Sunflower Seeds Nutrition
Sunflower Seeds Nutrition is Very High
If you are looking for a healthy snack, you can’t beat sunflower seeds. Nutrition is present in vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and many other ingredients that can benefit a number of human diseases and conditions. In fact, sunflowers contain over eighty different nutrients.
One component of sunflower seeds nutrition is the presence of vitamin E. One serving of sunflower seeds (¼ cup) contains 90.5% of the recommended intake of vitamin E. This vitamin is a powerful anti-oxidant that neutralizes free radicals that can cause damage at the cellular level. This cell-protective quality reduces inflammation, which in turn can reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and asthma. Studies show that vitamin E reduces the risk of acquiring colon cancer.
Another important benefit of vitamin E is its importance in preventing cardiovascular disease. Part of the damage done by free radicals occurs as a result of the oxidation of cholesterol. This enables it to stick to the walls of blood vessels and cause atherosclerosis, the precursor to blocked arteries--one of the leading causes of heart attack and stroke.
Phytosterols are also one of the elements of sunflower seeds nutrition. These are chemicals found in plants and they have a structure similar to good cholesterol. They have been shown to benefit the immune system and prevent certain cancers. In fact, the positive results are so great that phytosterols are being added to processed products, such as butter, so they can receive a label as a cholesterol-lowering food. Phytosterols are naturally present in sunflower seeds.
Research has proven that magnesium can reduce the risk of heart attack and stoke, lower high blood pressure, and can help prevent migranes and asthma attacks. The most magnesium is found in human bones. One of its jobs is to block calcium from entering nerve cells. If your body is low on magnesium, it can lead to high blood pressure, muscle spasms, soreness, tension and fatigue. One serving of sunflower seeds has 31.9% of our daily magnesium needs.
Selenium, another mineral, has been identified with the prevention of certain forms of cancer. It does this by repairing DNA and damaged cells, working with the anti-oxidant glutathione peroidase. Other important components of sunflower nutrition are the percentages of our daily requirements it contains for vitamin B1--54.7%, copper--31.5%, tryptophan--31.3%, phosphorus--25.4%, and vitamin B5--20.5 %.
You really can’t go wrong by adding sunflower seeds to your diet. One ounce has 160 calories with 6 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of protein, and 4 grams of protein. The only problem might be their 13 grams of fat, but you can work this comfortably into your daily diet with just a little planning. The fats are the good kind, containing linoleic acid, an omega 3 fatty acid with anti-oxidant power. Sunflower seeds also make you feel full which will reduce your intake of other foods and aid in weight control.