Anticholesterol, rich in iron… It has many benefits.
Food seeds have become increasingly popular on our plates in recent years. They contain vitamins, minerals, fiber, proteins, beneficial fats, antioxidants and other bioactive substances that protect health. Chia, flax, sesame, sunflower or even squash seeds… There is something for everyone! However, according to Samantha Cassetty and Natalie Rizzo, two American dietician-nutritionists, if all seeds have nutritional benefits for our body, only one really stands out from the others.
The two experts published in today.com a ranking of the best food seeds, the first of which is very often forgotten by consumers. However, an unsalted portion “provides 18% of the recommended daily value of zinc, a mineral essential for immunity and skin health.” This super seed also provides “37% of your daily magnesium goal” according to specialists, a mineral that helps regulate cortisol, the stress hormone. The consumption of these seeds is also ideal for people following a vegan or vegetarian diet because they are “one of the main sources of iron of plant origin”.
This oilseed is also rich in lipids and plant sterols including “Natural compounds mimic cholesterol (…) which can help reduce your levels” according to experts. A study called these super seeds “reservoir of many antioxidant compounds that improve life and prevent various diseases.” Among these diseases, researchers cited “cardiovascular disease, benign prostatic hyperplasia (adenoma), Alzheimer’s disease.” “They also help in the treatment of bladder complications and other disorders such as diabetes and high blood sugar.”
But then what is this famous super seed? This is pumpkin seed (to be distinguished from pumpkin seed), recommended by the two dietitians-nutritionists. Pumpkin seeds are easily incorporated into food: they can be eaten raw, chopped, cooked, or even in vegetable oils. Experts recommend adding them to bowls of oatmeal, soups or salads. Finally, when placed in a blender with cinnamon, they can be transformed into pumpkin seed butter, much like peanut butter.