John Myers
The small kernels are the seeds from the flower heads of the bright yellow sunflowers. The tall flower with its strong, hairy stem has heart-shaped leaves, and its head, which can weigh up to 1 kg and is wreathed in yellow petals, orients towards the sun. In it sit the coveted cores.
Origin
Sunflowers come from Mexico. Even the Indians used the oilseed as food. In the 16th century, the Spaniards brought the sunflower to Europe as an ornamental plant. It is traditionally grown commercially in Russia, Romania, China, Argentina, and the USA, among others.
Season
Sunflowers bloom from July through October. The harvest starts in September.
Taste
The seeds have a nutty, slightly fruity aroma.
Use
The peeled kernels are used in many ways: the baker kneads them under the dough of bread and rolls and sprinkles them on the baked goods. They taste great in muesli, confectionery, nibbles, and as a garnish for salads such as our raw vegetable salad. And of course, the popular sunflower oil is extracted from it.
Storage/shelf life
Because of their high-fat content, the kernels must be kept dry, cool, and dark, then they will keep for a few months.
Nutritional value/active ingredients
With a fat content of almost 26%, sunflower seeds are quite high in calories: 100 g contain around 480 kcal / 2008 kJ. However, the kernels provide valuable, so-called unsaturated fatty acids. In addition, the kernels contain a lot of valuable protein, fiber, vitamin E, B1, B2, B6, niacin and plenty of biotin as well as a lot of folic acid. Vitamin E helps protect cells from oxidative stress and vitamin B1, like B2 and B6, is responsible for maintaining normal energy metabolism. Niacin contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system and folate, which also belongs to the B vitamins, contributes to normal blood formation. Like the mineral zinc, biotin supports the maintenance of normal skin. Minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus are worth mentioning. The latter contributes to a normal energy-yielding metabolism, while potassium is responsible for maintaining normal blood pressure and the mineral magnesium contributes to the electrolyte balance. Sunflower seeds also contain the trace elements iron, zinc, copper, and manganese. Iron ensures the normal formation of red blood cells and the blood pigment hemoglobin, copper contributes to normal iron transport in the body, and manganese to normal connective tissue formation. It should be noted, however, that sunflower seeds are not usually consumed in large quantities!
