Sunflower seed

Possible benefits of sunflower seed:

sunflower-seed

Agricultural origin: China

Allergens

  • Wheat: possible cross contamination
  • Gluten: possible cross contamination
  • Egg: absent
  • Milk: absent
  • Nuts: possible cross contamination

Nutritional values ( per 100 gram from supplier )

  • Energy: 2677 Kj / 647 Kcal
  • Fat: 56.5 g / of which saturated: 6.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 13 g / of which sugar: 1 g
  • Fibers: 7.4 g
  • Protein: 18 g
  • Salt: 0.16 g

Reducing blood pressure

Sunflower seeds can lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar because they contain vitamin E, magnesium, protein, linoleic acid and various plant compounds. In addition, studies link sunflower seeds to several other health benefits.

Reduce inflammation

Inflammation can be both good and bad. On one hand, it helps your body defend itself from infection and injury. On the other hand, chronic inflammation can lead to weight gain and disease. Stress, inflammatory foods, and low activity levels can make this risk even greater. However, studies demonstrate that some foods can fight inflammation.

Hart disease

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. A compound in sunflower seeds blocks an enzyme that causes blood vessels to constrict. As a result, it may help your blood vessels relax, lowering your blood pressure. The magnesium in sunflower seeds helps reduce blood pressure levels as well. Additionally, sunflower seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic acid. Your body uses linoleic acid to make a hormone-like compound that relaxes blood vessels, promoting lower blood pressure. This fatty acid also helps lower cholesterol. In a 3-week study, women with type 2 diabetes who ate 1 ounce (30 grams) of sunflower seeds daily as part of a balanced diet experienced a 5% drop in systolic blood pressure (the top number of a reading). Participants also noted a 9% and 12% decrease in “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, respectively. Furthermore, in a review of 13 studies, people with the highest linoleic acid intake had a 15% lower risk of heart disease events, such as heart attack, and a 21% lower risk of dying of heart disease, compared to those with the lowest intake.

Diabetes

The effects of sunflower seeds on blood sugar and type 2 diabetes have been tested in a few studies and seem promising, but more research is needed. Studies suggest that people who eat 1 ounce (30 grams) of sunflower seeds daily as part of a healthy diet may reduce fasting blood sugar by about 10% within six months, compared to a healthy diet alone. The blood-sugar-lowering effect of sunflower seeds may partially be due to the plant compound chlorogenic acid. Studies also suggest that adding sunflower seeds to foods like bread may help decrease carbs’ effect on your blood sugar. The seeds’ protein and fat slow the rate at which your stomach empties, allowing a more gradual release of sugar from carbs.

Source reference

We have consulted scientific studies to substantiate additional information. You can find the source here:

national-institutes-of-health

health-line

united-states-department-of-agriculture

medical-news-today

ncib

american-heart-association