Sunday, July 5, 2009

Poppy Seeds and Its Benefits

By Amanda Rush

Most probably, you are interested in poppy seeds, hence you clicked on this page. Or maybe, you are too fond of pastries that you want to know the seeds that are baked in or sprinkled in them. Whatever is your case, this article will let you know about the facts of poppy seeds which are widely used as ingredients in our favourite pastries.

Many of us may have eaten a lot of poppy seeds, but the important information related to poppy seeds is known only to food enthusiasts and those whose job are in line with cooking. Considering the many others who barely know these seeds, the following paragraphs are written to inform about the facts of poppy seeds which will surely leave a mark in our memory. If you want to know what they are, follow along.

Asias general climate provide for the most suitable temperature for the poppy seeds to grow. The seeds are actually taken from the head of poppy plants and are like nuts when tasted.

Although mainly used as food ingredient today, during the ancient times poppy seeds were popularly used as medicines. In Greece, they were introduced by Hippocrates as a remedy for insomnia. Today, health experts have found out the other medicinal benefits of poppy seeds. It is found out that poppy seeds are effective cure for coughs, earaches, toothaches, inflammation, fever, dysentery and the list goes on. For these, poppy pods are cultivated in many parts of the world.

Most of the time, poppy seeds are used in baking. They are used as condiments or baked in or sprinkled on our favourite pastries. They are in-demand for cooking rolls, breads and cakes. Aside from their savory tastes, poppy seeds are also recommended by nutritionists because of the nutrients they contain. Based on studies, poppy seeds contain linoeic acid, oleic acid and unsaturated fatty acids. In addition to nutritional value, poppy seeds extracted oil can be used in cooking and soap making.

Aside from being a great health food, poppy seeds represent symbols. They are considered symbol of fertility and prosperity, hence used in rituals and used as amulets to fight off bad luck and invite love, money and luck. It is also a symbol for fallen warriors.

Poppy seeds may contain health benefits, but they can also be addictive because of the alkaloids such as morphine and codeine they are contained with. Experts suggest using ripe poppy seeds that contain trace amounts of alkaloids. Unripe ones are loaded with too much alkaloids, hence dangerous for those who do not deliberately plan to become alkaloid addicts.

Getting all these facts about poppy seeds is definitely beneficial to be able to get the best out of the seeds and get rid of the threats they can pose to our mental and physical health.

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1 comment:

Medical Information said...

Poppy seed is rich in B-complex. It is also very useful for health, for those who have sensitive skin, dandruff, hair-loss and many other benefits. It helps to make skin supple. So i like it. To get more information on poppy seeds, refer Poppy Seeds