Sunflower Seeds

Nutritional Value:

Vitamin E, niacin, vitamin B6, zinc, manganese, folate, pathothenic acid, iron, magnesium, copper, selenium.

The high content of vitamin and selenium function as antioxidants, protecting your body against free radical damage, which is known to fight several chronic diseases. Other antioxidants in Sunflower Seeds are phenolic acid and flavonoids.

There is a compound in Sunflower Seeds that blocks an enzyme which causes blood vessels to constrict. Conclusively, it may assist your blood vessels to relax, lowering blood pressure. The unsaturated fat found in the seed, especially linoleic acid, making a hormone-like compound, relaxes blood vessels as well as lowers cholesterol.

In a study of women with type two Diabetes who ate only 1 once of Sunflower Seeds daily, experienced a 5% drop in systolic blood pressure. Participants also noticed a 9% and 12% decrease in bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

Studies indicated that people eating 1 once of Sunflower Seeds along with a healthy diet may reduce fasting blood sugar by about 10% within 6 months. Lower blood sugar may also be due to the compound chlorogenic acid.

This is an interesting fact; adding Sunflower Seeds to bread and other foods, may decrease a carb effect on your blood sugar. The seeds’ protein and fat slow the rate of which your stomach empties, resulting in a more gradual release of sugar from carbs.