The top six energy boosting and weight loss seeds

Azul, the neighborhood bluebird, circled the sunflowers, but the emerging blooms were still tight buds, and it would be a while before she had access to their delectable seeds. In frustration, she flew into the kitchen window, repeatedly banging her wings. Annie threw a tea towel at the window to shoo her away. It worked; the cerulean bird flew off.

LJ walked into the kitchen, “was that Azul banging on the window, again?”

“Yes, I watched her circling the sunflowers; she knows one of her favorite seeds is growing and is eager to have some. She’s too early, though, so now we have the frustrating banging on the window.”

“Remind me again, are we growing the sunflowers for her or us?”

Annie gave LJ the side-eye, “both, because sunflowers are a natural way to attract birds to our garden, which helps keep the pesky bugs away, and they’re a great source of vitamin E for us. You know E provides support for our immune system. Consuming it in food is better than taking a supplement.”

“Okay, so let’s say we have a situation where you have to choose between feeding Azul and her family, or feeding me, your husband. Who you gonna choose?” laughed LJ.

“Sweetheart, it will come down to who is the best at keeping the hookworms, moths, caterpillars, and other pests out of the garden. Last year was a real battle for our garden. I intend to win the war this year by any means necessary! However, just in case it’s Azul and her posse, I do have other options for you.”

“What a relief. What are they?”

Annie reached for a bag of chia seeds to add to the smoothies, “here’s one. These little guys are full of iron, magnesium, potassium, and omega-3 fatty acids. Chia’s are also a great source of dietary fiber, with five grams per tablespoon. They can soak up to twelve times their weight in liquid, contributing to a feeling of fullness without the calories.”

“I do like Chia Seed Pudding. It’s a good energizing start to the day. I hear people talking about flaxseeds. Do we have any?”

“We do,” said Annie as she handed him a smoothie. I’ve been using them in the Almond-Honey Power Bars you like after a workout. The flaxseeds in the bars are high in Omega-3s – the essential fatty acids our body needs to help burn fat and stabilize insulin levels. Flaxseeds also contain iron, fiber, and protein.”

LJ began cleaning up the kitchen, “hemp seeds are another healthy seed. They are one of the few plant-based protein sources, which contain all nine essential amino acids – the building blocks for all proteins. The body cannot produce amino acids, so hemp seeds are a valuable resource. Three tablespoons of hemp seeds include twelve grams of protein. Hemp seeds are rich in vitamin E, the Bs, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium.”

Annie handed him a towel, “I agree, and I like your Superfood Salad that includes hemp oil and hemp seeds. It is so crunchy, satisfying, and filling. Every time you make one, I am full for hours.”

“Well, if you like hemp seeds, you should also like sesame seeds because they too are a great source of fiber and contribute to gut health,” said LJ. “Three tablespoons of seeds have five grams of fiber. Putting sesame seeds on hamburger buns makes them look healthy, but the buns need to be whole grain for that to be true. However, sesame seeds are a rich source of protein, antioxidants, and vitamins. Of all the seeds, sesame is believed to have the most oil. Cooking with sesame oil has heart health benefits. I enjoy spreading multi-seed crackers with Tahini. It is a great guilt-free snack.”

“Speaking of snack, where would we be without pumpkin seeds?” exclaimed Annie.

“Uh, I don’t know, but what I do know is you love pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds), especially since you have trouble sleeping, and a handful of pumpkin seeds before bed can help because they are a good source of tryptophan, the amino acid that promotes sleep.”

“Yes, LJ and pumpkin seeds have more zinc than other seeds, which, as you know, is important for fat burning and helps produce more testosterone.”

“If that means more testosterone for my muscle-bound physique, I say how about my famous Asparagus with toasted seeds and mustard vinaigrette with dinner today? That will give you pumpkin to talk about.”

Annie and LJ are a fictional couple. Their storyline promotes healthy eating and earth-friendly practices.