Find out the amazing weight loss benefits of sunflower seeds, how to best prepare them, and how much you should eat to get the most benefit from sunflower seeds, one of nature’s amazing fat-burning foods.
Have you ever noticed the beautifully colored sunflowers that stand proudly in open fields, with their huge, broad, golden blossoms 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 in color. The 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 over 5000 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 foods store.
Sunflower Seeds Fat Burning Benefits
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 incorporate folate and tryptophan into your diet.
They contain vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that can protect the body from damaging free radicals that cause cardiovascular disease, stroke, various cancers, 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 cholesterol, triglyceride, and insulin levels.
Reducing abdominal fat and helping muscle development are two benefits 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, is helpful in keeping you feeling full and preventing you from overeating at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Plus, it makes you feel great and can help with depression.
Sunflower seeds contain magnesium, which is helpful in lowering blood pressure, relieving symptoms associated with asthma, preventing migraine headaches, and reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke. This mineral also works to strengthen bones.
Magnesium adds to energy production and also helps the body metabolize fats, proteins, 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 helpful 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 function properly, and also give extra strength to the muscles in the stomach wall.
Proper Preparation of Sunflower Seeds
You can buy sunflower seeds in two varieties: shelled or shelled. They are usually available at the store, either in bulk or in ready-to-use packages. When buying seeds in bulk, make sure the receptacles have lids, and check that the seeds are not damp, wrinkled, or wet. Also, make sure the trader has a good bulk food rotation so you end up with fresh seeds.
If you buy seeds in bulk containers, make sure they are not yellow, cracked, or dirty. They should have a firm appearance and not be too soft. If the color is yellow, they are most likely damaged. These are not to be purchased.
Keep the sunflower seeds in the fridge 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 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 seed mill. An alternative is to grind the seeds with a stand mixer. Once the seeds are ground up, pour them into ice water so the shells separate from the nuts.
It might be a good idea to 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 mixed vegetable or fruit salads. They are good with poultry and tuna. They are also a nice addition to vegetables.
Why not try a breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs and some added sunflower seeds for more flavor and nutritional benefits?
Some creative chefs made the decision to grind up some sunflower seeds and use them instead 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 pleasure without guilt!
average portion
Eat about 1/4 cup per serving. It contains approximately 105.20 calories and weighs 36 grams.
