Benefits of Sunflower

Sunflower flowers

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The sunflower is one of the herbaceous plants that can be grown in the urban garden with different purposes, beyond its gastronomic use: it is a very dear and endearing plant for all members of the house, it is very decorative because of the spectacular nature of its floral rosette, is a melliferous plant, etc. And already returning to the gastronomic world, if we choose correctly the type and variety, we can take advantage of their seeds not only to eat toast, but as food for certain pets.

There are several varieties of sunflower and their seeds can be white, red, yellow. However, the best known and most consumed are grayish with white stripes. They have a good amount of fatty acids and are rich in minerals such as phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium.

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For every 100 grams of sunflower seeds you get:

-22 mg of vitamin E
-730 mg of potassium
-100 mg of calcium
-395 mg of magnesium
-595 mg of phosphorus
-8.5 grams of carbohydrates
-28 grams of proteins
-47 grams of healthy fats

What are the sunflower seeds for?

Some of the benefits we can highlight sunflower seeds are:

Improve circulation

This is due to fatty acids, which have the ability to reduce the risk of suffering from circulatory, cardiac or cardiovascular problems, such as myocardial infarction.

They are excellent for athletes

They contain a lot of potassium and magnesium, being fundamental in the feeding plans of those who train professionally, but also of those who practice sports for hobby or fun. Sunflower seeds are good for those who make physical efforts constantly (for example, in a job that requires lifting a lot of weight) and help improve physical performance naturally.

They favor brain functioning

This is because sunflower seeds have a lot of magnesium and phosphorus, two incredible allies for the brain. If you have to study or take an exam, eat a handful of pipes and you will see the results. They serve to improve concentration, memory and mental performance in general.

Ideal for pregnancy

Women in the pregnancy stage have to consume a good amount of folic acid so that the baby can form well and she herself does not weaken. The sunflower seeds are rich in this essential nutrient to avoid malformations in the fetus or diseases in the mother.

Reduce fatigue

If you are in need of natural help to have more energy and vitality and not fall asleep anywhere, do not hesitate to eat sunflower seeds. Among its many components, thiamin (or vitamin B1) allows to avoid nervous system problems and chronic fatigue. Perfect for a busy day at the office!

Improve the appearance of the skin

In addition to being good for health, sunflower seeds serve as a treatment for beauty (which, ultimately, is health too). Since they have a good amount of vitamin E that nourishes and rejuvenates the dermis. This nutrient is one of the most potent antioxidants that exist.

Reduce osteoporosis

Especially women, after menopause, suffer from decalcification of the bones. Beyond the fact that everyone believes that dairy products treat this problem, there are other options, such as sunflower seeds, which have a high calcium content, avoiding breaks or cracks in fragile bones.

Increase fertility

This, in fact, does not have a scientific basis but, rather, is a popular belief. Since ancient times it was believed that those women who ate sunflower seeds were more fertile and could have more children.

How to grow sunflowers at home step by step

If you have already chosen your favorite sunflower variety and know where to plant it, here's how to plant sunflowers in pots step by step:

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1-Buy sunflower seeds, but keep in mind that only dwarf varieties are suitable for growing in pots.

2-Get some pots of the right size for your sunflowers. Make sure the pot has holes in the end so you can drain the water, otherwise the plant will rot. Remember to add a saucer to the base so that the water does not overflow.

3-At the bottom, put a drainage material, such as pieces of terracotta, gravel, pebbles or polyethylene foam. Then, pour equal parts compost and commercial land.

4-Water the container before putting the seeds. Keep in mind that to germinate they need a lot of humidity, and it will be much easier if when the plants, the earth is already wet.

5-Place the sunflower seeds in the pot. If your pot is very large and allows it, plant 2 to 10 seeds in total, with a distance of 10 centimeters between them. Not all the seeds will bloom, so in this way we will make sure that at least one sunflower plant grows.

6-Water the plant every one or two days, and calculate about 25 ml of water per planted seed, until they sprout.

7-Wait 3 to 8 days. If nothing has sprouted in a maximum of 13 days, then it means that the plant will not grow.

What is the best time to plant sunflowers

Ideally, sunflowers should be planted in the spring, so that when they bloom they will receive the rays of the summer sun, which is the time when they grow best. Although in summer there is less water underground, the roots of sunflowers can reach deeper than other flowers or plants and get the water they need.

However, some people prefer to plant the seeds in winter in pots, so that, when spring arrives and they transplant the sunflowers abroad, they are the first flowering sunflowers of the season.

These plants, which rotate throughout the day following the movement of the sun, generate much light and joy in our home. In addition, planting sunflower seeds is so simple that children can do it too.