The sunflower seed is the fruit of the sunflower
(Helianthus annuus). The term "sunflower seed" is actually
a misnomer when applied to the seed in its pericarp
(hull). Botanically speaking, it is more properly referred
to as an achene. When dehulled, the edible remainder is
called the sunflower kernel.
For commercial purposes, sunflower seeds are usually
classified by the pattern on their husks. If the husk is
solid black, the seeds are called black oil sunflower
seeds. The crops may be referred to as oilseed sunflower
crops. These seeds are usually pressed into sunflower oil.
These seeds are considered the seed of choice for bird
If the husks are striped, the seeds are called striped
sunflower seeds or "stripers." Due to their lower oil
content, the crops are called non-oilseed sunflower crops.
Striped sunflower seeds are primarily used for food; as a
result, they may be called confectionery sunflower seeds.
Sunflower seeds are more
commonly eaten as a healthy snack than as part of a meal.
They can also be used as garnishes or ingredients in
various recipes. The seeds may be sold as in-shell seeds
or dehulled kernels. The seeds can also be sprouted and
eaten in salads. However eating expired sunflower seeds
may cause stomach irritation such as bloating or diarrhea
due to the rottening of the seed.
When in-shell seeds are processed, they are first
dried. Afterwards, they may also be roasted or dusted with
salt or flour for preservation of flavor. Dehulling is
commonly performed by cracking the hull with one's teeth
and spitting it out while keeping the kernel in the mouth
and eating it.
In-shell sunflower seeds are particularly popular in
Mediterranean countries, like Syria, Israel, and Turkey,
where they are called garinim and ay�ekirdeği
respectively. In Turkey, Syria, and Israel, they can be
bought freshly roasted in shops and markets and are a
common stadium food. They are popular in Russia, Bulgaria,
Romania, Spain, China, Iran, Canada, and the United
Dehulled kernels have been mechanically processed to
remove the hull. These kernels may be sold raw or roasted.
These dehulled kernels are sometimes added to bread and
other baked goods for their flavor. There is also
sunflower butter, similar to peanut butter, but utilizing
sunflower seeds instead of peanuts. Apart from human
consumption, sunflower seeds are also sold as food for
pets and wild birds in boxes and small bags.
The hulls, or shells, are
mostly composed of cellulose. They compost slowly. They
are sometimes burned as biomass fuel.
Over the past decades
sunflower oil has become popular worldwide. The oil may be
used as is, or may be processed into polyunsaturated
margarines. The oil is typically extracted by applying
great pressure to the sunflower seeds and collecting the
oil. The protein-rich cake remaining after the seeds have
been processed for oil is used as a livestock feed.
The original sunflower oil (linoleic sunflower oil) is
high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (about 68% linoleic
acid) and low in saturated fats, such as palmitic acid and
stearic acid. However, various hybrids have been developed
to alter the fatty acid profile of the crop for various
In the future, sunflower oil could become a renewable
bio-source for hydrogen. A team for the University of
Leeds has developed a workable method for the extraction
of hydrogen from sunflower oil, through a chain of
chemical reactions with nickel-based and carbon-based
catalysts. However, while the plant's photosynthesis
essentially captures the hydrogen, the energy necessary to
liberate hydrogen gas from the hydrocarbons from sunflower
oil is considerably greater than the energy of the
liberated gas. Therefore, although sunflower oil could
certainly be used for this purpose, it is not, by any
means, a 'free' or even 'eco-friendly' source of energy.
In addition to
linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid), sunflower seeds
are also an excellent source of dietary fiber, some amino
acids (especially tryptophan), Vitamin E, B Vitamins
(especially vitamin B1 or thiamine, vitamin B5 or
pantothenic acid and folate), and minerals such as copper,
manganese, potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus,
selenium, calcium and zinc. Additionally, they are rich in
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