The Amazing Things You Never Imagined about Sunflower Seeds

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Sunflower seeds, those lovely, tasty black and white striped seeds that come from the center of those giant sunflowers. These flowers are native to North America and the Native American Indians have been enjoying them for at least 5,000 years. Spanish settlers bought them back to Spain, and soon they were growing throughout Europe. Believe it or not, the top sunflower seed growers today are in Russia, Peru, Argentina, and Spain.

Sunflower seeds might not be as nutrition packed as chia seeds or hemp seeds, but they still have plenty to offer, both in taste as well as nutrition. Sunflower seeds make a handy snack and are a terrific source of energy and since they contain a large amount of nutrients that many Americans are lacking in, adding some sunflower seeds to your diet is a good idea.

Keep reading for some of the amazing health benefits you can get from eating sunflower seeds.

1. Skin Protection

Some people have described vitamin E as the “lightning rod” of the cell, causing reactive molecules to hit the cell, much like lightning, yet cause no damage. The importance of vitamin E is particularly apparent when talking about the skin. Vitamin E protects your skin from UV radiation and, in several studies, when vitamin E is applied topically it has been proven to prevent UV damage. Eating a diet rich in vitamin E has been proven to have the same protective effect. Sunflower seeds are loaded with vitamin E and if you want to have beautiful, younger looking skin, then sunflower seeds belong in your diet.

2. Cardiovascular Benefits

Vitamin E at work again! This vitamin plays an important part in the prevention of heart disease. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps stop free radicals from oxidizing the cholesterol in your body. Only after cholesterol has been oxidized can it stick to the walls of your blood vessels and lead to heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure. Just a quarter cup of sunflower seeds will get you about 90 percent of your recommended daily requirement of this important vitamin. Read more about tips to reduce cholesterol.

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