Would it be bad to always have a snack on hand while watching a movie in front of the TV or on the computer? Well, when it comes to snacks, one of the first things that come to mind is of course seeds. It’s also one of the hardest things to stop once you start… So, should you be deprived of the pleasure of roasting beans because you have a gluten-related disorder? Here is the answer:
Is There Gluten in the Seed?
Which is your choice? Sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds or pumpkin seeds? If you are looking for different tastes, you can also use melon seeds or pumpkin seeds. We have good news for you! No matter which seed you prefer, you can consume the seed safely, even if you need to cut down on gluten consumption. Because all seed types are classified as gluten-free snacks unless they are cross-contaminated.
Kernel is actually used to describe the hard part that contains the seeds of plants. Therefore, the definition of “seed” refers to the same parts of all plants rather than a single species. The seeds provide the nutrition the plant needs while it remains underground along with the seed. For this reason, the seeds of plants in their unprocessed form can be very nutritious, and in some cases even too nutritious for humans.
Is There Gluten in Sunflower Seeds?
Sunflower seeds fall slightly outside the definition of seeds we made above. As a matter of fact, as stated in an expert-approved article published on the Healthline global health platform, sunflower seeds are not technically a “seed”! The sunflower seeds you consume with pleasure are actually a fruit of the sunflower plant and do not contain seeds. Also no fruit gluten This protein is not found in sunflower seeds. For this reason, sunflower seeds are a snack that you can easily keep on hand during the day as someone who eats gluten-free.
Nowadays, sunflower seeds are not consumed alone. It is also used extensively in the pastry and bakery industry. Sunflower seeds, separated from their shells in special machines, decorate various cakes and breads. Of course, since flour is involved, sunflower seed breads or cakes may contain large amounts of gluten.
| Sunflower seed cakes and breads, even if they are made with gluten-free flour products containing gluten Since it is generally produced in the same environment as cross contamination The probability is high. For this reason, you need to be very careful when purchasing any gluten-free pastry sold openly. |
Does Black Seed Contain Gluten?
Sunflower seeds are basically produced for two different purposes. The first of these purposes is to produce it to be used as a snack or in a food product. The second is production to obtain sunflower oil. Sunflower seeds produced for these two purposes are different types of the same genus. Sunflower seeds, produced as oil, are commonly referred to as black seeds among the society. Black seed, which is naturally a type of sunflower seed, does not contain gluten.
| Black beans sold ready-made and packaged may have been transported or roasted on the same conveyor belt as gluten-containing products before being put on sale. For this reason, before buying ready-made black beans, you should definitely check whether the product has the “Gluten-Free” label. |
Do Roasted Seeds Contain Gluten?
Black and white striped sunflower seeds consumed as snacks are not directly sold as they are collected from the field. Because the first version of snack sunflower seeds is soft. And this softness does not provide the desired crunchiness and “snapping” experience when eating. That’s why sunflower seeds are usually subjected to a roasting process before they are offered for sale.
Roasted beans naturally do not contain gluten. But considering the equipment and environmental conditions used during the roasting process, the possibility of gluten cross-contamination always remains open. That’s why you need to make sure that the roasting process is done under appropriate conditions and gluten is avoided.
| Although the roasting process gives sunflower seeds the crunchy texture you want, it also affects some properties of the food. For example, during the roasting process, sunflower seeds lose a large portion of the water they contain, as well as their volatile fatty acids to a certain extent. |
Is There Gluten in Salted Beans?
The taste of sunflower seeds may not be liked when they are raw and unadulterated. For this reason, sunflower seeds are usually sold with added salt. Adding salt to the seed makes its taste stand out more and allows it to be consumed with pleasure. Just like other food products, salted beans may have indirectly come into contact with gluten products until they enter their packaging. This means that the salted seed may also contain gluten.
What are the benefits of the core?
Although sunflower seeds are generally preferred as a snack, you can actually consume this food by adding it to pastries, in granola bars, and on yoghurt for snacks. Because sunflower seeds are an extremely powerful source of nutritional value.
According to the information shared in the National Food Composition Database of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 25 percent of sunflower seeds consist of protein. This rich food contains 18 of the 20 protein-based amino acids, including all nine essential amino acids that have a very important place in daily nutrition. All the nutritional elements contained in 100 grams of sunflower seeds are listed as follows:
- Energy: 637 kcal / 2666 kJ
- This: 0.98g
- Protein: 24.75g
- Nitrogen: 4.67g
- Total fat: 52.02g
- Carbohydrate: 16.24g
- Total dietary fiber: 2.48g
- Salt: 20mg
- Iron: 4.57mg
- Phosphorus: 757 mg
- Calcium: 66 mg
- Magnesium: 295mg
- Potassium: 746 mg
- Sodium: 8mg
- Zinc: 8.11mg
- Selenium: 0.0 µg
- Thiamine: 0.118 mg
- Riboflavin: 0.346mg
- Total niacin equivalents: 14,649 NE
- Niacin: 8,874 mg
- Total vitamin B-6: 1,438 mg
- Vitamin E: 40.22 α-TE
- Vitamin E: 59.93 IU
- Alpha-tocopherol: 40.22mg
What are the harms of seeds?
Although a significant portion of the oil contained in sunflower seeds consists of polyunsaturated fatty acids, some health problems may occur due to saturated fat intake when consumed in large amounts. In addition, since fat is the macronutrient that provides the body with the most calories per gram, sunflower seeds are a food loaded with calories. For this reason, you need to keep your daily sunflower seed consumption within the recommended limits by consulting your physician and/or dietician.
| You don’t have to go far to find out what contains gluten and what doesn’t! “Is There Gluten?By visiting our ” category, you can learn which are the most frequently consumed foods in the kitchen from a single source suitable for you! |
*The explanations on this page do not constitute health advice or warning and are for informational purposes only. If you think you need a gluten-free diet, you should first have the necessary examinations and follow a program specially prepared for you by a specialist dietitian.
MD, Prof. Sea South Duman Approved by.
Resources:
- Marsha McCulloch, “Are Sunflower Seeds Good for You? Nutrition, Benefits and More”, Healthline2023, (online)
- Leslie Cole, “Are Sunflower Seeds Gluten Free? (Yes, Here’s Why)”, Choosing Nutrition(online)
- “Seeds, sunflower seed kernels, dry roasted, without salt Nutrition Facts & Calories”, Nutrition Data(online)
