The actual fashion is for natural products and the seeds are right in it! For some time now, they have been more and more present. Sesame, flax, chia, sunflower... if several of them can now be easily found in supermarkets, others have to be bought in more specialised shops. But all of them have definite advantages for our health.
Where do the seeds come from?
The seeds come from the flowers and more precisely from the pistil of the flower.
A little reminder of the structure of a flower. Like us, the flower is composed of a male organ (the stamen) and a female organ (the pistil). In order to have seeds, the female organ of a flower must therefore be fertilised by the male organ of another flower of the same species. The pollen in the stamen of a flower is carried by the wind or pollinators (bees) to the pistil of another flower where it will fertilise the egg. It is from this fertilisation that both the seeds and the fruit are created.
The seeds are the embryos of the plant. They therefore contain reserves of nutrients for the future plant and by consuming these seeds we benefit from some of their advantages.
Are grains and seeds the same thing?
It is interesting to make a clear distinction between seeds and grains. Even though they are both plants and have a similar look, the two words do not mean exactly the same thing. Indeed, grains are not intended to be sown to grow another generation of cereals. Seeds (oilseeds), as explained above, are the embryos of the flower that we plant in the hope that a new plant will grow.
Seed families in our diet
Not all seeds are the same. They do not have the same characteristics and nutrients as each other. There are therefore three families of seeds.
The protein seeds are so called because they contain about 45-50% protein. They are also known as legumes or leguminous plants. This family includes chickpeas, beans, lentils, soybeans, mung beans, and so on.
Starchy seeds are those known as cereals and are full of carbohydrates (70%). They include rice, maize, spelt, wheat, barley, buckwheat, rye and oats.
Oilseeds are the ones discussed in more detail in this article. Sesame, linseed, squash, sunflower, poppy, hemp, chia and others are all seeds that contain about 50% fat.
Which seeds should I eat?
Choosing your seeds
The seeds can be found on the market in several forms: roasted, natural, salted. However, plain seeds are best if you want to keep them as healthy as possible. Roasted seeds lose their fatty acids and salt in large quantities is not recommended for the body.
The origin of the seeds is interesting to look at for people who wish to be eco-friendly. Some seeds are not produced near us and therefore make a long journey to land on our plates as is the case for chia seeds while hemp seeds are mainly produced in France.
The health benefits of seeds
Like most foods of natural origin, oilseeds also have health benefits. They can be calming, digestive, detoxifying depending on the plant from which they come.
In any case, the seeds provide us with a variable quantity of :
Lipids (omega 3 and 6, fatty acids...)
Proteins
Vitamins
Minerals
Fibers
Which seeds for which results?
There are many varieties of seeds in the world, but the most well known in our country are the following.
Sunflower seeds are excellent for skin ageing and allergies.
Sesame seeds have multiple benefits. Among other things, they are good for the cardiovascular, nervous and intestinal systems and stimulate our memory.
Flax seeds are full of excellent antioxidants against breast, prostate and colon cancer. In addition, the cardiovascular and hormonal systems benefit from their omega 3 and 6 content.
TheChia seeds are perfect for cutting hunger. They also improve intestinal transit and reduce cholesterol.
The Hemp seedsare high in protein and can therefore replace meat in the diet. They are rich in good omega 3 to reduce cardiovascular problems.
The seeds are therefore a major asset to add to your diet for a healthy and balanced lifestyle.