6 Seeds You Can Safely Eat And 6 To Avoid
Although uniquely packaged, seeds have one thing in common: They are loaded with nutrients to help new plants grow, which is precisely why a good number (think: sesame, chia seeds , and watermelon seeds) make a great addition to your diet.
Safe seeds have a myriad of benefits, including promoting a healthy heart, reducing cholesterol levels, and strengthening the immune system. Conversely, unsafe seeds can have devastating consequences: seizure, coma, or even death.
So, where do you draw the line when incorporating a seed-rich diet? Stay with us as we solve the puzzle of safe vs. unsafe seeds.
Safe: Date seeds
Dates are luscious fruits widely found in the middle east. Many enjoy the toffee-like flesh and throw out the date pits, unknowingly missing an equally nutritious part of the fruit. Date pits boast impressive amounts of dietary fiber, 60 to 80 grams per 100 grams (per Frontiers ). They also have considerable amounts of carbohydrates, antioxidants, protein, and bioactive polyphenols. Dietary fiber is essential for overall health and wellness. It helps maintain weight, regulates blood sugar, aids bowel movement, and lowers cholesterol levels. Antioxidants are known to fight free radicals that cause oxidative stress, hence minimizing cell damage. Proteins are bodybuilding, and carbohydrates give you the energy you need to stay active. Put another way; date seeds have an ample amount of nutrients you need to stay healthy. The best way to consume date seeds is to roa
Avoid: Apple seeds
Fruits in the Rosaceae family — apples, cherries, peaches, pears, plums, apricots, and peach — have one thing in common: high amounts of amygdalin, which morphs into hydrogen cyanide when crushed (read: chewed) or damaged. Hydrogen cyanide is poisonous, with mild side effects ranging from dizziness, confusion, headache, anxiety, and low blood pressure which can escalate to life-threatening conditions like paralysis, coma, and even death when ingested in considerable amounts. Hydrogen cyanide inhibits cells from taking oxygen (via the University of Leeds ). Most varieties of apples produce 1 to 4 milligrams of Amygdalin per gram of apple seeds, which translates to roughly 0.6 milligrams of hydrogen cyanide. Deadly hydrogen cyanide poisoning occurs when you consume around 50 to 300 milligrams, which would take a considerable number of apple seeds. But that doesn't
Safe: Pomegranate seeds
The edible part of pomegranate fruit is the seeds known as arils. Arils are packed with nutrients: antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Minerals play a vital role in ensuring strong bones and teeth. Vitamins strengthen the immune system and support the formation of blood vessels, cartilage, and bones. Fiber plays a crucial role in ensuring a healthy gastrointestinal system. Further, it's linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, blood sugar regulation, and weight management. And here's what's amazing about antioxidants: They balance free radicals in the body. You can scope the seeds straight from the flesh and eat them. They also make an excellent addition to a variety of foods because of their unique flavor. You can combine arils with other fruits to create a drool-worthy smoothie or extract its liquid and make a refreshing juice. Even better, add
Avoid: Castor bean seeds
At the mention of castor seeds, the first thing that comes to mind is castor oil. And you are right! Castor seeds are the raw material used to produce castor oil, even though the unhulled bean contains a lethal substance known as ricin. Fortunately, in oil production, the seeds undergo several processes to remove the ricin. Ricin imposes high risk when consumed because when it gets access to the cells, it hinders them from producing protein required to conduct their normal function. This leads to cell death, which can be fatal. Whereas swallowing whole unhulled castor beans imposes less risk, you'll still need medical attention. The immediate side effects of chewing unhulled seeds include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and abdominal pain. This can quickly culminate into liver, kidney, and pancreas damage, blood cell damage, seizure, shock, and ultimat
Safe: Hemp seeds
Hemp is a cannabis sativa, just like marijuana. However, THC, which accounts for the high in marijuana, is negligible in hemp. Hence, you can't get high by consuming hemp. Hemp seeds are brown, but the real gem lies inside the kernel. Bursting the seed open exposes the hemp heart, where all the nutrients lie. Hemp heart is rich in protein, containing all nine essential amino acids. And since our bodies can't produce them, you are in for a nourishing treat. It gets better: These small yet mighty seeds are also loaded with fiber, zinc, magnesium, thiamine, and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Given their nutritional value, including hemp seeds in your diet may help alleviate the side effects of menopause. They also promote a healthy heart and improve digestion. And hemp seed oil helps with the symptoms of eczema, though experts are still conducting resea
Avoid: Raw kidney beans
While when properly cooked kidney beans are an excellent source of plant protein, the raw bean is quite toxic. Kidney beans, like other legumes, contain phytohaemagglutinin, which in small amounts is harmless — the case for other beans. However, the quantity of phytohaemagglutinin in raw kidney beans is considerably high, which makes it toxic. Eating four to five raw kidney beans is enough to cause havoc. In the next one to three hours after consumption, you'll most likely experience nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, which can dissipate after three to four hours from when the symptoms start. Sometimes, the affected would need medical attention to relieve the symptoms. The good news, however, is that raw kidney beans are not fatal. A study revealed that it's best to soak kidney beans for five hours and drain the water before boiling the beans in c