Tag - healthy seeds

Seeds often receive step-mom like nonchalance from many self-professed health-conscious folks. But seeds are no less nutritious than nuts, their gorgeous and delicious superfood cousins. They are thick with nutrients and supply your body with complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats, necessary minerals and vitamins and dietary fibre. Here is how they benefit your health.

• Seeds are a rich source of dietary fibre, which controls the rate of metabolism and thus, keeps your digestive system healthy and happy.
• Seeds are dense with good fats, which nurture blood cells and help maintain brain activities.
• Seed lowers inflammation in body, which slows the ageing process and also cuts down the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• Seeds contain phytosterols which that regulates bad cholesterol (LDL) and lowers cancer risk.
• Seeds are a good source of magnesium, selenium, zinc and copper, which are essentials for our bodies.
• Seeds, if consumed regularly, prevent weight gain.

How to Incorporate Seeds in Your Daily Life?

Birds eat seeds but so do we. In fact, humans need seeds just like they need nuts for their own health benefits, some of which have been summed up in the above section. They are little tiny bombs of nutrition to explode benefits incorporated in your daily diet. There are several varieties of edible seeds from sunflower seeds to chia to flax. They are good for your natural wealth i.e. health.

Healthy seeds include:

• Pumpkin
• Sunflower
• Hemp
• Flax
• Chia
• Sesame
• Garden cress
• Melon

Let’s now talk about how you can include these edible, nutritious seeds in your diet.

Make Smoothies with Seeds

A quick fix for your sweet craving! It is a delicious drink that you can incorporate in your breakfast menu or enjoy as a snack. Mix a tablespoon of chia or flax seeds into your smoothie to make it work like a real energy booster. For a sweet-tangy taste, try chia, fig or peach smoothie. Mix one teaspoon of flax seeds for strong nutty indulgence.

Take Bites off Energy Bars

Energy bars are great hosts for good seeds. With every crunchy bite, you will take in the goodness of the seeds which will keep your tummy full for long and give you an instant energy spike. The go-and-grab bars are great snacks at any hour whenever you feel hunger pangs.

Prepare Chia Pudding

Surprised? Till date, you have been familiar with egg pudding, chocolate pudding, rice pudding and the likes but none of these contains seeds. From now on, add chia seeds to vegan chocolate pudding or banana pudding. Feel the crunch; the delicious difference will overwhelm your taste buds.

Top Off Salads with Them

A fun way to use seeds and enhance the taste of your salad is to sprinkle your favourite seeds on the top. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds work as great toppings. Toast a mix of sesame and pumpkin seeds and use it as topping on a salad prepared with avocado, lemon, roasted carrot. Choose seeds according to your mood and flavour palette! The beautiful blend of soft salad and crunchy seeds, will keep you motivated to finish that bowl of salad!

Use Them in Desserts

Another easy way to incorporate seeds into your diet is to use them in desserts. From coconut pumpkin pie to vegan berry fruit tarts, options are endless in low calorie desserts! Not only do they add nutrition and taste, they also need to be given the credit for adding an amazing creamy texture to some desserts!

Pro Tip: Add 2 tbsp /day of seeds to your daily diet; your health will say “Thank You” to your choice.