As a consciously healthy eater, you probably consume a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and beneficial oils. But are seeds in your nutritional treasure chest?

Just think about it: a tree or plant puts all of its genetic punch into the seed, hoping that the seeds will sprout to create a new plant. Put holistically, you could say the seed contains a lot of life force energy and by eating it, you too will absorb that rich energy.

The best way to get the nutrition from seeds is to eat them raw. When seeds are roasted or cooked, they lose valuable enzymes and no longer have the same chemical make up. Some of the healthiest seeds to include in your diet are flax, pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds.

FLAX

Very high in alpha linolenic acid (not to be confused with alpha lipolic acid) and Omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseeds can be used in place of fish oils. I always grind the seeds to make flax meal or use flax oil because the whole seeds don’t actually digest. Because of its complex, nutty flavor, flax meal and oil is great over salads, whole-grain pastas and a whole variety of other foods.

PUMPKIN

High in zinc, pumpkin seeds have a reputation for being beneficial to men’s health. They support the prostate and help lower cholesterol, but they are also excellent for bone health because they are high in magnesium, manganese, and phosphorous. And pumpkin seeds make a great protein-filled snack.

SUNFLOWER

I love munching on raw sunflower seeds; I toss them into salads, smoothies, pasta sauce and any other recipe where the deliciously mild flavor will enhance. High in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, sunflower seeds help rid your body of damaging free radicals. They can also help lower bad cholesterol.

SESAME

Sesame seeds - in the form of tahini, or sesame butter - are an essential part of my diet. I use tahini to make salad dressing, sauces and desserts. The seeds are high in copper and are a great source of iron and calcium, making them very important to my meat and dairy-free diet.

If you are vegetarian or limit your meat consumption, be sure to enjoy sesame seeds regularly!

POPPY

The top image is of poppyseeds, which, believe it or not, are exceptionally high in calcium! And Middle Eastern cultures have long used the seeds as a digestive aid.

And be sure to visit EcoSalon tomorrow to catch Bonnie's delicious Seeds of Life gel recipe.

Image: ShazzMack