5 health benefits of poppy seeds

Poppy seeds have been used as a traditional remedy for centuries. Its flowers produce small, round, bluish, black or light to dark gray seeds, depending on where they are grown. These seeds are used in Baked goods and traditional dishes around the world.

poppy seeds (papaver rhoeas) can be found in herbalists or specialized food stores. They have one slight calming actionalthough the poppy seeds known as opium poppy are those of opium (Papaver somniferum), which are not marketed because the plant is illegal.

Poppy seeds in the kitchen: nutritional profile

Like most seeds, poppy seeds are rich in fiber, unsaturated vegetable fats and various micronutrients.

One tablespoon (10 grams) can provide 25% of the daily requirements for manganese, 16% of copper, and around 6-7% of magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, iron and vitamin B1.

Are very rich in calcium (1,450 mg / 100 g), beating seaweed and dairy, but eaten in smaller quantities, sprinkled on breads or in salads and vinaigrettes. A bunch of 30 g provides 54% of the calcium needed per day.

The seeds can be cold pressed to produce poppy seed oil, which is especially rich in omega-6 and omega-9 fats. It also contains small amounts of the omega-3 family alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

The seeds have a mild flavor and a grayish color. They can be used directly on the cooked dish (vegetables, soup, pasta) or previously toasted in the pan (whatever enhances its aroma).

In Asian cuisine, a cream is made with 100 g of butter, 25 g of poppy seeds, 10 g of sesame seeds and two tablespoons of olive oil.. Melt all the ingredients in a bain-marie, let it rest until it cools down and add salt.

Therapeutic uses of poppy seeds

1. They strengthen the bones

The manganese that these seeds contain in abundance is an important trace element for the bone health and blood clotting. This mineral also helps your body use amino acids, fats, and carbohydrates.

They are also high in copper, a mineral necessary for produce connective tissue and transport iron.

2. They relieve pain

Poppies contain active ingredients with a powerful analgesic action, such as morphine, codeine, thebaine and other alkaloids that soothe pain and induce sleep. These compounds are found in the milky substance that is extracted from the capsule that contains the seeds and is known as opium.

From opium of a variety of purple and light flowers, opioid drugs and drugs are extracted. The cultivation of this variety is legal but only for ornamental purposes. The rest of the varieties contain very small doses and the seeds have been cleaned so that they are free of this latex.

The seeds may contain traces of these compounds that They can promote sleep and relieve pain. A study carried out at the German University of Sport in Cologne proved that after consuming poppy seed muffins, morphine and codeine can be found in the urine in sufficient quantities to be detected by anti-doping controls carried out on cyclists.

Some varieties, like papaver rhoeas, Characteristic red flowers that are easy to see in the fields, do not contain morphine, but rhoeadin, a slightly sedative substance.

3. They are good for the heart

In moderate amounts the unsaturated fats and the antioxidant polyphenols in poppy seeds can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by up to 17%, especially if they substitute less healthy saturated fats.

Combining them with a rich source of omega-3 such as walnuts or flax seeds can boost their heart-healthy effect.

4. They promote digestion

Poppy seeds can help digestion due to their rich in fiber, that improves intestinal health and combats constipation.

5. Useful against fertility

In this case, the benefit is not produced by consuming the seeds, but as a consequence of a treatment that consists of irrigating the fallopian tubes with poppy seed oil.