HEALTH SPECIAL.....GO FOR SEEDS

Sow The Seeds Of Health

Not only are seeds nature’s superfood, they also add a crunch to your diet

THE MORE nutrition-conscious among us make it a point to eat their recommended daily quota of fruit and vegetables every day. But there’s one important food group that you may be ignoring – seeds. Even small amounts are extremely beneficial, so incorporate them consciously in your meals and eat them daily. The bonus here is that they add not just health, but a tasty crunch to your diet.
ON SESAME STREET
Sesame seeds are very high in antioxidants and naturally balanced in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. They are excellent for beating heart disease. The high vitamin B content of sesame seeds also makes them good for your skin, and helps keep diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer at bay. Plus, they also have a good amount of calcium too.
SUNNY SIDE UP
No, they are not yellow. In fact, sunflower seeds are grayish-green or black. They may look unappetising, but they are rich in polyunsaturated fat and vitamin E. This translates to lower blood cholesterol levels. Sunflower seeds also contain magnesium which is good for your bones, and folate, which is great for women.
PUMPKIN HIGH
Pumpkin seeds have a slight crunch, interesting green colour and a nutty flavour. These seeds are extremely rich in iron, magnesium and zinc, and are also loaded with antioxidants known as carotenoids, which enhance immunity. Extremely underrated, these seeds can do wonders to your health.
FLEX THE FLAXSEED
We all know by now that eating fish is good for us, particularly fatty fish like salmon and mackerel as these give us the good fats – omega 3’s. But what about people who don’t like the taste of fish or are vegetarians? Enter the flaxseed. Also known as alsi seeds, they contain has alpha-linolenic acid, which is the precursor to the omega-3 fatty acid family. These seeds also contain soluble and insoluble fibre, a rich source of lignans, a type of phytoestrogen that has been found beneficial in preventing breast cancer.

Kavita Devgan HTBR120401