81. SUNFLOWER

SUNFLOWER

Nutrition in 100 gm (Dried seed)
Energy: 570 kcal
Carbohydrates	18.76 gm
Sugar	2.62 gm
Dietary fibre	10.5 gm
Water	5.36 gm
Fat	49.57 gm
Proteins	22.78 gm
Vitamin A	50 µ gm
Vit B1 (Thiamin)	2.29 mg
Vit B2 (Riboflavin)	0.25 mg
Vit B3 (Niacin)	4.5 mg
Pantothenic acid (Vit B5)	6.745 mg
Vit B6	0.77 mg
Vit B9 (Folate)	227 µ gm
Vitamin C (Absorbic acid)	1.4 mg
Vitamin E(alpha-tocopherol)	34.5 µ gm
Calcium	116 mg
Iron	6.77 mg
Magnesium	354 mg
Phosphorus	705 mg
Potassium	689 mg
Zinc	5.06 mg
Sodium	3 mg
Copper	1.752 mg
Manganese	2.02 mg
Selenium	59.5 µ gm

Nutrition in 100 gm (oil)
Energy: 880 kcal
Carbohydrates	0
Fat Unsaturated Monosaturated Polysaturated	100 gm 9.748 gm 83.594 gm 3.798 gm
Proteins	0
Vitamin E	41.08 mg
Vitamin K	5.4 µ gm

A field full of sunflower plants is a pleasing sight for our eyes. The flowers have a huge head and always face the sun and hence the name ‘sunflower’. The flower faces the east in the morning as the sun rises in the east. As the sun moves from east to west, the flower head too moves. At night the flower faces the east again. This motion is due to motor cells in the pulvinus, a flexible segment of the stem just below the bud.  Since it resembles the sun, it is worshiped as the sun god by many people. There are so many varieties of sunflower.

Roasted and salted sunflower seeds make a good snack. The seeds are also used to prepare a substitute for peanut butter, rye bread, salads, etc.

Oil extracted from the seeds (sunflower oil) contains a higher level of monounsaturated fatty acids than olive oil. It is used for frying food and also in cosmetic formulations as an emollient. Sunflower oil contains mostly lenoleic acid in triglyceride form.

Palmitic acid	4-9%
Stearic acid	1-7%
Oleic acid	14-40%
Linoleic acid	48-74%

Sunflower oil also contains lecithin, tocopherols, cartenoids and waxes. It is high in vitamin E and low in saturated fats. There are two types of sunflower oil: linoleic and high oleic. Linoleic is common cooking oil that has high level of polyunsaturated fatty acids. It has low trans fat. High oleic type has higher level of monounsaturated fatty acids and is better for people with heart problems.

Benefits: 

1. The seeds are used as food for birds.

2. Sunflower produces latex and hence it can from an alternative crop for producing hypoallergenic rubber.

3. Sunflower oil reduces the risk of heart problems as it helps reduce cholesterol.

4. Sunflower oil is good for the skin as it helps retain moisture.

Danger: High consumption of sunflower oil can increase the risk of breast cancer in postmenstrual women due to the presence of ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are found in all types of vegetable oils. It can also increase the risk of prostrate cancer.