Sunflowers are one of Mother Nature's wonderful gifts. This brilliant yellow flower that towers high above other plants in the garden bares seeds that are delicious and nutritious. The sunflower is native to North America. In fact, Native Americans considered sunflower seeds an important, high-energy food source. They introduced them to the Spanish explorers who brought them back Europe where they also became very popular.
Sunflower seeds are called a "nutrient-rich" food, this means that they provide substantial amounts of vitamins and minerals for relatively few calories. With the new 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommending Americans eat fewer calories, these types of foods are quite popular for the obvious reason - you get more of the good stuff with less of the heavy stuff.
Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of "good" fats, both mono and poly unsaturated. Most of the fat in your diet should come from these two types of fat (the most common sources are seeds, nuts, and fish). Sunflower seeds are the best whole food source of vitamin E, an important nutrient needed to prevent heart disease, Alzheimer's, and dementia.
They are also rich in fiber. Most Americans consume only half of the fiber they need each day. A fiber-rich diet will reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Magnesium is another important nutrient that many Americans lack, but is also found in Sunflower seeds. Some research shows that higher intakes of magnesium could reduce your risk of Type 2 Diabetes.
If you are looking for a simple, healthy snack, enjoy a handful of mild nutty tasting sunflower seeds. But don't stop there, you can also get the healthy benefits of sunflower seeds in buttery smooth sunflower butter, and in sunflower oil.
Age to introduce: Around 2-3 years old. Both sunflower seeds and sunflower butter are a choking hazard for very little children.
I believe sun flower seeds are very healthy and could also makes miracles. always stick to organics that's why I'm a big fan of healthy foods and products.
-admin
Posted by: micrognathia | December 12, 2011 at 11:33 PM