When chatting or watching TV, people love to buy some sunflower seeds to crack and gossip. However, it should be noted that while sunflower seeds have certain health benefits, excessive consumption can often lead to symptoms such as a swollen and sore tongue, abdominal discomfort, and indigestion, a condition some call "melon seed disease."
Nutritional Value of Melon Seeds:
Based on a 100g serving, roasted sunflower seeds contain 52.8% fat and 22.6% protein; roasted watermelon seeds contain 44.8% fat and 32.7% protein; and roasted pumpkin seeds contain 46.1% fat and 36% protein. Additionally, they all contain trace elements like calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc, as well as various vitamins, though the vitamin content is low. As a type of nut, these seeds also contain fatty acids, which is one of the reasons we are generally advised to consume nuts in moderation.
Dangers of Eating Too Many Melon Seeds:
1. Excessive seed-cracking can easily cause stomach problems
It's common to hear people say their stomachs ache after a morning of eating seeds. The main reason is that air continuously enters the gastrointestinal tract along with the swallowed, crushed seeds, causing gas and leading to abdominal discomfort symptoms like belching, bloating, and abdominal pain. The tempting aroma of the seeds also continuously stimulates the gallbladder to contract, which can also trigger abdominal pain.
2. Excessive seed-cracking can easily cause indigestion
Furthermore, eating too many seeds at once will consume a large amount of saliva and gastric juice, affecting the digestion of normal food and leading to indigestion and other related problems.
3. Excessive seed-cracking can easily damage the tongue
If you eat too many seeds at once over a long period, the repeated friction between the seeds and the tongue can cause the tip of the tongue to swell, become sore, and even develop blood blisters.
4. Frequently eating "flavored melon seeds" can easily induce liver disease or even premature aging and poisoning
Flavored melon seeds are made by adding spices, salt, and saccharin to the seeds. Spices are divided into two categories: natural and artificial. Natural spices, such as fennel and Sichuan peppercorns, contain trace amounts of safrole. Excessive intake of safrole by the human body can cause liver damage.
Precautions for Eating Melon Seeds
Sunflower seeds should not be eaten in excess, and it's best to peel them by hand. Using your teeth to crack them can easily cause your tongue and the corners of your mouth to become sore. It also causes you to expel a large amount of saliva when spitting out the shells, which can dull your sense of taste, reduce your appetite, and even trigger stomach cramps. Saliva helps clear food residue from the mouth, reduce bacterial growth and fermentation, and protect the oral mucosa.
It has been measured that eating 250 grams of sunflower seeds a day can lead to the loss of 2500 grams of saliva. No wonder people often feel a dry mouth and tongue after eating sunflower seeds.
In addition, patients with hepatitis should avoid eating sunflower seeds, as they can damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis.
Eat in moderation: About 80 grams per serving is appropriate.
Seek dietary comfort: Eating a large number of seeds will severely deplete saliva, and over time, this can affect a person's oral health, and even digestion.
You should not eat too many seeds at once to avoid "heatiness" and sores in the mouth.