Sunflower seeds

Nutritional values

Curiosity

History

The name of the genus ( Helianthus ) comes from two Greek words ”helios” (= sun) and ”anthos” (= flower) referring to the tendency of this plant to always turn its head towards the sun. The specific name ( annuus ) indicates the type of biological cycle (annual).

The scientific duo currently accepted ( Helianthusannuus ) was proposed by Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), Swedish biologist and writer, in the publication Species Plantarum of 1753.

The sunflower is native to Americas where it was cultivated from at least 2600 BC. Francisco Pizarro discovered that the Incas considered the sunflower to be the image of their sun god. At the beginning of the 16th century both gold reproductions of the flower and seeds of the flower were brought to Europe.

In Greek mythology it is said that a nymph named Clizia fell in love with the sun god Apollo and did nothing but watch his chariot fly in the sky. Nine days later she was transformed into a sunflower. For this reason the word sunflower already existed long before the "Heliantusannuus" was brought to Europe and it is clear that the aforementioned myth (mentioned in Ovid's Metamorphoses) refers more properly to heliotrope, a different plant.

Vincent Van Gogh immortalized the sunflower in some splendid paintings in 1888.

The botanist Jacobus Antonius Cortusus (died 1593) described to his friend Pietro Andrea Mattioli (1500 – 1577), physician and botanist from Siena, a specimen 120 spans tall (about 4 meters). Other sources report that in 1567 a 12 m tall sunflower grew in Padua. The seeds of identical provenance generated other specimens that grew up to 8 m in height in other places (eg Madrid) and periods. More recently specimens over 8 m tall have been obtained both in Holland and in Canada (Ontario).

The  American Indians  have used sunflower for multiple uses in the past: such as in the preparation of bread, in medical ointments, dyes and body paints 1 .

Some parts of this flower contain the glucoside of quercetin (quercimerithrin), some amino bases, calcium salts of solanic acid and a xanthophyll 2, 3 .

A research conducted by Peking University has found that sunflower sprouts possess an active agent, cynarin, which intervenes against glycoxidation, a phenomenon linked to diabetes. Also a strong capacity was observed antioxidant in terms of removing free radicals and reducing properties. The results suggest that the consumption of  sunflower sprouts may be a beneficial choice for those suffering from type 4 diabetes .

THE sunflower seeds they are rich in compounds phenolics 5 .

A 2009 study showed a high antioxidant capacity of the aqueous extract obtained from sunflower seeds, suggesting that the consumption of these seeds can prevent the oxidative reactions responsible for the development of many ailments 6 .

1 Pelczar, Rita. (1993) The Prodigal Sunflower. American Horticulturist 72(8).

2 Motta, vol. 2 – p. 411

3 Plants For A Future. http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Helianthus annuus

4 Sun Z, Chen J, Ma J, Jiang Y, Wang M, Ren G, Chen F. Cynarin -rich sunflower (Helianthusannuus) sproutspossessbothantiglycative and antioxidantactivities . Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry [2012, 60(12):3260-3265]

5 Pająk P, Socha R, Gałkowska D, Rożnowski J, Fortuna T. Phenolic profile and antioxidant activity in selected seeds and sprouts. Food Chemistry [2014, 143:300-306]

6 Giada MD, Mancini-Filho J. Antioxidantcapacity of the stripedsunflower (Helianthusannuus L.) seedextractsevaluated by three in vitro methods. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition [2009, 60(5):395-401]

 Sources :

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helianthus_annuus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunflower

https://www.greenme.it/mangiare/altri-alimenti/10337-semi-di-girasole-proprieta-benefici-usi

storage

You can store sunflower seeds in cool, dry places away from sources of heat and humidity. Here are 4 useful tips:

• The ideal condition for keeping sunflower seeds is in a refrigerated environment. Sunflower seeds can also be stored without problems at room temperature during the winter season given the low temperatures. During the summer, on the other hand, it is advisable to keep it in the fridge or in the coolest possible place, as the increase in temperatures could favor the deterioration of the products.
• The ideal container in which to store sunflower seeds is glass. In fact, thanks to its constitution it is impenetrable to chemical and gaseous agents, and having excellent thermal insulating capacity it maintains the initial temperature for a longer time compared to other materials. If the glass is colored, so much the better: using colored glass prevents the entry of some wavelengths of light (including ultraviolet light) and therefore some nutritional and organoleptic characteristics remain unaltered.
• The type of closure of the container is also important: an airtight cap ensures that the food is protected from excessive contact with oxygen which can lead to lipid oxidation and which can be essential for aerobic bacteria.
• The environment should always be well ventilated: by ventilating the rooms, the internal humidity that escapes from the window is kept under control, guaranteeing the right balance, which helps to discourage the onset of mould.

Recommended doses

30 g of sunflower seeds provide:

• 92% of the nutritional reference value of copper;
• 39% of the nutritional reference value of Manganese;
• 25% of the nutritional reference value of Phosphorus.

Individual needs vary according to age, gender, weight and physical activity. A varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are the basis of your well-being.

Property

100g of sunflower seeds contain:

• Calcium (122 mg - 15% NRV)
• Niacin (3.7mg - 23% NRV)
• Selenium (15 μg - 27% NRV)
• Potassium (627 mg - 31% NRV)
• Iron (4.5 mg - 32% NRV)
• Zinc (4.8 mg - 48% NRV)
• Vitamin B6 (0.87 mg - 62% NRV)
• Magnesium (266 mg - 71% NRV)
• Phosphorus (585 mg - 84% NRV)
• Manganese (2.6mg - 130% NRV)
• Copper (3.1 mg - 310% NRV)
• Vitamin E (58mg - 483% NRV)
• Fiber (12g)