Sunflower, the sunny garden bloom, is cultivated in large scale for its seeds and oil extracts. The big sunflower holds hundreds of tiny seeds and these small wonder is packed with nutrients that offer amazing health benefits.
Nutrients in sunflower seeds
Sunflower seeds have essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals which are vital for our body.
Health benefits of sunflower seeds
Treats anemia: The high iron content in the kernel of the seeds helps to prevent and treat anaemia.
Boosts energy: An excellent source of protein, fat and other nutrients, sunflower seed kernels treat fatique and listlessness.
Controls cholesterol level: Regular intake of the oilseeds can keep a check on cholesterol level as it contains linoleic acid which reduces cholesterol deposits on the walls of arteries.
Improves skin condition: Sunflower seeds are a rich source of thiamine and niacine. Daily intake of the skin can make your skin glow, strengthen the nerves and brain.
Treats cold and cough: A glass of warm milk with crushed seeds added to it helps to treat common cold, flu, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases.
Balances nutrients in food: Rich in potassium and magnesium, it helps to maintain sodium and calcium in the diet and protects nervous tissues and the heart muscles.
Owing to their nutritional benefits and health benefits, it is important to add sunflower seeds in your daily diet in some form or the other.
Mehar Rajput, Dietician at fitpass and Sukhmani Bedi, Co-Founder of Better Butter share tips to use sunflower seeds in your regular dishes to make them healthier, according to IANS:
Roasted or salted sunflower seeds can be considered as a great healthy snack. You can also add them to your daily cold or hot breakfast cereals in order to improve their nutritive values.
Sunflower seeds can be added to any main course dishes such as chicken curry, mix-vegetables etc or can be sprinkled over salads, pastas in order to add some flavour and extra nutrients.
One can add sunflower seeds to any soft preparations such as scrambled eggs to give them a crunchy texture.
Sunflower powder or flour can be added in cake, muffin, and bread batters. This will improve their nutritive value significantly.
Make sunflower seed butter by mixing three main ingredients i.e. Sunflower seeds, sea salt and sugar or stevia. To make it extra creamy you can add sunflower oil in it as well. It can be a great substitute for milk and peanut butter. It can be used as bread spread, in smoothies, homemade sauces etc.
Add sunflower seeds to your cornflakes cereal chivda which is a spicy, tasty and healthy breakfast option. These nutty Sunflower seeds not only increase the taste of the chivda but also make it healthier. Sunflower seeds add vitamin E and B-complex to this cereal chivda which are loved by all.
Sunflower seeds should be added to dry coconut chutney powder to make it more crunchy. These seeds are highly nutritious comprising of calories, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals so coconut chutney with sunflower seeds will increase the nutrition value of your South Indian breakfast.
And when it comes to easy homemade tiffin option; roti laddo is one of the best options around. Roti ladoo which is a popular aromatic and delicious dish can be prepared in 5 minutes and if you add sunflower seed to it; roti laddo becomes full of nutritions, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.