People have been eating seeds and nuts since the beginning of time. They are very healthy sources of protein and other nutrients as well. Sunflower seeds in particular, are ranked as one of the world’s healthiest foods.
Sunflowers originated in North America and the Native North Americans have been eating sunflower seeds for between 3500-4500 years, though no one knows for sure when sunflowers were first harvested for their seeds. Some archeologists believe sunflowers were cultivated and domesticated before corn.
Native Americans ate the seeds raw or roasted and they cooked with the oil from the seeds. They also mashed them and made meal, cakes and bread from the mashed or whole seeds that the Native warriors/hunters would take with them while hunting or fighting. The seeds were often mixed with vegetables for cooking too. I know I like adding them to salads as well.
The Native Americans also used the seeds for non-food reasons as well, such as making dyes and paints or to use as decorations. They were often used for ceremonial purposes and the stalks were dried and used for building materials. Sunflowers were very important to the Native Americans for many reasons.
The Native Americans first cultivated sunflowers. When the Spanish came to the Americas in the 1500’s, they took sunflowers and their seeds back to Europe with them. They were used for ornamental purposes mainly, as well as medicinal uses for such things an anti-inflammatories. They were also used as animal feed. But they never really caught on until the Russians started cultivating them in the 18th century. By the 1830’s Russia had mastered the cultivation process for sunflowers on a commercial scale, mainly for the oil that was produced by the seeds. By the late 1890’s “in Russia, everybody, everywhere [nibbled] sunflower seeds” (p. 36 – The Story of Food, An Illustrated History of Everything We Eat). The Russian Orthodox Church increased its popularity by forbidding most oil foods from being consumed during Lent. However, sunflower oil was not on the prohibited list and therefore gained in immediate popularity as a food. By the 1900’s, Russia was growing up to 2 million acres of sunflowers.
It is believed that the Russian immigrants to the United States and Canada, in the late 19th century, were largely responsible for the reintroduction of sunflowers and the usage of their seeds to North America. With the high demand for sunflower oil, especially in Europe, Russia couldn’t keep up with production, so North American farmers started cultivating sunflowers in large quantities, and now produce over 5 million acres annually, though Russia and Ukraine are still the largest producers of sunflowers in the world.
Sunflower seeds are not only popular because of the oil they produce. The seeds themselves, both raw or roasted, or roasted and salted, have become popular snacks all over the world. They are healthy snacks and are a good source of vitamin E and minerals like copper, manganese, and selenium, and are full of healthy fats and fibers. There are many different varieties and all the seeds, from all the varieties are edible. Take your pick.
And here we thought sunflowers were just pretty flowers. It turns out, there is a lot more to sunflowers than we thought. They are good for so many things and are beautiful to look at too.
Enjoy the sunflowers in your life and have a great day. Stay safe and stay well. ‘Til next time.
A Jeanne in the Kitchen 