In the afternoon, Aunt Li sat on a bench in the community, basking in the sun and munching on melon seeds. She is a melon seed control, and she can't do without this little snack when watching TV and chatting.
Just as she was snorting with relish, she suddenly felt a feeling of discomfort in her stomach. She frowned, muttering to herself, "What's the matter? I haven't eaten anything in the past two days." ”
At this time, the neighbor Uncle Wang came over, saw the melon seed bag in Aunt Li's hand, and said meaningfully: "Old Li, although the melon seeds are good, you can't be greedy." Especially if you've had gallbladder surgery, you have to take it easy. ”
When Aunt Li heard this, she immediately became nervous: "You mean it's not good to eat too many melon seeds?"
Uncle Wang waved his hand: "Eating too much is definitely not good for your health." Especially if you're in this situation, it's better to eat less. ”
After saying that, he turned around and left, leaving Aunt Li sitting there with a panicked expression.
01
Melon seeds, a small snack, actually contain rich nutritional value. It is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which are great for our cardiovascular health, can help lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
At the same time, melon seeds are also a good source of high-quality protein, which plays an important role in maintaining the normal physiological function of the body and enhancing immunity.
Not only that, the dietary fiber content in melon seeds should not be underestimated, it can promote intestinal peristalsis, help digestion, and have a significant effect on preventing constipation and maintaining intestinal health.
In addition, melon seeds are also rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin E, zinc, selenium, etc., these nutrients have a positive effect on antioxidant, anti-aging, and skin health.
What's more worth mentioning is that different types of melon seeds also have their own nutritional characteristics.
Sunflower seeds are rich in vitamin E to help slow down aging, pumpkin seeds are rich in potassium and zinc for the kidneys and prostate, and watermelon seeds are rich in minerals and vitamins to help replenish the nutrients the body needs.
02
However, any food needs to be consumed in moderation, and melon seeds are no exception. Especially for some specific groups of people, it is more necessary to be cautious about this "little snack".
Gallbladder excision: Due to the high fat content in melon seeds, eating too much will increase the digestive burden of the gallbladder. For people who have had their gallbladder removed, their bile secretion and storage function will be affected, so eating too many seeds may cause discomfort.
Diabetics: Although the sugar content of melon seeds themselves is not high, their fat content and calories are relatively high. If diabetics eat too many melon seeds, it may lead to excessive caloric intake, which can affect blood sugar control.
Obese people: For people who are losing weight or are already overweight, the high calorie and fat content of melon seeds may become a "stumbling block" on their way to weight loss. Excessive consumption of melon seeds will not only increase calorie intake, but may also cause problems such as irritation and mouth ulcers.
Therefore, these groups of people should consult the advice of a doctor or dietitian when consuming melon seeds to ensure a safe diet.
03
Although there are some claims circulating that sunflower seeds may cause cancer, these claims often lack scientific support.
Sunflower seeds themselves do not contain known direct carcinogens. Scientific studies have shown that sunflower seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, protein, dietary fiber, and a variety of vitamins and minerals, and eating them in moderation is beneficial for health.
However, excessive intake of any one of these foods can have adverse effects, including sunflower seeds. If consumed in excess, the unsaturated fatty acids in it may have a negative impact on the body, but this is not directly related to carcinogenicity.
On the other hand, there is also a lack of scientific basis for the claim that sunflower seeds absorb heavy metals from the soil during growth and cause cancer.
It is true that sunflower seeds may absorb heavy metals from the soil, but this does not mean that eating sunflower seeds causes cancer. In fact, many other crops have a similar situation, and the risk of cancer is related to factors such as specific intake and individual differences.
It is worth noting that if too many spices are added during the frying process of sunflower seeds, especially certain substances with potential carcinogenic risks (such as safrole), then long-term intake of such sunflower seeds in large quantities may have adverse health effects.
But this has nothing to do with the sunflower seeds themselves, but with the additives during the frying process.
Therefore, overall, there is not enough scientific basis for the claim that sunflower seeds cause cancer.
Sunflower seeds are safe to consume in moderation and may have health benefits. However, as with all foods, excessive consumption can have adverse effects. When consuming sunflower seeds, choose products with good quality and no additives, and control your intake.
So, how to eat melon seeds healthily?
First of all, we should choose plain, packaged melon seeds and avoid excessive intake of additives such as spices and saccharin.
Secondly, it is necessary to control the amount of consumption, and it should not exceed a small handful (about 20-25 grams of shelled melon seeds) per day. In addition, it is also necessary to pay attention to the preservation method to avoid problems such as moldy and deterioration of melon seeds. When eating melon seeds, you can drink more water or fire tea, which can help relieve the symptoms of fire.
To sum up, melon seeds are not the "accelerator" of tumors, but they are also not a snack that can be eaten in large quantities at will.
We need to eat melon seeds in moderation according to our physical condition and needs, and pay attention to choosing healthy products and controlling the amount of consumption. Only in this way will we be able to maintain good health while enjoying our food.