Sunflower seeds are a good or excellent source of nearly a dozen essential vitamins and minerals

Sunflower seeds are a quick and healthy addition to a green salad or can be eaten plain as a snack. One serving, or 1 ounce of hulled seeds, contains muscle-building proteins and good fats that help lower your cholesterol and decrease inflammation.

One serving of sunflower seeds contains 175 calories, 5 grams of protein, 14 grams of good fats and 3 grams of fiber. Sunflower seeds are a healthy way to consume protein due to the high content of good fats and low content of bad fats. Additionally, the tiny seeds are packed with fiber that can aid in digestion, help lower your cholesterol and keep you fuller longer.

Sunflower seeds contain magnesium, potassium and phosphorus that function as electrolytes to help keep your bodily fluids balanced. Depending on how the sunflower seeds were processed, the sodium content can be relatively high. One serving can contain up to 208 milligrams of sodium. Stick with the raw or roasted seeds without salt to decrease your sodium intake and risk for high blood pressure.

1. Help Improve Cholesterol Levels

Sunflower seeds, like many beneficial nuts and seeds, are a rich source of fats, in this case monounsaturated and polyunsaturated ones. These are known for reducing LDL levels (known as the bad cholesterol), a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.Sunflower seeds are also rich in fiber, which by themselves help to promote bile excretion in feces and a corresponding reduction in overall cholesterol, as cholesterol is required for synthesis of new bile acids.

2. Help Control Blood Sugar

Diets that contain a high amount of nuts and seeds as part of their daily meal plans have shown a positive association to a lower rate of diabetes development, complications resulting from worsening of diabetes, and overall blood sugar management. In this case, sunflower seeds are loaded with fiber which slow down the absorption of blood sugar into the blood, while magnesium helps to improve insulin sensitivity. This combination results in improved blood glucose control for the majority of people that consume it.

3. Support The Health of Your Skin

Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of Vitamin E, which plays an integral role in skin health and maintenance. Vitamin E reduces oxidative damage to skin cells caused by UV rays, helps to reflect some of them, and helps keep your skin looking youthful Vitamin E is widely used in the cosmetic industry to support skin health, with oral consumption the superior way to get yours.

4. Promote Good Mood And Restful Sleep

The mineral magnesium is once again responsible for sunflower seeds beneficial effects on mood, helping to improve brain levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter strongly determinant of our mood. It also helps to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which in high amounts inhibits the neurotransmitters responsible for a good mood. Sunflower seeds are also rich in the amino acid tryptophan, a precursor of dopamine and other neurotransmitters that helps to bring about restful sleep and relaxation at night.