Find out the amazing benefits of sunflower seeds for weight loss, how best to prepare them, and how much to eat to get the maximum benefit from sunflower seeds, one of nature’s amazing fat-burning foods.
Have you ever noticed the beautifully colored sunflowers that stand proudly high in the open fields, with their huge, wide, golden flowers and darker brown centers? This is where sunflower seeds come from. The seeds can be black, gray or green. They are small seeds with hard, teardrop-shaped shells that are black or gray. Shells may have black and white stripes.
Once shelled, these seeds have a mild nutty flavor and are firm but tender in texture.
Do you realize that for more than 5,000 years, Native Americans have not only consumed these seeds for oil, but have also used the seeds, as well as the flowers, for decorative purposes, religious occasions, and dyes?
You can buy sunflower seeds year-round at your local grocery store, grocery store, health food store, or whole food store.
Fat Burning Benefits of Sunflower Seeds
They are an excellent food source of vitamin E and also contain a reasonable amount of thiamine, a B vitamin. They are also rich in minerals such as manganese, magnesium, copper, selenium, and phosphorus – a good way to get another B vitamin, pantothenic acid, and a great way to get folate and tryptophan into your diet.
They contain vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that can protect the body from harmful free radicals that travel and trigger cardiovascular disease, stroke, various types of cancer, and other diseases.
Linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid, is abundant in these particular seeds, helping to increase your body’s metabolic rate so you can burn fat more efficiently. It also helps you control your weight and maintain healthy levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin.
Decreasing abdominal fat and helping with muscle development are two benefits that you will receive from the linoleic acid found in the seeds. This is a powerful weapon to use in your goal of burning fat.
Sunflower seeds contain fiber that works with your digestion, plumps up your stool, and speeds up the removal of toxins from your body. This gives you the feeling of fullness but not the extra calories.
Tryptophan, an amino acid that releases serotonin in the brain, helps you feel full and prevents you from eating too much food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Plus, it makes you feel great and can help you with depression.
Sunflower seeds contain magnesium, which is helpful in lowering blood pressure, relieving symptoms associated with asthma, preventing migraines, and reducing the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. This mineral also works to strengthen bones.
Magnesium adds to energy production and also helps the body metabolize fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
The copper found in the seeds helps form elastin, red blood cells, and is also important in bone formation.
Phosphorus works with calcium to promote healthy bone development. In addition, it is vital for the repair and growth of cells.
The mineral called selenium in these seeds contributes to optimal health. Selenium can help in the synthesis of DNA repair. It is also useful in preventing the development of cancer cells.
The B vitamins known as thiamine and pantothenic acid help the body produce energy, break down carbohydrates and fats, aid digestion, help the nervous system to function properly, and also give extra strength to the muscles of the stomach wall.
Proper preparation of sunflower seeds
You can buy sunflower seeds in two varieties: shelled or shelled. They are usually available from the store in bulk or in ready-to-use packages. When buying seeds in bulk, make sure the containers have lids and check that the seeds are not damp, wrinkled, or damp. Also, make sure the merchant has a good bulk food rotation so that you end up with fresh seeds.
If you buy seeds in bulk containers, make sure they are not yellow, broken, or dirty. They should have a firm appearance and not be too soft. If the color is yellow, they are most likely spoiled. These should not be purchased.
Keep sunflower seeds in the refrigerator in an airtight container after you bring them home. This is done because the seeds tend to go rancid very quickly after being exposed to the air. Keep them frozen for up to a few months at a time.
If you still have seeds in the shell, use a grinder or a seed grinder. An alternative is to grind the seeds with a stand mixer. Once the seeds are ground, pour them into ice water so that the shells separate from the nuts.
It can be a good idea if you grow your own sunflowers; I have several plants in my garden; However, there is a wide variety of sunflower seeds available for sale, so it is more convenient to buy them.
Here are some things you can do with sunflower seeds: Add them to salads, whether they are mixed fruit or vegetable salads. They are good with both poultry and tuna. They are also a good addition to vegetables.
Why not try a breakfast that consists of scrambled eggs and some added sunflower seeds for more flavor and nutritional benefits.
Some creative chefs made the decision to grind some sunflower seeds and use them in place of flour (or add them to flour) or sprinkle them over meat and chicken pieces.
Try adding about a tablespoon or a handful of sunflower seeds to your hot or cold breakfast cereals. Enjoy a gift without guilt!
Medium portion
Eat about 1/4 cup for each serving. It contains approximately 105.20 calories and weighs 36 grams.