Have you ever thought of what your body stands to gain by eating the right seeds? They are powerful foods that are chock full of nutritional goodness and are quite delicious to eat. They are a very inexpensive way to get lots of nutrients, and the good thing is that they’re very low in fat compared to nuts. Seeds can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. You can sprout them, dry them to make crackers, sprinkle them on your salads, or throw them in smoothies; just do whatever tickles your fancy!
The good news is that eating seeds is not just fun, but they also offer excellent health benefits to the body. Let’s explore the health benefits of eating seeds including Flax, Hemp, Sunflower, Chia, Sesame, and Pumpkin. Sounds good? Let’s get started!
Here are The Six Super Seeds and Their Amazing Health Benefits
For starters, flax seeds are excellent sources of Omega-3 oils. They may be tiny, but they’re chock full of nutrients your body deserves and craves.
Only one tablespoon of flax exceeds the RDI of Omega-3, which plays a significant role in reducing inflammation. Inflammation can lead to health conditions such as migraine headaches, asthma, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Flax also contains a kind of Omega-3 known as Alpha-linolenic Acid (ALA), this nutrient promotes better bone health. Flax seed may also contribute to reducing high blood pressure.
These seeds are also an excellent source of fiber, and the high fiber content promotes digestion. Moreover, the Lignans in flax also support normal digestion and may also fight against breast cancer.
Hemp is also exceptionally nutritious and is known to contain over 30% healthy fats the body needs. Hemp seeds are very rich in essential fatty acids including Linoleic Acid (omega-6) and Alpha-linolenic Acid (Omega-3).
Moreover, they provide the body with all the nine essential amino acids, meaning that they are a complete protein source.
In addition, hemp seeds are an excellent source of Vitamins A, B1, B2, D and E. For the most part, Vitamin A and E pampers your skin as they promote a healthier complexion. Vitamin A also helps prevent the production of DNA in cancerous cells. The B vitamins in hemp seed also assist the body in metabolizing protein and fats; promote the functionality of the nervous system; supports healthy skin, eyes, hair and liver; and also supports proper brain function. Lastly, Vitamin D plays a role in regulating calcium and phosphorus in the body, and also maintains good bone structure.
Do you have an idea of how amazing these sunflowers are? Well, you should know that only a quarter cup of sunflower seeds provides your system with more than 90% of your RDI for Vitamin E, which happens to be the body’s primary fat-soluble antioxidant. Vitamin E also possesses significant anti-inflammatory effects and help neutralize free radicals.
Sunflower seeds also contain selenium which has been proven to prevent the proliferation of cancer cells as well as to bring about their apoptosis (a self-destruction mechanism the body naturally releases to get rid of damaged or abnormal cells). Moreover, the selenium also induces DNA repair as well as synthesis in worn out cells.
They are also a good source of magnesium which helps strengthen the bones, lower blood pressure, reduce soreness, muscle tension, fatigue, and migraine headaches.
These little seeds are also chock full of nutrients and minerals that are very healthy for the body. For starters, chia seeds are rich in polyunsaturated fats; in essence, they are packed with Omega-3 fatty acids. The Omega-3 in these seeds can help improve cognitive performance, reduce inflammation, and decrease high cholesterol.
Moreover, one serving of chia has up to 18% of the recommended daily intake of calcium as well as 27% of your RDI for phosphorus. It also has 24% for magnesium and about 50% for manganese; all these nutrients work together to promote bone health, maintain a healthy weight, prevent hypertension and improve metabolism.
Chia seeds also contain fiber, in fact, a single serving has up to 33% of your RDI for fiber. The fiber content promotes healthy digestion, reduces inflammation and also help lower cholesterol. They are also rich in antioxidants that play a significant role in protecting the body from cancer, free radicals, and aging. Chia has also been found to be able to help decrease insulin resistance and reduce unusually high levels of insulin in the blood.
Sesame seeds contain essential minerals including calcium, copper, manganese, phosphorus, iron and zinc. The iron in these seeds is essential for the production of red blood cells, and it also helps carry oxygen through the bloodstream. Calcium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc promote better bone health and also prevents osteoporosis.
Sesame seed also contains an uncommon compound known as sesamol; the compound has been linked to protecting the DNA from harmful effects of radiation which could come from unexpected sources as well as from treatment of cancer with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The components of sesame seeds, especially magnesium have been shown to reduce the chances of diabetes and also help manage the symptoms of patients with the condition. To sum it up, the high amount of copper in sesame plays some roles including the reduction of inflammation in bones, joints, and muscles.
Last but not the least are pumpkin seeds. They contain magnesium, protein, phosphorus, iron, manganese, copper, B Vitamins, Vitamin E and Vitamin K. They’re also an excellent source of L-tryptophan which plays a pivotal role in promoting healthy sleep patterns and reduces depression.
The high zinc content in pumpkin seeds makes also help protect against osteoporosis.
Pumpkin seeds are also excellent for prostate health. The oil derived from the pumpkin mitigates the painful urination associated with enlarged prostate. They also lessen inflammation and fight arthritis pain without the side effects of many anti-inflammatory drugs.
Summary
And that’s it! So far we have explored some if not all of the powerful health benefits of six super seeds. Now that you understand how important they are, it’s time to start getting them into your diet. The great thing is the choices available from eating them on their own to adding them to your favorite meal (sauces, vegetable salads or even homemade chocolate). One thing to note is that seeds are nutrient-dense; this means that you do not have to consume a whole lot of them. In fact, just a tablespoon or two is more than sufficient to give your body all the nutrients it needs. Always remember to choose organic at all times! Here’s to good health!