These days, seeds are in a neck-to-neck competition with nuts as a healthy snacking option and rightly so! With the benefits of various seeds coming to light, people have been trying to find ways to include them in their diet. One such nutritious seed is the sunflower seed! Let’s take a look at how to include sunflower seeds in your diet.

Health benefits of sunflower seeds

Sunflower seeds are highly nutritious and they help fight free radicals, protecting hair from environmental damage. Studies have shown that they also contain zinc and omega 3 fatty acids that promote hair growth. The zinc content also helps with immunity boosting. Other health benefits of sunflower seeds include:

* They are rich in Vitamin E that helps during pregnancy and nourishes the skin
* Their vitamin B1, B3, B5 and B6 content helps in reducing cholesterol, boost brain function as well as in muscle building
* Being a rich source of iron it helps fight off anaemia

Even though they are healthy, limit your intake to just about 30 grams a day as they are high in calories and eating too many can lead to weight gain.

How to eat sunflower seeds?

1. Trail mix

The best way to eat sunflower seeds is by adding it to your trail mix. Trail mix is a snack mixture which is made with a combination of granola, dried fruits, nuts and seeds. So, prepare this mixture and keep it in a small container that you can carry anywhere to munch on sunflower seeds anytime you like.

2. Breakfast oats or cereal

Another option is to just sprinkle it on top of your morning bowl of cereal or oats. Sunflower seeds will make your breakfast even more fulfilling and healthy. They are high in dietary fiber which will make you feel full for a longer time period and hence, promote weight loss.

3. With vegetables

If you make gravy dishes at home, you can just sprinkle some sunflower seeds as a garnish. Or you can have them with sauteed vegetables. Just stir fry the sunflower seeds along with some vegetables like broccoli, beans, onions, etc. and you have made yourself a crunchy vegetable snack!

4. Smoothies

You can blend sunflower seeds in your favorite smoothie. Have it before pre-workout to energize yourself or have it in the morning to enjoy the benefits of sunflower seeds!

5. Salad

Adding sunflower seeds to your regular salad will make it crunchier and a lot more healthier. Just chop up all the vegetables and add some sunflower seeds on the top to get a fulfilling bowl full of sunflower seed salad!