Mohammed AL-Abdulla

4/2/12

Story one

Seeds

There are many different kinds of seeds that people like to eat. In Qatar people like to eat sunflower seeds. In public schools there you will find students holding a small sack of sunflower seeds in their hands and eating it during their break time. In homes you can find families eating them while watching television. It is a popular snack at the soccer fields during the matches as well.

There are several beneficial properties in sunflower seeds. The sunflower crop is the third most important oil crop in the world. The American Indians Kdqik used them for bread and also for the oil, which contains essential fatty acids, mostly unsaturated fat. Doctors used sunflower seeds to treat malaria and for expelling phlegm. It is rich in protein and vitamins and contains the elements phosphorus and glycerin, which is useful in reducing blood cholesterol and preventing the hardening of the arteries. Many noted dentists in the United States and Britain have used sunflower seeds to ensure healthy gums and strong teeth because the seeds contain phosphorus, calcium and small amounts of fluoride, which strengthens teeth and prevents tooth decay. The seeds also contain vitamins A and B.

Sunflower seeds are useful in the treatment of night blindness. They contain an abundance of nutrients. Individuals with high cholesterol are advised to take several grams of them before the evening meal because they can contribute to reducing blood cholesterol. Sunflower seeds contain vitamin E as well as folate, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, copper and selenium. Their oil contains omega-threes that are necessary for the growth of the body and its functions. It has been found that the consumption of omega threes prevents disease and helps prevent heart attacks and high blood pressure as well as diabetes, arthritis, cancer, hair loss and the hardening of arteries and eczema. It also strengthens the immune system and helps skin and growth as well as preventing damage to body cells and organs.

Sunflower seeds are not the only seed that is popular in the Middle East. There are Queen Roasted Seeds, Watermelon seeds and Melon seeds for example and all of those seeds have a different taste and their own health benefits but in Qatar Sunflower seeds are what people like.