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The effect of pumpkin and sunflower seeds on the liver — a detailed review

Sunflower and pumpkin seeds, although they are very high–calorie foods, have a wide list of rare micronutrients. Among them: flavonoids, antioxidants, tannins, minerals, fiber.

However, the composition is significantly different for fried and raw seeds.

And how does their use affect liver function? Is it possible, for example, to include them in the diet for cirrhosis, or is it better to refuse?

Sunflower Seeds

Below we will consider the composition, as well as the beneficial and harmful properties of sunflower seeds for the human gastrointestinal tract and liver.

Composition

It's worth starting with what is included in sunflower seeds. Their FGM (caloric content, amount of fats, proteins, carbohydrates) is as follows (per 100 grams of peeled seeds):

  • Fats – 53 grams;
  • Carbohydrates – 10.8 grams;
  • Proteins – 21 grams;
  • Calorie content – 601 kcal.

They also contain about 10 grams of water and 5-7 grams of dietary fiber. Accordingly, sunflower seeds refers to high-calorie foods , when following specialized diets, their use is either partially or completely limited.

Fried seeds contain about 50 grams of fat, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 19 grams of protein, and only 1 gram of water. And their caloric content averages 570 – 580 kcal. However, most of their flavonides and tannins break down into derivatives, so the nutritional value of such seeds is considered lower. Accordingly, it is desirable to include raw dried seeds in the diet – although they are less tasty, they are more useful for the body.

7 useful properties

The use of sunflower seeds for the liver and gastrointestinal tract brings the following benefits:

  1. Reduces the likelihood of thrombosis of blood vessels located in the liver. A contributes to the effect cleansing of blood vessels arginine, which, although partially produced in the body, is always deficient in this amino acid in children, adolescents and the elderly.
  2. Prevents the destruction of liver cells. This effect is provided by a combination of antioxidants contained in both fried and raw seeds. At the same time, the likelihood of developing hepatosis (replacement of liver tissues with fatty or connective tissue) decreases.
  3. Prevents the development of gallstone disease. Regular consumption of sunflower seeds stimulates the outflow of bile. But it is precisely because of this effect that they are not recommended for use in the active stage of the disease, so as not to provoke the movement of concretions (stones) through the biliary tract.
  4. Normalizes bowel function. Dietary fibers help in this, which are not broken down by the action of gastric juice and act as a coarse sponge, which mechanically cleanses the intestines of toxins, dense feces. Indirectly, dietary fiber prevents the development of constipation, normalizes the microflora.
  5. Reduce the acidity of the stomach environment. It will be useful in the initial stages of gastritis, with increased acidity, heartburn. That is why doctors recommend getting rid of heartburn during pregnancy with the help of ordinary sunflower seeds.
  6. Purify the blood and reduce cholesterol levels. And excess cholesterol is just broken down by the liver. Often, high levels of low-density cholesterol lead to inflammation of the liver, its dysfunction, and an increase in volume.
  7. Provide the liver with vitamins. For the normal functioning of the liver, it needs the following vitamins: A, E, K, C, B 1 , In 2 , In 4 . And almost all of them, although in small quantities, are available in sunflower seeds.

Possible harm and contraindications

Despite all the benefits, the main harm from sunflower seeds is their high calorie content and high fat content. In case of obesity or hepatosis, accompanied by the replacement of liver cells with adipose tissue, their use is strictly prohibited.

Sunflower seeds also stimulate the outflow of bile, which is extremely dangerous in cholelithiasis. After all, this can provoke the movement of formed stones, which can completely block the biliary tract. And this is eliminated only by surgical intervention.

Contraindications also include:

  1. Complex gastrointestinal disorder;
  2. Allergic reaction;
  3. Fatty liver hepatosis in the acute stage.

It's also worth mentioning that the seeds are quite large amount of folic acid (aka vitamin B 9 ), which in excess has an extremely negative effect on the functioning of the liver, can provoke a sharp increase in the volume of the organ. However, it is quite difficult to get an excess of folic acid, since it is quickly excreted from the body through the urethra. That is, such a negative effect is possible only in the case of significant abuse of sunflower seeds (from 300 grams per day regularly).

Recent studies show that when frying, carcinogens are formed in sunflower seeds. These are the substances that can provoke the development of cancer.

Recommendations for use

Sunflower seeds are recommended to be consumed in a purified, dried form, without frying.

How do I dry them? The best option: in an electric dryer for cooking dried fruits. You can also use it in a regular oven, but at a minimum temperature, gradually stirring them on a baking sheet.

The recommended daily allowance is from 50 to 75 grams, should be consumed no later than 18:00 (and no later than 3 hours before the scheduled sleep).

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds in terms of composition are radically different from sunflower seeds. Their KBZHU is as follows (per 100 grams of refined grains):

  • Fats – 46 grams;
  • Proteins – 24.5 grams;
  • Carbohydrates – 13.6 grams;
  • Calorie content – 556 kcal.

Dietary fiber – 4.5 grams, water – up to 8.5 grams.

After frying, the caloric content decreases slightly, the level of carbohydrates increases by about 15%, and water becomes only 1.5 grams.

But there are significantly more micronutrients in them. They contain manganese, calcium, iron, selenium, folic acid.

5 useful properties

Eating pumpkin seeds has the following benefits for the liver and gastrointestinal tract:

  1. Reduces cholesterol levels. Accordingly, the load on the liver decreases, the probability of blockage of the main supply vessels through which blood flows to the organ (where toxins are removed and neutralized).
  2. Gets rid of parasites. Cucurbitin contributes to this, which is found in excess in pumpkin seeds. Moreover, with its help, you can get rid of both helminths in the intestine and worms, which often settle directly in the liver (as well as other organs, including lungs, heart).
  3. Comprehensively improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. A wide range of essential amino acids, dietary fiber and B-group vitamins help to normalize the intestinal microflora, prevent the formation of dense feces. Seeds are also recommended to be consumed regularly in the treatment of chronic constipation. They will also help in complex therapy in the treatment of anal fissures, when it is necessary to normalize stools.
  4. Prevent the development of inflammatory processes. Flavonoids, although they stimulate the functionality of the immune system, at the same time slow down the release of histamines. In inflammatory bowel diseases, pumpkin seeds will also be extremely useful.
  5. Accelerates the recovery of damaged liver cells. The combination of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and leucine helps in this – amino acids that are essential and act as a building material for liver cells (more precisely, for their membranes).

Possible harm and contraindications

There is relatively little possible harm to the liver and gastrointestinal tract from eating pumpkin seeds. We can only highlight:

  1. High calorie content. Accordingly, if you are obese, it is better to give them up. And a high fat content provokes a longer digestion process in the stomach, which can lead to an exacerbation of gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum. This also applies to the liver – eating fat in large quantities can become a catalyst for the development of fatty hepatosis.
  2. Stimulation of bile outflow. In this regard, pumpkin seeds are similar to sunflower seeds, although the effect is less pronounced.
  3. Damage to the tooth enamel. The shell of pumpkin seeds is more dense than that of sunflower seeds. Their regular use can cause damage to the teeth, which indirectly affects both the microflora of the oral cavity and the quality of chewing the food consumed.

Doctors include contraindications:

  • Gastritis (of any etiology);
  • Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
  • Colitis;
  • Obesity.

In very rare cases, pumpkin seeds provoke food allergies. This is especially common in preschool children.

Recommendations for use

Nutritionists recommend eating pumpkin seeds not giving them heat treatment . Instead, they are simply peeled from the shell and added to salads, stewed vegetables, and some desserts (without baking).

Also, on the basis of pumpkin seeds, you can prepare a rather spicy and appetizing salad dressing sauce by mixing them with a small amount of olive oil, a mixture of peppers and herbs. All these ingredients should be ground to a paste using conventional kitchen blenders or food processors.

The recommended daily intake of pumpkin seeds is up to 60 grams. With chronic constipation, the dosage can be increased to 120 grams, but not more, so as not to provoke an intestinal disorder.

Is it possible to have sunflower seeds with a sick liver?

  1. The stage of exacerbation. Doctors recommend that in case of liver diseases in the acute stage, completely abandon sunflower seeds due to the high content of fat and carbohydrates in them. At the same time, they accelerate the synthesis and outflow of bile.
  2. The stage of remission. If the disease is in remission, then small amounts of sunflower seeds are possible. Only preference should be given not to fried, but to fresh, peeled from the shell.
  3. Cirrhosis. In cirrhosis, it is allowed to be consumed only in small quantities, which will help prevent further destruction of liver cells (since the seeds have a high content of antioxidants). In the acute stage, they are excluded from the diet.
  4. Hepatosis. With fatty hepatosis, seeds are not allowed. With fibrous – also in small quantities. It is recommended to consult with your doctor in more detail on this issue, since it is necessary to take into account the individual etiology of the patient's disease.

What should I do if I have pain?

Can I get sick in the liver area after the seeds? Yes, it can, but this is due to stimulation of bile outflow. Because of this, concretions can move, mechanically damage or completely clog the bile ducts. All this is accompanied by inflammation of the liver and a sharp increase in body temperature.

What should I do in such cases? Stop taking it and conduct a comprehensive diagnosis, including:

  • Biochemical analysis of blood composition;
  • Urine analysis (determination of bilirubin concentration);
  • Ultrasound examination of the liver.

All this will allow you to accurately determine the cause of the pain, and then prescribe appropriate treatment. In rare cases, doctors also prescribe a liver tissue biopsy (as a rule, if cirrhosis, hepatosis, or oncology are suspected).

Interesting video

And now we invite you to familiarize yourself with the video:

 

Conclusion

In total, seeds are extremely useful, but at the same time they are very high in calories. They contain a lot of important micronutrients necessary for the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, but if you follow a gentle diet, you have to completely abandon them. And it is better to use them raw, without heat treatment.

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