When it comes to health, certain seeds like chia and flax seeds tend to claim all the attention for being healthy. However, if you're tired of those, there are more healthy seeds out there that just need to be brought out into the limelight, like sunflower seeds. They're high in healthy fats. “The mono- and polyunsaturated fats in sunflower seeds show a clear health benefit, especially related to heart health and risk of cardiovascular disease,” says registered dietitian Alissa Rumsey.
“Fat, fiber and protein play an important role in satiety, the feeling of fullness,” says Rumsey. They're also packed with vitamins and nutrients including vitamin E (anti-inflammatory properties), folate (important for DNA synthesis), phosphorus (bone health), selenium (an antioxidant that protects against cell damage), manganese (bone production), copper (heart health and immune function), B6 (good for cognitive development and function) and zinc (important for metabolism and immune function), says registered dietitian Maxine Yeung.
Other seeds are pretty beneficial to the body. “However, sunflower seeds are richer in vitamins and minerals,” says St. Pierre, “and generally provide a superior flavor profile to the neutral chia seed.” Well, looks like you have a new type of seed to munch on from now.
