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Sep 04 2008

Say Hello To Seeds

Published by Juliet Farmer at 4:31 pm under Cooking, Food News, Nuts & Seeds, Vegan, Vegetarian

As a vegetarian teetering on the edge of veganism, I eat a lot of nuts and seeds.

And as the summer turns to fall, I tend to throw almonds into my oatmeal, sunflower seeds into my soy yogurt, and, after carving pumpkins for Halloween (and roasting the seeds), pumpkins seeds straight into my mouth.

But I need to branch out, so I’ve been exploring other seeds, such as flax and sesame.

And it turns out I should have been embracing them all along, as both are helpful for what, specifically, ails me.

Flax seeds are among the best plant sources of alpha-linolenic acid (which is an omega 3), have been known to ease inflammation, help hot flashes and keep cholesterol levels healthy. (For the record, I would be hoping for help with hot flashes!) They are best used ground up and then mixed into yogurt, smoothies, soups and hot cereals.

Sesame seeds also offer heart healthy phytosterols, are good sources of calcium and may even halt certain types of cancer cells (all of which packs a three-fer punch for me!). I plan to sprinkle them liberally on vegetables and salads, at least to start.

So what’s your favorite seed, and how do you use it?

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