The Jetsons Diet: Why Seeds Can Take Us into the
Future – Ajit Patel Sanda Wellness
If you were ever
into science fiction as a kid, you probably thought that, by the time you
reached the age you are now, your diet would be comprised of nutrient-dense,
wellness boosting pills
(just like in The Jetsons). However, if
you’re disappointed that food still looks very much the same as it did 30 years
ago, there is still solace to be found: seeds. They may be a little less sci-fi
and a little more natural, but seeds give you the opportunity to take care of your
wellbeing in (sort of)
pill-popping form, and that’s pretty cool.
According to Sharon
Palmer, RD, author of the new book The Plant-Powered
Diet: The Lifelong Eating Plan for Achieving Optimal Health Beginning Today, edible seeds are
packed with fibre, protein, vitamins, and minerals. She comments, ‘People don’t
think about grabbing seeds as a snack or as a food
source. People think of them as bird food more than anything else.’ However,
you should ignore seeds at your peril, as these little beauties also contain
high levels of phytosterols, which are plant compounds that have been proven to
be just as effective as prescription statins for lowering your cholesterol.
Palmer adds, ‘And they’re such easy snacks!’
So, which seeds should you be loading up on?
1. Pumpkin
seeds: Being high in protein, iron and zinc isn’t all that pumpkin seeds have
to boast about; they’re also one of the best dietary sources of magnesium. This
miracle mineral helps to stabilise your blood pressure, build the strength of
your bones, and even reduce your stress. In fact, French
researchers have found that having high levels of magnesium in their blood means men
are 40% less likely to die prematurely compared to men with the lowest levels.
Moreover, the phytosterols found in pumpkin
seeds help alleviate symptoms associated with having an enlarged prostate, such
as urinary difficulties.
2. Sunflower
seeds: In just half-a-cup of sunflower seeds you’ll find more than 100% of your
daily requirement for alpha-tocopherol, which is the most active form of
vitamin E. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can help you ward of damage
from the sun, as it protects your cells from the damage of free radicals and UV
rays. On top of this, sunflower
seeds are also an excellent source of the antidepressant phenylalanine. Your
body turns this amino acid into the brain chemical norepinephrine, which keeps
you alert and focused. You can eat these seeds raw, or use sunflower-seed
butter on toast if you’re getting sick of peanut butter every morning.
3. Sesame
seeds: You probably already love these seeds on burger buns or sesame chicken,
but did you know that these seeds are also providing you with an incredibly
high amount of calcium,
magnesium, iron, and zinc? As they’re so small, sesame seeds probably aren’t
the best for snacking but hummus is, and this contains a paste made from ground
sesame
seeds known as tahini. You can also buy tahini on its own and spread it on
flatbreads or pitas, again, just like peanut butter.
4. Chia
seeds: Nearly half of the fibre you need every day (11 grams) can be found in a
single ounce of chia seeds. These little beauts also contain 18% of your daily calcium
requirement, which is more than three times the amount of calcium that milk
provides. As well as giving you good digestion and strong bones, chia seeds
have some of the highest levels of plant-based omega-3
fatty acids of any seed – so you can throw good heart
health into the mix too. Not bad for a little seed, Jetsons here we come!
- Ajit Patel UK, Sanda Wellbeing and Sanda Wellness
Group, Goldshield Group,
WeMet
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