Sunflower Seeds

The History of Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds have been a popular snack for centuries. Native Americans cultivated sunflowers, and the seeds were ground for use in mash or cakes. They also have the earliest recorded instance of eating the seeds as a tasty snack. Tribes would employ sunflower seeds to make a purple body dye, useful in rituals. They also applied them to hair as a way to strengthen it. Finally, the seeds made appearances in ceremonies, too.

Eventually, sunflowers spread across the Atlantic to Europe. Russia became an especially prolific grower of the seeds, but they also remained popular in the United States in the late 19th century. Since then, sunflower seeds have remained a staple of American cuisine. They became a favorite of baseball players who like to occupy their mouths during games. They also became more and more prevalent as people began seeking out healthy fats.

Health Benefits of Sunflower Seeds

Today, many people love sunflower seeds because of the health benefits they provide. These seeds may be small, but they pack a lot of nutritional value inside. They provide an excellent source of fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation can lead to pain, swelling, headaches and muscle stiffness if allowed to continue over the long term. It can also result in the development of diseases including heart disease.

Sunflower seeds also have high levels of these minerals:

• Vitamin E: This antioxidant keeps skin healthy and improves neurological function.

• Copper: Copper works with iron to form red blood cells, and it also encourages the body to absorb iron.

• Selenium: Selenium protects the body against the development of infections while also fighting free radicals that can lead to cancer.

• Phosphorus: Phosphorus is the body's fixer — it heals the damaged cells and skin in the body.

• Thiamine: Thiamine keeps the heart healthy and also contributes to a healthy metabolism.

Sunflower Seeds Protect Against Disease

You can give yourself better protection against certain diseases when you regularly consume sunflower seeds. These powerhouse seeds can assist in lowering blood pressure and reducing cholesterol, which both fight the development of cardiovascular disease. They also aid in cognitive brain function, which staves off the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Diabetes is a serious condition in which blood sugar can fluctuate. Sunflower seeds can help regulate blood sugar, which may stop you from developing diabetes. The seeds have also been shown to assist in avoiding Parkinson's disease and strokes, too.

What gives sunflower seeds the power to aid your body in this way? They have high levels of antioxidants, which zap the free radicals in your body that can spur diseases such as cancer. They also include phytosterols, a compound found in plants that fights "bad" cholesterol, helping to guard the body against various ailments.

Do Sunflower Seeds Make You Gain Weight?

No, sunflower seeds will not make you gain weight. In fact, they may have the opposite effect. When you consume sunflower seeds, you enjoy high levels of healthy fat. These keep you full for hours, which means you consume fewer calories later in the day after you enjoy these foods as part of a midday snack. Cell membranes build on these healthy fats, too.

Sunflower seeds include loads of protein, which contributes to that "full" feeling, as well. Protein also helps repair and build muscle, and muscle burns more calories than fat, so you're helping your body to naturally increase its metabolism when you eat sunflower seeds.

Sunflower seeds also contain a healthy dose of fiber, which is an excellent tool for weight loss. It keeps your digestive tract regular and cleans out your intestines, ensuring you do not suffer from bloat from decaying food.

You must carefully monitor your intake of sunflower seeds, however, to avoid overindulging. Because they're so small, it can be tempting to eat a great number of them at a time. You may not even feel full if you continue to pop them in your mouth while doing another activity, such as reading or watching TV. Sunflower seeds have a high caloric density, so you should measure out a portion in advance and only eat that amount, so you don't ruin your diet.

Are Sunflower Seeds Low in Carbs?

Sunflower seeds have relatively low carbohydrate content of about six grams of carbohydrates per serving — give or take a few grams depending on what type of seeds you buy. If you're on a low-carb diet, you can still enjoy sunflower seeds without worry.

Add Sunflower Seeds Into Your Favorite Recipes

Sunflower seeds make a glorious addition to just about any type of dish. They can bulk up a recipe that's thin on nutrients, add a nutty flavor to bland food and make a fun base for any sort of trail mix. You can use sunflower seeds in combination with other foods at every meal. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Breakfast: Make a yogurt parfait by layering yogurt, strawberries and sunflower seeds. Do this twice, then add one final layer of yogurt and sprinkle a garnish of seeds on top.

• Lunch: Make sunflower butter to spread on a sandwich, in place of your usual peanut butter. Blend one cup of seeds in a blender until creamy. You can add a drizzle of oil to aid in mixing if it gets clumpy. You can also throw in a dash of salt to amp up the sunflower flavor. After blending, make your sandwich and store the remaining butter in an airtight container.

• Dinner: Whip up a delicious stir-fry with sunflower seeds as the star. Cut pork or chicken into bite-size pieces and add to wok, stirring. Add an assortment of vegetables, as well as sliced water chestnuts. Drizzle in some sesame oil or soy sauce — or some of both. Add the sunflower seeds at the end, after all the other flavors have blended together. Stir once and serve with a sunflower seed garnish.

Why Types of Raw Sunflower Seeds Does Sincerely Nuts Sell?

Sincerely Nuts offers you a wide range as far as sunflower seeds are concerned. Currently, the site has 8 different varieties on offer. All of the 8 are amazing when it comes to the quality. Some of the variations available here cannot be found anywhere else on the internet, thus making it one of our unique presentations. Here are some of the most popular sunflower seed varieties available at Sincerely Nuts.

Sunflower Shelled Natural

Sunflower shelled natural has a number of benefits. Oil is extracted from these seeds and is further used for a number of purposes. To begin with, it is used in the making of soap, varnishes and margarine. These seeds can be used in a number of different food recipes. You may also choose to eat them raw. They are an excellent store house of potassium and phosphorus. This type of sunflower seeds has many health benefits as well. They help an individual to lower his/her blood pressure. Sincerely Nuts offers you these amazing seeds at a very reasonable price. You can buy 1 lb of bag for just $1.99.

Sunflower Shelled Roasted Salted

This type of seeds also has a number of health benefits. What makes them a favorite choice for many is their taste. Being roasted, they taste much better and can be eaten as a snack. You can buy these seeds in plenty as you can store them easily for up to six months. It is recommended that you store them in a dry place. At Sincerely Nuts, you will be able to buy 1 lb of Sunflower shelled roasted salted seeds for just $2.49.

Sunflower Shelled Roasted Unsalted

If salt is something you wish to avoid in your snacks, you can always opt for the unsalted option at Sincerely Nuts. However, even though these seeds are not salted, they give a unique premium taste. It is one of the most popular snacks in many parts of the world. To make it even more interesting, this snack is very healthy and is a fantastic replacement for certain food items that are junk. 1 lb of Sunflower shelled roasted unsalted seeds is available for just $2.69 at Sincerely Nuts.

Organic Sunflower Seeds

These are natural seeds. They are certified and contain no kinds of artificial additions or preservatives. They are extremely healthy for consumption and hence are highly recommended. Ideally, you should eat them in their raw form to gain maximum benefits out of them. One of the highlights of these seeds is that they are grown without the use of any kind of pesticides. Even after being 100% natural, they are priced at just $3.69 per 1 lb.

Sincerely Nuts ensures that the above varieties and many others are delivered to your doorstep. Hence, you are not required to physically be present to order them or collect your package. The delivery is done within 24 hours from the moment you placed the order. Apart from sunflower seeds, Sincerely Nuts also has a wide range of pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and watermelon seeds etc.