Eating Sunflower Seeds For Health

Sunflower seeds are native to North and South America. Sunflowers were exported to Europe where they found favor with Russia, where developed disease resistant strains and exported around the world.

Did you ever wonder how it is that sunflower heads are so large? The answer is simple. During the cultivation of sunflowers for 4000 years, the biggest and best heads were used for seed, selectively developing the species to the state that we know it to be. Russia regards the sunflower to be their national flower. Iowa considers the sunflower to be a weed. Such is the dichotomy that surrounds the sunflower.

Two types of sunflowers are grown in the United States , those grown for their seeds and those grown for production of oil. A Russian horticulturist developed a sunflower whose seeds are half oil.

The pithy residue of the sunflower head after the seeds are removed is lighter than cork and is used to make life jackets.

Raw sunflower kernels are more nutritious than when they are roasted. Sunflower sprouts are very nutritious. Sunflower petals are poisonous, so don’t use them as food or as a decoration near food.

(R.B.)

Seeds, sunflower seed kernels, dried, 1/4 cup

USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 18 (2005)

This information is gleaned from; http://www.vegparadise.com/highestperch511.html