Sunflower seeds are a very good source of vital nutrients like proteins, dietary fibres, healthy fats, vitamins (B1, B6, E, etc.), minerals (zinc, copper, potassium, etc.), and so on. The nutritious food can make us healthy in the following ways:
* Being very high in insoluble dietary fibres, sunflower seeds can support digestion to a large extent. The raw seeds can boost the functionalities of our gastrointestinal system and keep constipation away.
* Sunflower seeds are loaded with antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, copper, selenium, etc. These antioxidants keep free radicals away and prevent blood cholesterol from oxidizing so that the blood vessels do not get blocked and we not end up suffering from ailments like atherosclerosis, blocked arteries, stroke, heart block, heart attack, etc.
* While averting cholesterol oxidization, sunflower seeds also lower the levels of bad cholesterol in bloodstream. They come packed with dietary fibres, phytosterols and unsaturated fats (both monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats), which altogether work against bad cholesterol or low density lipoprotein (LDL).
* Intake of sunflower seeds is known to have great impact on our blood pressure levels. It is very high in potassium, which can easily offset the drastic effects caused in our body due to spikes in sodium level. As a result, our blood pressure doesn’t go up and we can stay away from the risk of hypertension.
* The antioxidant properties of sunflower seeds are excellent for decreasing cellular damage and sometimes even putting a stop to this completely. They also contain a few naturally occurring anti-carcinogenic compounds, such as phytosterols, lignans, etc., which play key roles in providing protection against breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells as well as destroying them totally to avoid further growth.