Add Seeds to Your Diet

Like nuts, the many benefits of seeds make them a healthy, delicious addition to your diet.

Flaxseed and Flaxseeds Oil

Flaxseed: At 50% Flaxseeds are super high in heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids.  The regular consumption of ground Flaxseed is shown to help reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes by lowering cholesterol, and blood sugar, as well as the inflammation associated with arthritis.

Flaxseed is high in lignans, with up to 800 times the amount as in any other plant food.  Flaxseed is high in alpha linolenic acid (ALA) which, like lignans, has been found to be a promising cancer fighting agent, especially breast and colon cancer.

Looking to add more fiber to your diet?  One ounce of flax provides 32% of the USDA’s recommended daily intake of fiber.  Note that ground Flax is better utilized by the body as whole flax will move through the digestive system without breaking down.

Phytoestrogens are estrogen like substances that are found in plants and Flax is the richest known plant source of phytoestrogens.  They act as a natural hormone therapy helping to stabilize hormonal levels which can help alleviate the symptoms of menopause.

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin Seeds: Also known as Pepitas they are delicious and full of nutrients! Pumpkin Seeds are very high in omega-3 fatty acids.  They also contain minerals such as magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, iron, copper and zinc. The vitamins in pumpkin seeds include the B vitamins riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin B6, niacin (B3), vitamin A, folate, pantothenic acid and vitamin K, which can help prevent or treat osteoporosis.

Pumpkin seeds also contain phytosterols which may inhibit the growth of breast or prostate cancer or reduce the risk of these cancers.

Pepitas also contain L-tryptophan, which can help fight against depression.

Sesame Seeds

Sesame Seeds: Sesame Seeds are high in omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids.

They and are also an excellent source of minerals like copper, which is known for reducing the effects of rheumatoid arthritis, manganese, which can help protect colon cells from cancer causing chemicals, magnesium which supports respiratory and vascular health, calcium which has been shown to help reduce cancer risk as well as osteoporosis, migraines and PMS, zinc which helps fight osteoporosis, and iron.

Like pumpkin seeds, Sesame seeds also contain phytosterols which are believed to reduce cholesterol while helping to decrease the risk of certain cancers and L-tryptophan to fight depression.

Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower Seeds: When I was a kid I used to eat sunflower seeds by the bag full.  Little did I know that they were such a rich source of  amino acids such as L-tryptophan which are essential for growth, especially in children.

Sunflower seeds are packed with vitamins, including vitamin B1 and B5, vitamin E and folate.

They’re also an excellent source of minerals like copper, magnesium, selenium and phosphorous.

In addition they provide Lignans, Arginine and Phenolic Acids.

All of these are what make Sunflower seeds an important addition to your diet to help prevent or aid with certain deceases and illnesses like cancer, asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, clogged arteries, heart attacks and stroke.

They can also help reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes associated with menopause.

Delicious and nutritious they can be added to recipes and are great to keep on hand as a quick snack.  The benefits of seeds in our diets is really amazing!

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