During casual chats or while watching TV, people love to eat some seeds to chat and gossip. However, it should be noted that while seeds have certain health benefits, excessive and continuous consumption can lead to symptoms like a swollen and sore tongue, abdominal discomfort, and indigestion, a condition some call "seed sickness."
Nutritional Value of 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 nuts, these seeds also contain fatty acids, which is one of the reasons we are generally advised to consume nuts in moderation.
Risks of Eating Too Many Seeds:
1. Eating too many seeds can easily cause stomach problems
It's common to hear people say their stomachs ache after eating seeds all morning. The main reason is that air continuously enters the gastrointestinal tract along with the swallowed, chewed seeds, causing gas in the intestines and leading to abdominal discomfort symptoms like belching, bloating, and abdominal pain. The enticing aroma of the seeds also continuously stimulates the gallbladder to contract, which can also trigger abdominal pain.
2. Eating too many seeds can easily cause indigestion
Furthermore, if you consume a large number of seeds at once, it will inevitably deplete a large amount of saliva and gastric juices, affecting the digestion of normal food and leading to indigestion and other ailments.
3. Eating too many seeds can easily damage the tongue
If you eat too many seeds at once over a prolonged period, the repeated friction between the seeds and the tongue can cause swelling, soreness, redness, and even blood blisters on the tip of the tongue.
4. Frequently eating "flavored seeds" can easily induce liver disease, poisoning, or premature aging
Flavored seeds are made by adding spices, salt, and saccharin to seeds. Spices are divided into natural and artificial types. Natural spices like fennel and Sichuan peppercorns contain trace amounts of safrole. Excessive intake of safrole by the human body can cause liver damage.
Precautions for Eating 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 can also cause 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 cause stomach cramps. Saliva helps clear food debris 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 throat after eating them.
In addition, patients with hepatitis should avoid eating sunflower seeds, as they can damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis.
Everything in Moderation: About 80 grams per serving is appropriate.
Seek Dietary Balance: Eating a large number of seeds will severely deplete saliva, and over time, it can affect oral health and even digestion.
Don't eat too many seeds at once to avoid "heatiness" and mouth sores.