And what seeds of berries, fruits and vegetables are better to spit out.
As a child, my mother scared me: if you swallow a cherry pit, a tree will grow in your stomach. I didn’t want to live with a tree, even a cherry tree. And although my mother’s deception has long been revealed, the sediment remains. Although, as it turned out, the seeds of many fruits and berries contain even more nutrients than the juicy and tasty pulp.
Watermelon
You can no longer spend a lot of time picking out every single seed from the watermelon pulp. After all, they are a storehouse of substances useful for the body. Watermelon seeds contain magnesium, iron, zinc in a bioavailable form and with an incredible degree of assimilation – 85–90%. The bones also contain fiber and protein, which are very beneficial for digestion. However, to get the most out of the seeds, they must be chewed thoroughly. You can eat them separately from the watermelon itself, after drying the seeds.
Melon
Melon seeds can also be eaten just like that. True, you should not get carried away, literally 2 g per day is enough. Melon seeds contain protein, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin A and B vitamins. There are enzymes useful for digestion, and pectin allows you to remove heavy metals and pesticides from the body, which is very important in our environment. Remember to chew the seeds thoroughly. Of course, you can swallow them whole, but then you won’t be able to get all the valuable enzymes and vitamins, and the seeds will quickly be excreted from the body, playing the role of a natural laxative.
Grapes
Because of the bitter taste of grape seeds, many prefer to choose seedless varieties. But it is this characteristic bitter aftertaste that suggests that the bones contain a lot of flavonoids that accelerate the synthesis of collagen protein (which, in turn, is good for muscles, bones and skin). In addition, due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, flavonoids help delay the onset of diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Grape seeds have a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. It is also an additional source of vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, chlorine. But again, to get the maximum benefit, the bones must be chewed thoroughly.
Garnet
Many have excluded this most useful fruit from their diet precisely because of the seeds. One pomegranate is 400-700 small grains surrounded by delicious pulp. Sucking each of them will take half a day. Meanwhile, in countries where pomegranates grow, they are eaten right with the seeds, without wasting time sucking. Pomegranate seeds are rich in polyphenols as well as tannins, quercetin and anthocyanins. For the work of the heart – the very thing. And a cup of pomegranate seeds contains almost a third of the daily requirement of vitamins C. Vitamin K and even more. Nutritionists say that pomegranate seeds strengthen the stomach. Well, if you believe the cooks, if you chew the bone very well, it acquires the taste of aged Burgundy Pinot Noir.
Kiwi
Kiwi seeds contain vitamin E, which is beneficial for skin, hair and nails. And omega-3 fatty acids can help fight inflammation.
However, eating seedless kiwi is hardly possible – well, who in their right mind would pick out small seeds from the pulp? But the fact that you also need to eat fruit with a peel may come as a complete surprise to many.
Citrus
Only the lazy does not use lemon zest in cooking. But bones! And they, meanwhile, are also very useful. For example, lemon and lime seeds contain pain relieving salicylic acid. Ancient healers prescribed lemon seeds to their clients for headaches: 5-6 pieces should be carefully chewed and swallowed. And no aspirin is needed!
But orange and tangerine seeds contain vitamin B17, which can help fight cancer and fungal diseases.
Pumpkin
Only 30 g of pumpkin seeds replenish one third of the daily intake of phosphorus and magnesium, and zinc – for all 70%. They are packed with beneficial antioxidants. Vitamins A and E will help preserve youthfulness of the skin, and a large amount of fiber helps to normalize metabolism. Also, regular consumption of pumpkin seeds improves the functioning of the bladder and prostate.
Seeds that you can’t eat
In seeds peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots и cherries there is amygdalin substance. Amygdalin is completely safe if you swallow the cherry pits whole. But as soon as you gnaw it, the amygdalin will immediately turn into hydrogen cyanide – this is a poisonous, and in high doses, deadly compound.
In seeds apples и pears it is also there, but in insignificant quantities. So even if you accidentally chew one or two grains, it will not cause any side effects. But you shouldn’t get carried away with eating them.
Bone avocado considered to be slightly toxic. In small doses, its use will not lead to serious consequences. However, the substances contained in it can cause an allergic reaction and lead to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract.