearty, healthy, and convenient to have on hand. There are a variety of different ways to eat sunflower seeds as well, other than in-shell or kernels. Many people enjoy sunflower seeds raw, but they can also have them lightly roasted, which provides a crunchier and nuttier snack than raw sunflower seeds. This guide will focus on the various nutritional benefits that come from eating sunflower seeds, regardless of whether it is consumed raw or baked.
Nutritional Benefits of Sunflower Seeds
1. Rich in Anti-Cancer Nutrients
Due to sunflower seeds having an abundant amount of both Vitamin E and flavonoids, they are helpful to prevent cancer. Furthermore, compared to most other seeds, sunflower seeds have a high amount of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), known as an anti-cancer fatty acid, and studies show that they induce apoptosis in tumor cells.
2. Reduces Risk of Heart Disease
Vitamin E, which is copious in sunflower seeds, is also excellent in reducing inflammation in the human body. Inflammation is one of the major causes of heart disease, due to it causing atherosclerosis, which is the hardening of arteries. Reducing inflammation, then, decreases the probability of being at risk for heart disease. Sunflowers are also rich in compounds called phytosterols, which aid the body in reducing the amount of cholesterol it intakes, further decreasing the chance of developing any heart conditions.
3. Excellent source of Vitamins and Minerals
Not only do sunflower seeds provide Vitamin E, they also provide a variety of other helpful vitamins such as thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, and folate. These are all beneficial for your health, boosting energy and aiding the body with its natural functions. Sunflower seeds are also rich in minerals such as copper, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, selenium, and smaller amounts of iron, zinc, and potassium.
4. Prevents Muscle Cramps
While sunflower seeds are abundant in many minerals, some are specifically helpful in fending off muscle cramps, a major cause being a lack of magnesium. Magnesium is one of the minerals that are essential for nerve transmission and muscle contraction, meaning that a deficit will cause the cramping of muscles. This is why sunflower seeds, high in magnesium, are especially beneficial for preventing them.
5. Anti-Diabetic Properties
Chlorogenic acid, which improves glucose tolerance and blood pressure, is abundant in sunflower seeds. Quinic acid is also prevalent, and is especially helpful for diabetes patients due to it being able to lower blood glucose. These properties both help prevent diabetes and or better manage it.
Why did we use sunflower seeds in our möuthfuel formula?
While sunflower seeds are known to be a quick snack to take on the road, they are also packed full of healthy nutrients. Here at möuthfuel, we aim to include the most nourishing ingredients possible into our products so that our snacks are delicious but also beneficial to the body!
A general rule of thumb and recommendation is to always consume even the healthiest of foods in moderation as the scientific literature is constantly changing and balance is key to maintaining a well-rounded diet and lifestyle.