Try These Delicious Seeds for Amazing Health Benefits
They say great things come in small packages. When it comes to our health, that saying is especially true in reference to seeds. Seeds are often overlooked in a healthy diet, but they shouldn't be. These seeds pack a powerful health punch.
Hemp Seeds
Hemp seeds have become quite popular in the health world, and they are tasty too. Hemp hearts are a complete protein that also have amazing levels of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. These small seeds are also a good source of vitamin A and E, which is connected to better vision health and inhibits the production of cancerous cells. These small seeds are easy to sprinkle on salads, smoothies, and oatmeal.
Sesame Seeds
Your Asian-inspired dish is not quite right until it has a sprinkle of sesame seeds on it. Not only do sesame seeds make a difference in many recipes, but they are full of manganese, phosphorus, and calcium, all of which promote healthy and strong bones. Sesame seed oil has also been found to decrease hypertension and stress. Don't forget to add these seeds or oil to your cuisine, such as homemade orange chicken or fried rice.
Chia Seeds
You may remember the popularity of chia seeds back in the 90s for growing "hair" on clay animals. Now chia seeds are popular once more but for health reasons this time. Chia seeds can hold water very well, which makes them great for staying hydrated. A single serving of chia seeds contains 18 percent of your recommended daily intake (RDI) for calcium and 30 percent of your RDI for fiber. Chia seeds will help keep you regular! Chia seeds can be added to smoothies and salads, but a fun way to eat them is to make a pudding out of them. Just combine a half cup of seeds to two cups of almond or coconut milk. Refrigerate overnight and you will have a pudding consistency in the morning. Add natural sweeteners and some coconut shavings for a decadent treat.
Sunflower Seeds
Just a quarter of a cup of sunflower seeds will give you 90 percent of your RDI in vitamin E. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, and the fat from sunflower seeds help you to absorb it's amazing nutrients. Vitamin E is also responsible for neutralizing free radicals in the body and reducing overall inflammation. Just be sure to choose raw sunflower seeds for the best health benefits and skip all of those flavored versions.
Next time you want to pack a big health punch into your meal, think little with these beneficial seeds.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Health Gauge