Smart food in small packages is not so rare to us. Nuts like walnuts, cashews tend to always hog the spotlight of tiny nutritional powerhouses. But these seeds are nutrient dense food loaded with taste. These can supercharge your diet.
“Big things come wrapped in small packages”, seeds make this lines alive. Often touted as smart tiny foods, these seeds can do wonders on your body. And wonder surely doesn’t mean that a plant will grow in your stomach as you consume a seed, just as your mother always said.
Here are 5 seeds worth munching on:
- Pumpkin Seeds :
When you carve your pumpkin in October, don’t ignore the seeds. Raw pumpkin seeds are green in color. They acquire a brownish shade when roasted. These seeds are packed with protein, fiber, Vitamin E, minerals such as zinc, magnesium, potassium, and acids.
Eat them by handful directly as snacks, add them to your salads, pasta, smoothies and juices, sprinkle a few on soup or you can even caramelize them.
- Chia seeds :
A seed enjoying the spotlight in the health community since years, it can help you control your appetite and can keep you hydrated. Chia seeds are overloaded with fiber and have great amounts of protein, omega 3 fatty acids and minerals such as iron, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.
These seeds are not much flavorful but can be added in your tasty recipes, to enhance their nutritive value. You can put them straight in milk, juice or sweetener. They swell in water and many people consume it in plain water to keep them full for a longer time. You can, of course, make some delicious pudding, shakes or smoothies from these nutritious seeds.
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- Sunflower seeds :
Mild, nutty tasting seeds can offer health benefits from head to the toe. Along with high levels of proteins and fiber, these seeds are loaded with antioxidants and Vitamin E. They are also a rich source of minerals such as magnesium, copper, selenium etc.
The best thing about sunflower seeds is that they are not only nutritious but tastiest of all the seeds. The mild nutty flavor makes these seeds a perfect snack. But you can also toss them in salads, cereals, granola bars etc. You can also add them to your smoothies, sandwiches and can be a great substitute to your candy bars. The rich flavor of sunflower enables you to add these seeds wherever you can and cook some nice, creative recipes with it.
- Hemp seeds :
Seeds from the same origin as marijuana, but they won’t make you high because of low levels of THC, an active substance in marijuana. Although you can’t get stoned by these seeds, they have several remarkable properties. These seeds are a complete source of proteins and contain all nine vital amino acids. They are also loaded with several vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, Sulphur, potassium and magnesium.
The nutty flavor is mild, but they have a creamy texture. These seeds can be tossed in your bakery products, snacks, cereals, juices, salads, dressings etc. They can also add a protein punch to your smoothies, granola bars etc.
- Flax seeds :
If you need some help with hair fall, there is nothing like a daily dose of flax seeds. These nutritionally robust seeds are a rich source of omega 3 fats. These seeds are an outstanding source of protein and fiber
These seeds have a mild nutty taste which doesn’t interfere with other flavors. So you can easily add them in several of your tasty dishes. Sprinkle these in yogurt, smoothies, protein shakes, cereals, salads, soups, cookies, just anywhere you can add them. You can even coat your chicken with Flax. These seeds are referred as vegan baker’s best friend since it can be used as a substitute for the egg in baking when mixed with water.
These pint-sized nutritious seeds seriously deserve a important share in your diet. Don’t underestimate them and seriously, incorporating them into your diet is much easier than you think.