Health Benefits - Vitamins and Minerals in Sunflower Seeds

Harvested from tall sunflowers, the seeds can be eaten raw, roasted, or used for flavor and texture in a variety of meals. Today, they're often eaten as a healthy snack between meals, providing an energy boost in a convenient package. Despite this, many people are unfamiliar with the benefits of eating sunflower seeds. In this article, you'll learn how the seeds are a powerful source of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Plus, we'll explain how sunflowers seeds can even have a mild relaxing effect on your brain.

Health Benefits of Sunflower Seeds

• Sunflower seeds also contain good amount of magnesium. Magnesium helps to prevent asthma, lower high blood pressure, and prevent migraine headaches.
• Sunflower seeds offer a very good amount of magnesium as well. This helps to lower blood pressure, relieve headaches and migraines, and lessen the severity of asthma
• The vitamin E in sunflower seeds also helps to protect against heart disease. It does this by protecting the arterial walls and the heart against cholesterol-related damage.
• Dietary fiber in sunflower seeds controls cholesterol levels and blood glucose levels and also promotes good digestion.
• Sunflower seeds also contain Zinc which is beneficial for keeping our immune system strong.

Amount

• One ounce of sunflower seed kernels, dry-roasted without salt contains  3.1 grams of dietary fiber.

Protein  -   5.48 grams

Calories   -  165

Minerals Contained

• Potassium - 241 mg
• Phosphorus - 327 mg
• Calcium - 20 mg
• Magnesium - 37 mg
• Iron - 1.08 mg
• Sodium - 1 mg
• Manganese - 0.598 mg
• Zinc - 1.5 mg
• Copper - 0.519 mg
• Selenium - 22.5 mcg
• Also contains trace amounts of other minerals.

Vitamins Contained

• Vitamin C - 0.4 mg
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.03 mg
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.07 mg
• Niacin - 1.996 mg
• Pantothenic Acid - 1.996 mg
• Vitamin B6 - 0.228 mg
• Folate - 67 mcg
• Vitamin A - 3 IU
• Vitamin E - 7.4 mg
• Vitamin K - 0.8 mcg
• Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.