<div align="justify"><strong class="headmain-orange">Sunflower Seeds</strong><br />
</div>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
    <tbody>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">
            <table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
                <tbody>
                    <tr>
                        <td width="75%" valign="top">
                        <p align="justify"><strong>An Introduction</strong><br />
                        <sub>The sunflower plant are cultivated annually,  has large yellow flowers, broad leaves and can grow from 3-15 ft  (0.91-4.6 m) high. The seeds are harvested after about 120 days, dried,  roasted, salted and packaged.</sub></p>
                        <p align="justify"><sub>Actually the sunflower  seeds are the fruits of the sunflowers. In botanical terms sunflower  seed in more accurate terms are known as an achene, however when  dehulled, the edible remainder is called the sunflower kernel/seed.</sub></p>
                        </td>
                        <td width="25%" valign="top">
                        <div align="right"><img width="200" height="139" src="http://www.agriculturalproductsindia.com/images/sunflower-seeds1.jpg" alt="" /></div>
                        </td>
                    </tr>
                </tbody>
            </table>
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Across the globe the sunflower  kernels/seeds are usually consummed as a nourishing refreshment rather  than as part of a complete/full fledged meal. Sunflower seeds are also  used as a garnish  in various cuisines.</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">
            <table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
                <tbody>
                    <tr>
                        <td width="25%" valign="top"><img width="200" height="139" src="http://www.agriculturalproductsindia.com/images/sunflower-seeds2.jpg" alt="" /></td>
                        <td>
                        <div align="justify">
                        <p><strong>Availability of Sunflower Seeds</strong><br />
                        The sunflower seeds are sold as in-shell  seeds as well as in the form of dehulled kernels. The seeds are sprouted  and eaten as part of salads. In contemporary times sunflower seeds are  available in wide ranging flavors such as barbeque, sour cream &amp;  onion, cajun, ranch and hot &amp; spicy.</p>
                        <p><strong>History</strong><br />
                        Sunflowers have originated in Mexico and  Peru. According to available archaeological evidence prehistoric  neolithic farmers cultivated and consumed sunflower seeds. The seeds  were grounded into a fine meal or flour for cakes. In certain ancient  cultures sunflower seeds were used for medicinal</p>
                        </div>
                        </td>
                    </tr>
                </tbody>
            </table>
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">
            <div align="justify">
            <p>purposes to cure snakebites, cuts and bruises.  However the 19th and early 20th century people ate sunflower seeds as  they found them to be tasty and nutritious food.</p>
            <p>Europeans became familiar with sunflower seeds in  the 16th century, when Spanish explorers brought them to the continent  from the Americas. The sunflowers were apparently first planted in Spain  for decoration, however eventually sunflower use gradually spread to  north and east subsequently to the rest of Europe. At that time,  sunflower was regarded more as a curiosity than a food or oil source and  was most commonly used for medicinal purposes.</p>
            </div>
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td width="74%" valign="top">
            <p align="justify">In the late 1800s the flower  was introduced to Russia where it became a food crop. In 1860, Russian  farmers made significant improvements in the way that the sunflower was  cultivated. During this time, they became the world's largest producer  of sunflower seeds. Even at present the Russians continue to be world  leaders along with Europe, Argentina, and the United States.</p>
            <p align="justify">Consumers from all social and  income levels eat happen to sunflower seeds. The primary rationale   behind the popularity of sunflower seeds is the age old tradition of  eating them and the economical price in relation to other available  snack items.</p>
            </td>
            <td width="26%" valign="top">
            <div align="right"><img width="200" height="139" src="http://www.agriculturalproductsindia.com/images/sunflower-seeds3.jpg" alt="" /></div>
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">
            <div align="justify">In the  contemporary times, sunflower seeds are usually most often eaten in  home. Being a variety of snack they are commonly eaten while watching  television, one seed at a time. Another most prefered occasion for the  consumption of sunflower seeds is during soccer matches.</div>
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">
            <table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0">
                <tbody>
                    <tr>
                        <td width="25%" valign="top"><img width="200" height="139" src="http://www.agriculturalproductsindia.com/images/sesame-seeds4.jpg" alt="" /></td>
                        <td valign="top">
                        <p align="justify"><strong>Storage and Selection</strong><br />
                        Sunflower seeds are available in the market in  both shelled and unshelled varieties. If someone is getting unshelled  seeds, one must make sure that the shells are not broken or dirty. Apart  from this, the seeds should be firm and not have a limp texture.</p>
                        <p align="justify">When purchasing shelled  seeds, one must avoid those that appear yellowish in color as they have  probably gone rancid. In addition, if one is purchasing sunflower seeds  from a bulk bin, smell them to ensure that they are still fresh and have  not rotted.</p>
                        </td>
                    </tr>
                </tbody>
            </table>
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">
            <p><strong>Health and Nutrition</strong></p>
            <ul>
                <li>
                <div align="justify">Brighten the Nutritional Quality of your diet with a Daily Dose of Sunflower Kernels/Seeds<br />
                Nutrition scientists are realizing that we  should pay more attention to our daily intake of complex plant foods  like seeds, nuts and whole grains.A move towards whole foods, like  sunflower seeds,will addnutrients to your diet in a flash. Sunflower  seeds/kernels contain good amount of plant chemicals and phytochemicals  which are supposedly good for our health.  Fats, protein and fiber, plus  important nutrients like vitamin E, selenium, copper, zinc, folate,  iron and phytochemicals come wrapped up in this small and perhaps  unsuspected package &ndash; a sunflower seed. Just one ounce of these seeds  every day can improve the nutritional quality of your diet.</div>
                </li>
                <li>
                <div align="justify">Sunflower seeds and oil  contain both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat &ndash; the types of fat  that are known to protect the heart. Clinical studies show that higher  unsaturated fat diets may be preferable even to low-fat diets because  they lower total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad  cholesterol, and triglycerides, while maintaining beneficial high  density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is needed to carry the  &ldquo;bad&rdquo; cholesterol away. Almost 90% of the fat in sunflower seeds is  good, unsaturated fat.<br />
                Protein supplies amino acids, the building  blocks that build, maintain and repair body tissues. Sunflower seeds are  a good source of plant protein, providing 6 grams or 12% of the Daily  Value per ounce.</div>
                </li>
                <li>
                <div align="justify">Vitamin E is an antioxidant that may protect against heart disease by  getting rid of harmful molecules called free radicals that can lead to  atherosclerosis. Sunflower seeds are the best whole food source of  vitamin E.Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of vitamin E. Just one  ounce of sunflower                        seeds provides 76% of the  Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin E.</div>
                </li>
                <li>
                <div align="justify">Selenium works with vitamin E as an antioxidant and protects cells from  damage that may lead to cancer, heart disease, and other health  problems.Although there is no Daily Value for selenium, nutrition  scientists recognize its importance to health and a Recommended Dietary  Allowance (RDA) has been established. The selenium in one ounce of  sunflower seeds provides about 24% of the RDA for men and 31% of the RDA  for women.</div>
                </li>
                <li>
                <div align="justify">Copper helps your body  carry oxygen to red blood cells and produce energy in the cells. Copper  is also a vital part of some antioxidant enzymes in the body, thus  protecting you from oxidative stress.While a copper deficiency is rare,  this trace mineral is essential to an energy-rich life. You&rsquo;ll find  about 25% of the Daily Value for copper in one ounce of sunflower seeds.<br />
                Folate, a B vitamin, plays an essential role  in making new body cells by helping to form the DNA and RNA that contain  each cell&rsquo;s &ldquo;master plan&rdquo; for reproduction. This is why folate is so  important for pregnant women and the development of babies. Folate also  pairs with vitamin B-12 to help form hemoglobin in red blood cells,which  allows them to carry optimal amounts of oxygen. Folate is involved in  the removal of homocysteine, an amino acid thought to promote heart  disease, from the blood.A large population study from Harvard University  shows an association between higher intakes                        of  folate and lower risk of heart disease. Sunflower seeds are a good  source of folate, supplying 17% of the Daily Value in a one-ounce  serving.</div>
                </li>
                <li>
                <div align="justify"><strong> A one-</strong>ounce  serving of sunflower seeds contains 20% of the Daily Value for  pantothenic acid, 11% for vitamin B6, 6% for thiamin and 6% for niacin.  Zinc is a mineral that is vital for keeping your immune system strong,  fending off infections and healing wounds.<br />
                A one-ounce serving of sunflower seeds is a good source of zinc, providing 10% of the Daily Value.</div>
                </li>
                <li>
                <div align="justify">Iron is essential in carrying oxygen from your lungs, through your  blood, and to every body cell. Iron deficiency, which can lead to  anemia, fatigue and infection, is more common among women who experience  regular menstrual loss.</div>
                </li>
                <li>
                <div align="justify">One ounce of sunflower seeds is a good source of iron, providing 10% of the Daily Value.</div>
                </li>
                <li>
                <div align="justify"><strong> Fiber &ndash; </strong>the  indigestible part of plant foods &ndash; promotes good health by helping to  lower blood cholesterol, manage blood glucose and prevent constipation.  Sunflower seeds are fiber-filled foods with 2 grams of fiber per  one-ounce serving, putting you well on your way to your daily fiber  goal.</div>
                </li>
            </ul>
            <p><strong>Serving Tips</strong><br />
            Sunflower seeds are a good addition to many sweet  and savory dishes, including breads, cookies, cakes, pilafs, salads,  stuffing, and vegetable and grain dishes.</p>
            <ul>
                <li>Add sunflower seeds to your favorite tuna, chicken or turkey salad recipe</li>
                <li>Garnish mixed green salads with sunflower seeds</li>
                <li>Adding sunflower seeds to scrambled eggs will give them a unique taste and texture</li>
                <li>Use fine ground sunflower seeds to dust your meats with in place of flour</li>
                <li>Sprinkle sunflower seeds onto hot and cold cereals.</li>
            </ul>
            <p><strong>A recipe for roasted Sunflower seeds:</strong></p>
            <ul>
                <li>Cover unshelled seeds with salt water</li>
                <li>Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salt per two quarts of water</li>
                <li>Bring to a boil and simmer for two hours</li>
                <li>Drain and dry on paper towels/Seeds may also be soaked overnight in a salt solution.</li>
                <li>Roast Sunflower seeds in a shallow pan at 300 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally</li>
                <li>After removing from the oven, stir in one teaspoon of melted butter or margarine for every cup of seeds</li>
                <li>Sprinkle on dry dill, salt &amp; pepper, or powdered popcorn flavorings</li>
                <li>Cool on a paper towel.</li>
            </ul>
            </td>
        </tr>
    </tbody>
</table>