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JUNE 4, 2020 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
Health & F tness
Super Healthy Seeds By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN
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eeds contain all the starting materials necessary to develop into complex plants. Because of this, they are very nutritious. Seeds are great sources of fiber. They also contain healthy monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, and many important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. When regularly consumed as part of a healthy diet, they have been shown to help reduce blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Let’s talk about some of the healthiest seeds and why you should start including them in your diet.
FLAXSEEDS: Flaxseeds are also known as linseeds and are a great source of fiber and omega-3 fats. However, the omega-3 fats are contained within the fibrous outer shell of the seed, which humans can’t digest easily. Therefore, if you want to increase your omega-3 levels, it’s best to eat flaxseeds that have been ground. Flaxseeds contain an important antioxidant called lignans, which help reduce cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease. One
large study found that consuming flaxseeds reduced levels of LDL, aka the “bad” cholesterol. Analysis of 11 studies found that flaxseeds may also help reduce blood pressure when eaten every day for 12 weeks. A couple of studies have shown that eating flaxseeds may reduce markers of tumor growth in women with breast cancer and may also reduce cancer risk. This may be due to the lignans, which are phytoestrogens and are similar to the female hormone estrogen. Additionally, similar benefits have been shown regarding prostate cancer. Sprinkle some ground flaxseeds into your yogurt, oatmeal, or smoothies for added flavor and wonderful health benefits.
EPA and DHA, which are the omega-3 fats found in oily fish. Additionally, some studies found that whole and ground chia seeds are equally effective for reducing blood sugar immediately after a meal. Another study found that chia seeds may reduce appetite, thereby promoting weight loss. A study of 20 people with type 2 diabetes found that eating 37 grams of chia seeds per day for 12 weeks reduced blood pressure and levels of several inflammatory chemicals. Consume chia seeds in the same way as flaxseeds, or make balls with flaxseeds, oats, unsweetened chocolate chips and pb2 peanut butter, and freeze them.
CHIA SEEDS:
Hemp seeds are an excellent source of vegan protein. They contain more than 30% protein and are one of the few plants that are complete protein sources, meaning they contain all the essential amino acids that your body can’t make. Most plant-based protein sources contain incomplete proteins, such as chickpeas and legumes. Studies have also shown that the protein
Chia seeds are very similar to flaxseeds in that they are also a good source of fiber and omega-3 fats. A number of studies have shown that eating chia seeds can increase ALA in the blood. ALA is an important omega-3 fatty acid that can help reduce inflammation. Your body can convert ALA into other omega-3 fats, such as
HEMP SEEDS:
quality of hemp seeds is better than most other plant protein sources. Hemp has much less fiber than flaxseeds and chia seeds, but does contain what is considered a very good ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats. Hemp seeds also contain gamma-linoleic acid, an important anti-inflammatory acid. The anti-inflammatory action of hemp seed oil may also help improve symptoms of eczema. One study found that people with eczema experienced less skin dryness and itchiness after taking hemp seed oil supplements for 20 weeks. They also on average used less skin medication. Don’t take hemp seed oil supplements, or for that matter any kind of supplements, without first discussing it with your primary care physician.
SESAME SEEDS: These are commonly consumed as a topping or in a paste called tahini or techina. Like flaxseeds, sesame seeds contain a lot of lignans, particularly one called sesamin. In fact, sesame seeds are the best-known dietary source of lignans. Some studies have shown that the sesamin may get con-
