Sunflower seeds may bring up memories of baseball games from growing up. The good news is these little seeds from the past are a nutritional home run!
Sunflower seeds pack a wide variety of nutrients into one tiny seed. They are a great source of heart-healthy fats, fiber, protein, iron, zinc, folate, selenium, magnesium, and Vitamin B-6. On their own, sunflower seeds do not have sodium. However, several packaged brands do offer up to 70% of your daily sodium needs. It is important to make sure you purchase unsalted, roasted sunflower seeds.
Sunflower seeds offer a variety of health benefits like the following:
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Anti-Inflammatory Benefits: Sunflower seeds can be helpful for disease states that have a lot of inflammation such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, cancers, and metabolic disorders.
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Boost Heart Health: The large amount of unsaturated fats and dietary fiber in sunflower seeds can help to lower your cholesterol which can have a positive impact on your heart health.
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Help Support Immune System: Sunflower seeds are a great source of vitamins and minerals that help support a healthy immune system. These immune-supporting nutrients include zinc and selenium.
Sunflower seeds can be consumed on their own, sprinkled on top of salads, in trail mixes, in granola bars, or you can even purchase sunflower butter in place of peanut butter. Sunflower seeds can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 months.