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Plant-based diets are receiving increasing attention, and research
shows their potential for disease-prevention. Much has been said about the
importance of fruits and vegetables, but what is known about ready-to-eat dried
seeds?
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Seeds, the end point of plant reproduction, are plant embryos
enclosed within a seed coat. The three main parts of the seed are
the germ (embryo), the endosperm (nutrient store for the germ to
grow) and the seed coat. Every seed has the potential to germinate and grow
into a mature adult plant.
Seeds in the diet
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Many common food sources including grains and legumes are actually
seeds. For example, barley, oats, rice and legumes (such as beans and soybeans)
are crops which are harvested for their edible seeds. Also, much of what we
consider as nuts, such as pistachio nuts and cashew nuts, are technically
seeds.
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Seeds in human consumption are very versatile and certain types
can be pressed to make oils (e.g. sunflower oil) or sprouted for human
consumption (e.g. watercress). Other seeds are eaten whole, for example as a
snack, on breakfast cereal, oatmeal or baked goods, or mixed into smoothies and
yoghurt. In this article, we will discuss these types of ready-to-eat dried
seeds (e.g. linseeds, poppy, pumpkin) regardless of their true botanical
category.
