Super Seeds

Adding seeds to your diet is a great way to be healthier as they are the powerhouse of healthy fats and have nutrients in abundance

Fennel: Do you know that fennel seeds don’t come only in the dry form as a mouth freshener but also in the winter months as fresh green fennel seeds straight from the plant. I always ask all my clients to head for the fennel seeds after a meal as it cuts down sweet cravings. It also works for smokers when they give up smoking. Fennel is great for lactating mothers as it increases milk production. They have phenolic compounds, which aid people to prevent, retard and reverse cancer, arthritis and heart-related diseases.

Sunflower: The sunflower is a symbol of brightness and I love to include its seeds in my daily meals be it as a sprinkle on my salads or just roasting and eating a spoonful plain. Sunflower seeds are jam-packed with a wealth of important nutrients and are associated with a multitude of health benefits. Sunflower seeds are finally fats but good quality fats!

They are a good source of Vitamin E and selenium and may help cure osteoarthritis, colon cancer, asthma, cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure. I find it easier to grind the sunflower seeds and sprinkle the powder over my salads, soups and in my flour of the rotis also sometimes. However, if you are one who prefers the irresistible flavour along with the satisfying crunchy texture then have your sunflower seeds plain!

Flax: Mahatma Gandhi said, “Wherever flaxseeds become a regular food item among the people, there will be better health”. I was as elated when I found this quote and read more about it that I just love talking about flax seeds. Thank god flaxseeds are so commonly available and reasonable too.

Once I had a bad throat and sinus problems, my mother boiled two tablespoons of flaxseeds in water and gave me the strained water to drink and I became better almost instantaneously. Flaxseeds are your richest sources of Omega 3 and are the most powerful antioxidant thus improving overall mortality! Relieving joint pains, arthritis pains preventing premature ageing. So, I suggest you eat this tiny seed daily.

Sesame: These seeds come in a variety of colours be it black, white or red! Each seed gives you a slightly nutty flavour. All of these seeds are a good source of calcium. Add it to your rotis, salads, breads and sesames par very well with potatoes, and tossed in a lot of vegetables. Sesame dry roasted with rock salt, turmeric and sprinkled with lime tastes delicious.

Poppy: Popularly known as Khus Khus, is a good quality fat. In Bengal, the famous Poshto’s main ingredient is poppy seeds. It makes your vegetable utterly delicious. Poppy seeds contain high amounts of magnesium, a mineral directly linked with sleep. It acts as an excellent relaxant thus improving your quality, duration and peacefulness of sleep. Thus, it may help prevent insomnia and sleep disorders.

Pumpkin: They are very high in zinc thus are nature’s most perfect food for men and women’s sexual health. It is a true Aphrodite, in men’s prostate gland they build seminal fluid and increase sperm count. In women, they build hormones, activate sexual organs and increase sexual fluid secretions. They create a mild euphoria and relieve stress.

Mustard: Mustard seeds cannot be had raw, so they have to be tossed into your cooking. They are a very good source of Omega-3 and help prevent joint pains. The popular source of this seed is in its oil form – “sarso ka tel”, which is one of the main ingredients in our Indian cooking.