Despite of being commonly used as toppings and sprinkles, seeds are actually some of the most nutritionally-dense foods on the face of the planet. Packed with protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and powerful antioxidants, including seeds in your everyday diet can help you attain A1 health!
Many seeds can be eaten raw but some of them need to be soaked, mashed or ground. Others are roasted to make them more palatable. For the most part, it’s not important how you wish to eat them — what matters is you consume them. So without further ado, here are 10 of the healthiest seeds that you should regularly incorporate in your diet:
Chia Seeds
We all know that oily fish packs staggering amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. But among plants, chia seeds are known to have the most amounts of those healthy fats. This only means that eating chia seeds can help lower your risk of heart disease and so many other problems such as joint pain, diabetes and obesity.
Hemp Seeds
Regardless of how they are consumed, hemp seeds are undeniably good for you. Did you know that hemp seeds contain all 20 amino acids? That’s how protein-packed they are! Traditionally, hemp seeds are employed for treating various nutritional deficiencies — a testament that they’re loaded with vitamins and minerals.
Sesame Seeds
Calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, iron, manganese, copper, vitamin B1 — you can obtain good amounts of these by eating sesame seeds. By the way, sesame seeds also exclusively contain sesamolin and sesamin, special types of fiber proven to lower cholesterol, control high blood pressure and protect the liver.
Pomegranate Seeds
Don’t just suck the juice out of pomegranates — scoop out the seeds and eat them as well! That’s because pomegranate seeds are extremely rich in antioxidants that fight off cancer and heart disease. Definitely, they are teeming with vitamin C that can beautify your skin and nails, and strengthen your immune system.
Flax Seeds
What makes flax seeds a very good fighter of all sorts of health woes is its rich supply of alpha linoleic acid (ALA), which is a very powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Further, flax seeds are known to help regulate the hormones, making them very good most especially for women suffering from PMS and menopause.
Sunflower Seeds
Thanks to the impressive amounts of vitamin E in them, sunflower seeds are some of the healthiest seeds around. Vitamin E is actually an antioxidant that helps keep your skin young, your cholesterol levels low, and your risk of certain cancers reduced. Also, sesame seeds help lift the mood and prevent migraine because they have magnesium.
Grape Seeds
Perhaps you have read somewhere that it’s a fabulous idea to opt for seeded grapes rather than the seedless ones. Why? That’s because grape seeds are good for you! Just like sunflower seeds, grape seeds contain lots of vitamin E. Numerous studies show that grape seeds help ward off heart disease and cancer, too.
Pumpkin Seeds
Because they pack iron, zinc, healthy fats, antioxidants, dietary fiber and protein, there’s no denying that pumpkin seeds should be added to your diet on a regular basis. Did you know that it is possible to eat pumpkin seeds raw instead of the usual roasted and salted?
Mustard Seeds
You can soak mustard seeds in water to have them sprouted, and then added to salads, soups and others for a dash of peppery flavor. Roasting them is preferred by many. Regardless of your personal liking, you can obtain good amounts of selenium, manganese and omega-3 fatty acids from mustard seeds.
Cumin Seeds
You may be familiar with ground cumin powder that’s used for whipping up various Indian and Middle Eastern treats. However, not too many people are aware that whole cumin seeds may also be consumed. They are known to help with various digestive issues, and their iron content helps keep at bay iron-deficiency anemia.
