It shouldn’t come as a big surprise that the health benefits of seeds are very significant because seeds are the part of a plant that contains all the necessary ingredients to produce new life. Find out why the health benefits of the seeds are essential to your diet, why they are good for healthy weight loss, and why they have been used for centuries to treat specific foods. Find out which seeds are the stars of the seed world and why seeds should be a part of your life.
Some of the most common seeds that are hailed for their health benefits are chia seeds, flax (linseed) seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds. Together these seeds are just packed with goodness.
The health benefits of the seeds include giving you the nutrition you need for a healthy diet and helping you lose weight in a healthy way, as well as treating some diseases. They contain many of the essential fatty acids that your body cannot manufacture, such as omega 3 and 6, are a great source of vitamins, and contain protein. The health benefits of the seeds include fighting free radicals which are linked to cancer and other diseases, they can help lower high blood pressure and reduce bad forms of cholesterol, and much more.
So what are the specific health benefits of the seeds?
Chia Seed: It has moisturizing properties and also helps to lose weight in a healthy way.
The health benefits of the seeds were known to the Aztecs in South America who used chia as a power food. Chia seed is hydrophilic, which means that the seeds absorb water so that they act as a method of hydration for your body for a longer period, making them great for athletes. The fact that they absorb water also causes them to have an impact on your digestive processes, including slowing down the rate at which your body converts carbohydrates to simple sugar and the rate at which calories are absorbed. That means they can contribute to healthy weight loss by both making you feel fuller and reducing calorie absorption. They may also be useful for diabetics because carbohydrates are converted to sugar at a slower rate. On top of this, they are packed with nutrients, including Omega-3 and 6 essential fatty acids.
Like other seeds, chia seeds can be sprinkled on salads, mixed into cereal, added to yogurt, or included in baked goods.
Flaxseed (linseed): good for digestive health and to treat constipation
Flax is experiencing a renaissance as a top health food, so it cannot be ignored when discussing the health benefits of the seeds. Golden flax is often considered the best, as it more easily releases the nutrients it contains. All the benefits are too numerous to mention here. The key is digestive and colon health, with flax seed being a good way to deal with constipation. The best way to take flax is by grinding the seeds, in a coffee grinder and sprinkling the power on cereals or salads or putting it on cakes. Some specialists say that there is no value in eating whole flaxseeds, but I don’t agree, I add them whole to muesli and I know from experience that they work like this to combat constipation. I have come to the conclusion that if you chew your food, it will be ground up with your teeth and the nutrients will be released. If healthy weight loss is your goal, they will help keep food moving through your digestive system, which helps prevent your body from storing food as fat.
Hemp seed: good to prevent muscle stiffness
A tablespoon of hemp seeds a day is said to provide you with all the essential fatty acids you need, including Omega-3 and 6. Hemp is also good for people who exercise a lot because it helps remove lactic acid that accumulates in the muscles after exercise causing stiffness. Hemp seed contributes to brain function, so it can help prevent depression and irritability. It is known to reduce inflammation and is good for healthy hair and moisturizing the skin. In terms of the health benefits of seeds, hemp should be included as a seed that will help promote your overall health and wellness.
Pressed hemp seed produces high-quality polyunsaturated oil that can be eaten neat or mixed with other food products or used in cosmetics and body products. The seed can be shelled and the “hemp nut” can be used in baking and other recipes and NO it will not get you high!
Pumpkin seeds – good for male prostate problems
Pumpkin seeds have a high concentration of zinc and are therefore believed to be valuable in the treatment and prevention of male prostate problems. They help prevent damage to the prostate caused by male hormones. They can also be used to treat kidney problems and remove parasites such as worms from the intestines. They are thought to be valuable in preventing depression, although not strong enough to treat severe depression.
As with most foods, if you want to get the full health benefits of the seeds or use them to promote healthy weight loss, you should eat them raw – raw pumpkin seeds are the most beneficial, so sprinkle them on your salad or add them to soup. before serving. Roasted pumpkin seeds are popular but not as healthy because roasting them destroys the beneficial omega fatty acids. Pumpkin seed oil can be mixed with other oils to make salad dressings. Make sure you buy a good quality oil, as some are highly diluted with other oils.
Sesame seeds – helps reduce high blood pressure
Like sunflower seeds, sesame seeds are high in vitamin E, they also contain sesamin and sesamolin, which are believed to help combat and prevent high blood pressure and work against liver damage. The oil is believed to be beneficial as a skin product to prevent the formation of wrinkles.
Sesame is probably the most versatile food, apart from being eaten in seed form, it is used to make tahini (sesame butter) and halva, and is widely used for baking bread and making cookies. The seeds can be eaten raw as is or added to other foods. Tahini is used to make humus.
Sunflower Seeds: Fight free radicals and promote heart health
Different varieties of sunflower seeds are grown for oil and seeds, both types are native to North and South America. Sunflower seeds are a good source of vitamin E, which is an antioxidant and one of the vitamins needed to fight free radicals. Free radicals have been linked to causing cancer. Vitamin E also has anti-inflammatory properties, which means it can help reduce inflammation related to, for example, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, and helps reduce the frequency of hot flashes during menopause. Sunflower seeds also contain phytosterols, which are substances found in plants that are believed to lower blood cholesterol levels and improve the immune system.
Sunflower seeds are very tasty and digestible raw and, like other seeds, they make excellent additions to salads and cereal dishes and good in baking, so they should be on the menu if you want to reap all the health benefits of sunflower seeds. the seeds in their diet.
I hope I have convinced you seeds health benefits and how common seeds like chia seeds, flax (linseed) seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds are really important to your diet. If you start finding ways to include seeds in your diet and eat them daily, you will soon feel and see the health benefits of seeds for yourself.