Seeds, Seeds and More Seeds!
Tiny powerhouses. Little superfoods. Small yet mighty. Seeds are crops at their very beginning stage of life. Because they contain all the nutrients essential for growing a healthy and resilient plant, they offer our bodies a wealth of benefits when we eat them.
As plant foods, seeds provide our bodies with nutrient-dense energy while also leaving a low environmental footprint on the Earth. Seeds make healthy food a simple and easy choice for everyone. Seeds provide a similar nutritional profile to nuts and are a great source of plant-based protein.
Seeds provide an excellent source of protein and healthy fats for omnivores, paleo, dieters, and vegans alike, serve as a portable and gut-friendly fuel for athletes, and boost optimal immune, hormonal and cardiovascular health in every body.
What Seeds Should I Eat, You Ask
HEMP SEEDS / HEARTS
Hemp Hearts are considered a complete source of protein as they have all 20 amino acids, 9 essential and 2 semi-essential amino acids. Our body cannot produce these amino acids on its own. In fact, Hemp Hearts have the highest amount of Edestin protein in the entire world. Edestin is a highly active digestible form of active protein, which results in efficient absorption of nutrients.
Hemp seeds have got high amounts of albumin protein as well, the same protein that gives eggs their glory, except what sets Hemp apart is that it’s completely plant-based, non-GMO and 100% organic. Just by adding 2-3 tablespoon of Hemp Hearts into your diet, you meet the daily dietary requirements.
With a high concentration of essential fatty acids, the transport oxygen to cells throughout the body. When cells have more oxygen, they’re better equipped to block bacterial, fungal and viral infections.
Hemp Seeds provide plenty of nutrients, like vitamin E and a bevy of minerals, such as phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, zinc, selenium, calcium and iron. All of these contribute in supporting immunity at a cellular level and creating antibodies to fight those free radicals and bacteria in the body that we want to stay away from.
SESAME SEEDS
Sesame seeds are rich in a heart-healthy omega-6 fatty acid, known as linoleic acid. Adding a few tablespoons of this beneficial (and crunchy) acid to your salad protects the heart by regulating harmful cholesterol (or LDL cholesterol), which builds up plaque within blood vessel walls and blocks arteries, causing a disease called atherosclerosis.
A study published in The Scientific World Journal, credits the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of sesame with protecting the heart. However, further studies point to sesame seeds as a rich source of zinc which improves sexual function, sperm production, immune system strengthening and testosterone levels in males.
CHIA SEEDS
Chia seeds not only offer up a nutty irresistible crunch—they also help build strong bones. And if you don’t eat dairy, either for preference or intolerance/allergy reasons, chia seeds offer about as much calcium as a slice of cheese in just 2 tablespoons.
Chia seeds are also high in magnesium (another bone boosting nutrient) and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Start your day with a sprinkling of chia in your smoothie. Blend with a salad of your favorite greens or some frozen fruit. Chia seeds will also help you if you’re constipated as the seeds swell and become slippery which helps move things along easily “down there”.
SUNFLOWER SEEDS
The shelled kernels inside the seeds of the tall, sun-worshipping sunflower are bursting with Vitamin E. This vitamin serves as an antioxidant in our bodies, and is important for maintaining the strength and integrity of cellular membranes. This is why it is often credited for giving people glowing skin and strong, shiny hair. Just two tablespoons of sunflower seeds provide almost half of the recommended daily value of Vitamin E, which is incredible considering that recent estimates show upwards of 90% of Americans don’t get enough from their diets. Because the body can’t absorb Vitamin E without fat, the oil-brimming sunflower seed provides the perfect package for our bodies to utilize this important antioxidant to its fullest extent.
Sunflower seeds also pack in thiamin and Vitamin B-6, which are both essential for healthy metabolism. This means they help ensure your body gets as much energy from the foods you eat as possible, which is essential for staying on top of a busy, active schedule day in and day out. Sunflower seeds are also a great way to get magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, copper and selenium. Magnesium, when combined with Vitamin B-6 as it is in sunflower seeds, may help to reduce symptoms of PMS. Along with maintaining strong bones, proper muscle contraction and low blood pressure, keeping enough magnesium in our diets may also help keep us calm, cool and collected by staving off symptoms of anxiety.
FLAX SEEDS
Flax seeds combine an unrivaled dose of gut-strengthening fiber with a heart-healthy blend of fats as one of the best sources of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids. Locked in flax seeds’ indigestible shell, these nutrients are unable to be absorbed by our bodies unless the seeds are broken down. 88 Acres coarsely grinds the flax seeds used in our craft seed bars to ensure everyone gets the full benefit of this super seed.
The fibers in flax contain a unique type of plant chemical called lignans, which recent research shows may play a role in the prevention of certain types of cancers and are effective at reducing bad, LDL cholesterol in the blood. Lignan fibers are not lost, but are even better absorbed by our bodies when the seeds are ground. Flax seeds also contain a very high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce overall inflammation that has been linked to asthma, heart disease, alzheimer’s and many other chronic diseases.
Flax seeds contain omega-3 at a ratio compared to omega-6 that provides maximum benefits to our health.While omega-6 fatty acids are essential, meaning they are needed in human diets in order to survive, they are not very hard to find in the food supply and have been associated with increased inflammation when consumed in high quantities. The type of omega-3 fat in flax seeds is called Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA). To get the full inflammation-reducing benefit, our bodies must convert omega-3 ALA into the more active forms, DHA and EPA. But ALA still serves as an important source for vegans and vegetarians who are unable to get DHA and EPA in their diets from marine animals like fish and krill.
Flaxseeds can be eaten whole, however it won’t be digested as well. Ground flaxseed is a popular choice to avoid these digestive issues, whereas other seeds are more often consumed whole. That means flax gets gel-like when mixed with liquids, like smoothies and yogurt. It can also help better regulate blood sugar and help create normal stools because of the natural swelling and slippery-ness of the seeds once ingested.
PUMPKIN SEEDS
Green in color, pepitas–the kernels of the seeds inside the orange-fleshed pumpkin–are ripe with vitamin K, iron, magnesium, zinc, (great for men’s prostates) phosphorus and manganese. Offering many similar benefits as other seeds due to their mineral content, pumpkin seeds stand out for providing a great dose of iron. For vegans and vegetarians who don’t get iron from animal products, pumpkin seeds provide an alternative source. Similar to dark leafy greens, the vitamin K in pumpkin seeds helps promote optimal bone strength and healthy blood clotting. Pepitas are a complete protein, providing all nine essential amino acids along with a rich dose of heart-healthy, inflammation-fighting unsaturated fats.
SO EAT LOTS OF SEEDS FOR SUPER HEALTH! Make sure you always chew them well or grind them in a coffee grinder to make them easier to eat.
And Here’s a Super Tip…
MAKE SURE YOU GET LOTS OF HIGH QUALITY PROTEIN EACH DAY TO HELP YOUR BODY BUILD AND MAINTAIN OVERALL BODY STRENGTH
People these days downplay protein which is a huge mistake in my opinion. We have to eat enough protein each day in order to STAY STRONG PHYSICALLY! And while I respect people who choose to be vegans or choose not to eat animal products — all I can say is you better watch your protein intake and make sure you get enough HIGH QUALITY PROTEIN — or your body will break down over time. I’ve seen it happen many times over the years.
So do your best to power up on the protein – somewhere like 80 grams of protein a day. And that should be most every day as protein eaten is not stored so you have to get it every day.
Seriously, your body will love you and thank you for it.
Okay, Thank you for reading this. I hope that helps you power up your immune system starting now. Please share if you want.
Watch for More Coming Soon! It will be focused on what foods and other things you can do to help build a strong body and balanced immune system. It will also focus on what not to do. (yeah, that’s when the fun starts!)
Until then…
LIVE NOW. LOVE YOURSELF. STAY STRONG IN MIND AND BODY AND STAY AWAY FROM NEGATIVE PEOPLE AND LOW FREQUENCY SITUATIONS.
shared with love, paulee
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