2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14
Many people like to nibble seeds, but not everyone admits it. Parents often forbid their children from using them, scaring them with appendicitis, broken teeth and other horrors. In fact, sunflower seeds have a number of useful properties and, with the right attitude, can bring invaluable benefits to the body.
From ornamental flower to industrial culture
Sunflower came to Europe with the Spanish conquistadors after the discovery of America by Columbus. There it quickly spread as … an ornamental plant. Beautiful yellow flowers were planted in parks and gardens.
In Russia, sunflowers began to be grown as an industrial crop only in the middle of the 19th century. It was then that one of the peasants for the first time in history managed to extract oil from seeds. However, the sunflower seeds themselves were eaten long before that.
Energy value
Calorie content of sunflower seeds per 100 grams is largelydepends on how they are prepared. Raw, it is 520 kcal, fried in a dry frying pan - 557 kcal. But many use additives in processing. Calorie content of roasted sunflower seeds - 594 kcal.
During heat treatment, the energy value of sunflower seeds increases, but the content of nutrients decreases. An industrial product does not carry any benefit at all. And the calorie content of peeled sunflower seeds, sprinkled with s alt and fried, is about 700 kcal.
A storehouse of nutrients
Despite the high calorie content of sunflower seeds, eating them will do more good than harm. Especially if you eat them raw.
Sunflower seeds are famous for their rich chemical composition. They contain beta-carotene, vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, C, D, E, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, cob alt, magnesium, silicon, zinc, molybdenum, selenium, fluorine, copper, chromium, manganese, iodine, iron.
The amount of vitamin D in grains is greater than in beef liver or tuna, and in terms of zinc content they are confidently ahead of flax seeds, soybeans and pecans. The unique amino acid composition of sunflower seeds makes them an excellent tool for normalizing fat metabolism, and the presence of dietary fiber has a beneficial effect on bowel function.
Regular use of this product will help reduce cholesterol levels, significantly improve the condition of the skin, nails and hair. Vitamin E, known for itsantioxidant properties, prevent cell aging.
Enemy of teeth and slim waist
Due to the high calorie content of roasted sunflower seeds, they should be consumed in limited quantities: no more than 50 grams per day or 200 grams per week.
In addition to extra pounds and centimeters, seeds can cause irreparable damage to tooth enamel. It is better to gently clean them with your hands than to gnaw them with your teeth. But the popular belief that the seeds and their peel provoke inflammation of appendicitis has no scientific justification.
From salads to desserts
Sunflower seeds, like any nuts and seeds, are a unique product. They go well with both sugar and s alt, which means they can be used in a variety of dishes.
Most often, people gnaw on nucleoli out of idleness or boredom, in company or at evening gatherings. Some use them as a snack between main courses.
Due to their high calorie content, sunflower seeds are rarely used as an additive to vegetable salad. However, they can well enrich its composition and add new flavor notes, especially when using olive oil rather than sunflower oil.
These grains are an integral part of oriental desserts: halva and gozinaki. When using, one should take into account their high energy value. The calorie content of gozinaki from sunflower seeds can vary from 576 to 725 kcal per 100 grams, depending on the manufacturer, halva - from 523 to 589 kcal.
He althy treat
For the preparation of halva, flour, starch, eggs and even potatoes are often used. It does not add usefulness to her, but it significantly affects the calorie content. The sunflower seeds used to make it are often fried in used oil, which is harmful.
Preparing homemade halva is very simple, it tastes just like store-bought halva, but it will bring much more benefits.
You will need the following ingredients:
- Sunflower seeds raw peeled - 500g
- Sugar sand - 200g
- Water - 80 ml.
- Lemon juice - 1 tbsp. l.
- Egg white - 1 pc
Cooking:
- Pour the seeds into a dry frying pan and, stirring constantly, ignite for 15 minutes.
- Place the beans in a blender and blend on medium speed until they are oily and creamy.
- Beat the egg white with a mixer until a stable foam.
- Cook syrup from water and sugar. To do this, add both ingredients to a saucepan, put on medium heat and leave until the sugar is completely dissolved. Then boil until the liquid becomes a light amber color. Remove from heat, add lemon juice and stir.
- Cool syrup to room temperature.
- In a bowl, mix the seed puree, protein and sugar syrup. Remove the mass under the press for 24 hours.
Kozinaki
Despite the fact that this product is already quite difficult to spoil, you can often find in their compositionstarch, flour, stabilizers, preservatives and other substances that do not belong there.
Preparing homemade kozinaki is not at all difficult, while retaining all the beneficial properties of honey and seeds.
Ingredients:
- Raw peeled seeds - 200g
- Sugar - 6 tbsp. l.
- Water - 1 tbsp. l.
- Honey - 2 tbsp. l.
- Vegetable oil - 1 tbsp. l.
Cooking:
- Stirring constantly, roast the seeds in a frying pan with vegetable oil.
- Place sugar and water in a saucepan, leave over medium heat until sugar is completely dissolved.
- Remove sugar syrup from heat and add honey to it. mix thoroughly.
- Pour the seeds into a bowl, pour over the syrup.
- Stir the mass, put on foil and form bars.
- Preheat the oven to 50 degrees, turn off and leave the gozinaki in it until it cools down completely.
Sunflower oil
Sunflower seeds are used to make oil, which is present in almost every kitchen. It is used for frying, salad dressing, put in the dough.
Sunflower oil is different: it differs in the method of production and organoleptic properties. For cold dishes and salads, it is best to use the product of the first, cold pressing. This oil is often dark in color and has a pronounced odor. It often contains a small amount of sediment. It is unfiltered, unclarified oil that retains all the beneficial properties of seeds. Its only downside isthat when heated, it forms carcinogens.
For hot dishes, it is better to use a refined product, such as "Oleina", "Gold" or "Golden Seed". Calorie content of sunflower oil - 899 kcal per 100 ml.
Seeds in folk medicine
Useful properties of sunflower seeds are widely used in traditional medicine.
- For bronchitis: 100 grams of raw sunflower seeds, 50 grams of honey and 500 ml. water is placed in a saucepan and boiled for 20 minutes. The resulting broth is cooled, filtered and taken 1 tbsp. l. three times a day.
- Daily consumption of 50 grams of seeds will relieve depression, neuroses and insomnia.
- Sunflower copes well with high blood pressure. To prepare a healing decoction, 250 grams of raw seeds should be poured with 1 liter of water and boiled for 2 hours. Strain the resulting liquid and take 100 ml. once a day.
- Daily consumption of seeds increases male potency and improves the condition of a woman's reproductive system.
- To get rid of constipation, traditional medicine advises taking 2 tablespoons of raw seeds on an empty stomach. They should be washed down with half a glass of warm water.
On guard of beauty
Due to the high content of vitamin E and relative cheapness, sunflower kernels are widely used in home cosmetics:
- Scrub: 50 grams of raw seeds need to be crushed and mixed with 1 tablespoonsunflower oil. Apply the resulting mixture to the skin of the face and neck, massage a little and rinse with warm water.
- Mask: Beat 100 grams of raw seeds with a blender into a smooth puree. Apply to face and neck, leave for 15-20 minutes.
- For dry hair, you can use a mixture of olive and sunflower oil in a 1:1 ratio. Such a tool with regular use will get rid of split ends, add shine and strength to tired or thinning hair.
From the article you learned about the benefits of sunflower seeds.
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