Do you know the six seeds most beneficial to your health?
These seeds are not just tiny specks to put in the soil anymore- there are tons of nutritional benefits, including a boost to your metabolism. They also contain micronutrients like folic acid and iron and are a great source of dietary fiber. To get you familiarized with some of these magical minis, we’ve develop a short guide to some of best seeds available. Included in this article are their health benefits and ways to integrate them into your diet.
[spoiler title=”tl;dr – click to read summary” style=”fancy”] The six magical seeds that can boost your health include chia seeds, amaranth seeds, hemp seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds. These seeds contain a lot of vitamins and proteins that can boost your health. They can easily be found in the market and they can also be easily added in many dishes. [/spoiler]Chia Seeds
These poppy-like seeds is favorite among many people not only because of the variety of micronutrients it holds, but also because of its property of absorbing the liquid you place it in. It forms a gel around each seed, giving it a pomegranate-like texture. Research shows that it is chock full of lipid antioxidants, which can help prevent cancer, proteins, poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and dietary fiber.
Chia seeds can be mixed with cereal, or you can just let them soak with almond milk for about 15 minutes and then add a little honey or sugar. Because they are so small, you can add them to your salads or any baked recipe you make!
Amaranth Seeds
While they have been classified as “grains” because of their texture after they have been air-puffed, they are technically seeds since they do not come from a cereal plan. These seeds, which are native to the Americas, have a good amount of highly-digestible protein, and linoleic acid which essential for human nutrition. In addition, it is high in iron which will help you prevent having an anemia.
Amaranth tastes and feels almost like tiny pieces of popcorn, and you might enjoy eating it just as is! It is also good on cereal, and terrific in smoothies.
Hemp Seeds
Hemp seeds are full of PUFAs which have been noted to have great anti-inflammatory properties and it’s ability to raise metabolic rates. This seed has a special component called Cannabidiol (CBD), which has antimicrobial and anti-convulsive properties, as well as anti-allergenic properties.
The easiest way to take advantage of the nutritional benefits of hemp seeds is by buying hempseed oil. However, the seeds can be found in their full form at health food stores.
Flax Seeds
This tiny seed is thankfully commonly found in 100% multigrain breads and some whole-gran cereals. Each of these tiny seeds have incredibly powerful nutritional properties, ranging from reducing cholesterol levels in the blood, to slowing mammary tumor growth due to it’s lignin and oil components.
Because of the press providing a lot of information about this seed, it is now easily found in supermarkets in its powdered form. You may like sprinkling it on salads, putting in sauces and soups, and even in pastries. When you cook for my family, you can slip it in almost every dish and they won’t even notice. It is great for adding nutrition to food for picky eaters.
Pumpkin Seeds
If you tend to munch on things subconsciously when your mind is whirring along, this is a great thing to keep in your bag or in your car. They are a good source of B vitamins, zinc and protein (amino acids). Pumpkin seeds have specific form of protein called tryptophan that has even been shown to be effective in treating social anxiety disorders.
Sunflower Seeds
One of the more well-known and cheaper super-seed options is the Sunflower seeds. Their nutritional properties have been taken advantage of by all food industries. It has lots of protein and vitamin B which are beneficial for women of all ages, particularly pregnant women. They are also a good source of vegetable protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Unlike some plant-foods, sunflower seeds don’t contain anti-nutritive properties, or toxical compounds, which means your body can fully take advantage of the nutrients found in the seeds.
In each of these little seeds lies powerful nutritional properties we’d be nuts not to take advantage of.
