Sunflower seeds are a very popular snack, especially during holidays and Tet. In terms of nutrition, this type of seed provides a rich source of vitamin E, good fats and minerals.
However, eating sunflower seeds needs to be done properly because due to their characteristics of containing a lot of oil, hard skin and often marinated with salty spices, sunflower seeds can become harmful agents to the health of some groups of people:
Cough and sore throat
This is a group that needs to abstain completely from sunflower seeds. The structure of sunflower seed shells usually has a thin layer of silk dust. When bitten, these layers of dust and shell debris will stick to the throat mucosa, causing strong irritation that makes coughs more intense.
Besides, salt-roasted sunflower seeds also absorb water, dry the throat mucosa and directly affect the larynx. Eating sunflowers when the throat is sore and hoarse will greatly affect health.
High blood pressure and cardiovascular
Most sunflower seeds on the market are marinated with salt and additives to enhance flavor. Consuming a relative amount of salt into the body will increase sodium levels in the blood, leading to water retention and high blood pressure.
For people with a history of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure is very likely to lead to dangerous complications such as stroke. This group should limit or completely eliminate sunflower seeds from daily snacks.
Overweight and obesity
Many people mistakenly believe that sunflower seeds will not cause fat, but in fact, this is a food with a fairly high calorie and vegetable fat content. On average, 100g of sunflower seeds (peeled) can provide nearly 600 calories, equivalent to a main meal.
The habit of snacking while chatting or going for coffee makes it difficult for users to control the amount they consume, leading to excess energy and rapid accumulation of excess fat. People on a weight loss diet also need to remove this dish from their snack menu.
Weak enamel
Constantly biting the nutshell will cause mechanical effects that wear down tooth enamel, forming deep grooves on the teeth, causing unsightliness and aching when eating hot and cold foods.
Poor kidney function
Besides the problem of high salt content putting pressure on the kidneys, sunflower seeds also have the ability to contain Cadmium - a heavy metal that plants absorb from the soil. If consumed in excess for a long time, the accumulated amount of Cadmium can be toxic to the kidneys and the musculoskeletal system.
