As part of our ‘We Are Sure About Seeds’ campaign we have collaborated with Mary Carmody Nutrition to bring you a serious of general health blogs. Mary is a qualified Nutritional Consultant, based in Cork with over 9 years experience in the health and wellness area working with Corporate and Private clients. Mary works from her clinic in Carrigaline but can be accessed worldwide through phone and Skype appointments.
Mary believes that by educating her clients about the power of good nutrition, they are empowered to take ownership of their health by following her very simple guidelines in the form of recipes, nutrition and lifestyle tips.
In this blog Mary discusses the benefits of seeds in the diet, with a focus on sesame seeds.
Seeds such as chia, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, linseeds, poppy seeds, hemp seeds and alfalfa seeds are packed with nutrients such as protein, fibre, iron, vitamins and omega 3 and provide many benefits to the body including the following:
- Promote healthy skin and hair
- Help to remove toxins from the body
- Protect the heart and blood vessels by supporting cardiovascular health
- Support hormonal balance
Did you know that sprouting seeds converts their starch to slow release carbohydrates, releasing enzymes that aid digestion and make their nutrients more bio available (more easily absorbed).
Sesame seeds – what’s the big deal???
Sesame seeds are tiny cream seeds which are great for the skin and strengthen the heart and the nervous system. They also help lower blood pressure and protect the liver from toxic damage. Sesame seeds are high sources of calcium, which is necessary for healthy bones and teeth.
How do I use them?
- You can eat them raw or soak them, sprout them or toast them on the pan in a little tamari (gluten free soya sauce) to make a healthy snack.
- Sprinkle seeds on steamed vegetables.
- Add sprouted seeds to salad, stir-fries, baked goods, sandwiches and quiches
- Ground seeds are the basis of tahini, a sesame seed paste used in hummus recipes or salad dressings.
- Spread a few teaspoons of sesame seeds on toast with a teaspoon of honey drizzled on top – yum !!
- We also put a teaspoon or two of tahini along with a tablespoon of chia seeds into our lovely healthy pancakes recipe!
What do I do now?
So, now that you know just how great sesame seeds are – head to your local health store or supermarket and pick up your pack of sesame seeds and start feeling the benefits!
For more information and health tips from Mary visit her website www.marycarmodynutrition.ie and Mary Carmody Nutrition on Facebook.
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