Flavored Sunflower Seeds Are The Ideal Snack

Sunflower seeds are an excellent snack by themselves or as an ingredient, offering a wealth of nutrients, many of which are hard-to-get. Full of healthy unsaturated fats, protein, fiber, minerals, vitamins and phytochemicals, nutrition scientists are realizing that we should pay better attention to this power-packed whole food. 

Making wise food choices and modifying behavior to eat more healthful may not always seem easy. But sunflower seeds stand up to this challenge. Sunflower seeds are an excellent snack by themselves or as an ingredient, offering a wealth of nutrients, many of which are hard-to-get. Full of healthy unsaturated fats, protein, fiber, minerals, vitamins and phytochemicals, nutrition scientists are realizing that we should pay better attention to this power-packed whole food. In the United States, obesity as well as diabetes and heart disease are on the rise. The 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommends an intake of 20- 35% of calories from fat, mostly coming from healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated sources. Consumption of these kinds of good fats has been shown to improve heart disease risk.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages choosing sunflower seeds, which can boost these fats (1). Sunflower seeds are also recognized by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for their nutrient density. They are specifically noted to be the best whole food source of vitamin E, providing 84% of the daily value in just one ounce (1) A lower risk of death from stroke has been associated with vitamin E-rich foods (2); and since studies have shown that only 5% of men and 4% of women meet the RDA for vitamin E, choosing sunflower seeds to increase vitamin E intake is a wise and easy solution (3). Check out some of the nutrients you can get by incorporating just one ounce of sunflower seeds into your diet:

Nutrient List:
Vitamin E
Phosphorus
Selenium
Copper
Pantothenic acid
Folate
Protein
Fiber
Vitamin B6
Zinc
Magnesium
Iron
Thiamin
Niacin
Riboflavin

Adding sunflower seeds to baked goods, sprinkling them on salads, or using them as a coating on chicken can add a lot of protein and many important nutrients to your meal. It’s easy to incorporate sunflower seeds into your diet in a tasty and healthy way. Try the recipes on the next page and see for yourself!

If you are looking for a healthy and satisfying snack, sunflower kernels are a great option. They are easy to find, affordable, and they can be enjoyed by people of all ages. So next time you are looking for a snack, don't forget to grab a bag of SMACKIN' Sunflower Seeds and enjoy the best flavorful sunflower seeds ever!