We all try to stay healthy and eat the freshest fruit and vegetables, but sometimes,
we forget where these nutritious treats come from, we’re talking about seeds! Hi viewers
and welcome back to another bestie video. Don’t judge them by their size: these tiny superseeds
are packed with essential nutrients like protein, fiber, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids.
You can have them as a snack or make it a part of your salads, smoothies and even desserts.
But all seeds are not created equal. There are some which might not be as healthy.
In today’s video, we will talk about 6 seeds that are good for you and 6 that you should
avoid. From seeds like wild rice, hemp and sesame being the good ones to tomato,
sunflower and chia being the bad ones, we’re talking all that and more.
Wild Rice: Don’t get confused by the name. Wild rice is actually a seed – a grass seed.
It's higher in protein than most other whole grains and contains 30 times more
antioxidants than white rice. It is a good source of fiber, and nutrients like folate, magnesium,
phosphorus, manganese, zinc, vitamin B6, and niacin.
A study found wild rice might be effective in lowering cholesterol and other fats in
the blood. It is extremely versatile and can be substituted for white rice in any dish.
It can also be a healthy addition to a salad or soup.
Have you ever tried wild rice?
What’s your favourite rice dish? Tell us quickly down below in the comments section.
Pomegranate Seeds: These small red jewels are called arils. These arils have lots of fiber
and 40 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin C. They also contain heart-healthy
antioxidants called polyphenols, including: flavonoids, tannins, and anthocyanins.
These also help protect the body against inflammation and free radical damage.
Eating it regularly not only increases blood circulation but also
increases the red blood cell count in your blood. It gives strength to your body and
increases your metabolism. It treats anemia, prevents low-blood pressure and fatigue.
Pomegranate seeds make a sweet and juicy low-calorie snack.
Try them tossed in salads, mixed into yogurt, or made into jelly.
Hemp Seeds: More and more people are discovering the nutritional benefits of hemp seeds. It
contains all 20 amino acids, including 9 essential amino acids that our body cannot produce.
It also has a high proportion of proteins that enhance immunity and reflect toxins.
Eating it in any form can help in healing and people suffering from immune deficiency diseases.
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seeds
have been used to treat nutritional deficiencies caused by tuberculosis.
It is also one of the largest vegetable natural sources of essential fatty acids,
containing more than flax or any other nuts or vegetable oil.
This is helpful in supporting cardiovascular health and boosting the immune system.
Flax Seeds: Dietary fibre in flax seeds reduces the rise in blood fats after meals and regulates
appetite. Researchers found that flax seeds suppress appetite and support weight loss.
The main health benefits of flax seeds are mainly high levels of alpha linolenic acid or ALA,
dietary fibre and lignans. The essential fatty acid ALA is strongly anti-inflammatory, reducing
the production factors that promote inflammation. It has also been shown to have the ability to stop
tumour growth in animals and reduce the risk of cancer in humans. They help stabilize hormonal
levels that affect premenstrual symptoms and menopause. They can also reduce the risk of breast
and prostate cancer. Fiber in flax seeds has been shown to promote healthy bowel function as well.
Sesame seeds: These seeds are probably one of the oldest seeds known to mankind.
They are especially valued for oil that is extremely resistant to mustering. Not only are
sesame seeds a source of manganese and copper, but they’re also loaded with calcium, magnesium, iron
and phosphorus. In addition to these important nutrients, they contain 2 unique substances:
sesamin and sesamolin. Both of them have been shown to have an effect on lowering cholesterol
levels in humans, as well as lowering blood pressure and increasing vitamin E in animals.
It has also been found that sesamin protects the liver from oxidative damage.
Wheat Germ: The nutritional powerhouse of the wheat kernel,
wheat germ is loaded with protein, iron, and B vitamins such as folate. The high
fiber content of this superseed helps prevent constipation and keeps your appetite in check.
And it is low on the glycemic index, so it doesn’t spike your blood sugar.
Wheat germ makes a great addition to smoothies, hot cereals, baking and cooking recipes.
Because its healthy polyunsaturated fats can quickly turn rancid,
it is best stored in a tightly sealed container in the freezer for optimum freshness.
Ok, now let’s move on to the seeds that are not as healthy for you.
Chia Seeds: Surprised? Chia seeds have been touted as a healthy food. This is mainly because they
happen to contain about 6 grams of polyunsaturated fats in the form of omega-3 fatty acids per ounce.
However, the primary fatty acid in chia seed is alpha-linolenic acid or
ALA which makes things complicated.
It’s because this main fat has to convert into another kind of fatty acid in order to
work in your body. But humans are unable to convert ALA to useful,
healthy fats all that easily. So, chia seeds just don’t quite cut the mustard.
When it comes to the supposed health benefits, there really are no studies which prove that
the antioxidants in chia seeds can prevent or repair the skin damage caused by free radicals.
Nor are the studies about them helping your heart health consistent. Finally, there is
close to no evidence that they support metabolic health, weight loss, or athletic performance.
Additionally, there is a goopy, translucent gel surrounding every chia seed.
And when eaten, it can create a barrier that might compromise your body’s ability
to carry out the process of digestion. That watery gel may also hinder fat absorption.
Tomato Seeds: These seeds can be unsafe to individuals that are currently undergoing
kidney stones & other kidney related issues. This is because they are high in oxalates,
which can prompt the collection of calcium in the body, bringing about kidney stones. Along
these lines, people who are experiencing the ill effects of kidney stones or are
more inclined to creating kidney stones ought to avoid tomato seeds & tomato based items.
Even though there is a lack of specific scientific proof, individuals with diverticulitis are
advised not to consume tomato seeds. It is not common in every individual as only
limited cases have been reported on tomato seeds causing inflammation in the colon
Pumpkin Seeds: Pumpkin seeds are fun to roast and eat during the fall, but can they do damage
to your health and well-being? In a word: yes. When you eat certain kinds of seeds,
you run the risk of experiencing a negative health defect known as a bezoar. A bezoar is
a mass of indigestible food material. Often, these solid masses end up impacting your stomach.
A recent report stated that pumpkin seeds were linked to a solid mass that incited fecal
impaction. These situations can sometimes be complicated by gastrointestinal bleeding, too.
Sunflower Seeds: Sunflower seeds have become a favorite snack among Americans.
But these little seeds aren’t all that they’re cracked up to be. For starters,
regularly eating them might actually aggravate your skin. But part of what makes them harmful
is the fact that they contain anti-nutrients like phytic acid and alpha-amylase inhibitors.
These compounds can stand in the way of some essential bodily functions.
Proteases are enzymes that help your body break down protein.
Sunflower seeds contain protease inhibitors which bind to protein making them impossible to digest.
They are sometimes linked to negative effects like nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, glucose intolerance and inability to regulate blood sugar.
Did you know that regular high blood sugar levels can cause a wide range of health problems.
Keep it in check by knowing the signs to look out for when its levels are high
in this video titled “ 8 Signs Of High Blood Sugar Levels”
Now back to seeds that are healthy and the ones to avoid.
Apple Seeds: Apples have five seed pockets, with varying numbers of
seeds in each pocket. These seeds contain a sugar based compound called amygdalin.
They have a strong outer layer that is resistant to digestive juices. But if you chew them,
the enzymes in your body come in contact with the amygdalin, cutting off the sugar part of
the molecule. What’s left of the compound can then decompose, producing hydrogen cyanide.
Cyanide itself is a rapidly acting, potentially deadly chemical that
kills by preventing cells in the body from using oxygen. In humans,
cyanide toxicity is experienced at doses of around 0.5-3.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.
The average apple usually contains between five to eight seeds. Apple seeds contain approximately
1-4 milligrams of amygdalin, a study found, but not all of that translates into cyanide.
Plus, the human body can process hydrogen cyanide in small doses,
so eating a few seeds is not dangerous. In fact,
it would take anywhere from 150 to several thousand crushed seeds to cause cyanide poisoning.
Raw Kidney Beans: Did you know that eating raw kidney beans can be toxic?
According to the FDA, eating as few as 4-5 uncooked kidney beans can cause severe nausea,
vomiting and diarrhea in 1-3 hours after ingestion. This is because
uncooked kidney beans have an unusually high concentration of a chemical called
phytohaemagglutinin that is destroyed when the beans are properly cooked by boiling.
Cooking it in a slow cooker may actually make the beans more dangerous because
low temperature cooking increases the toxicity. Other beans contain this chemical,
but in much smaller amounts. Be sure to cook kidney beans by boiling before cooking them.
How often do you make seeds a part of your diet? What is your favourite way
to add seeds to your diet? Let us know in the comments section below!