I am a big fan of raw seeds for building strength and increasing your energy.
These crunchy beauties pack a powerful nutritional punch! I eat seeds almost every day. Raw seeds are one of my favorite foods to enjoy because they completely satisfy my hunger without weighing me down or making me tired.
Raw seeds provide our bodies with tons of life giving nutrients in a small energy filled package.
Raw seeds are versatile and can be enjoyed in many different ways.
Many raw seeds do contain enzyme inhibitors which protect them from germinating or sprouting until the right conditions are met. Soaking raw seeds in water will remove their enzyme inhibitors and make them easier to digest.
Sprouting the seeds after soaking turns them into a living food and boosts their nutritional content which is so amazing! If you include more living foods into your weekly diet, it will make a difference in your health.
My 3 favorite seeds for boosting your strength and energy include hemp, pumpkin, and chia seeds.
Hemp Seeds
Hemp seeds are one of my favorite super seeds because of their great nutty taste and amazing nutritional profile. Hemp seeds are protein rich and contain all the essential amino acids.
Hemp has 26 minerals including sulfur, calcium, magnesium, silicon, potassium, and zinc.
Hemp seeds are a sustainable crop and a good source of essential fatty acids with the perfect balance between omega-3 and omega-6.
Enjoy hemp seeds on their own or use in smoothies, on top of hot cereal, in salads, made into hemp butter or hemp milk, and in raw chocolate treats.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds or Pepitas have a crunchy texture and savory taste that is hard to resist. Pumpkin seeds provide your body with protein, phytonutrients, magnesium, zinc, iron, antioxidants like beta-carotene, B vitamins, and the amino acid tryptophan.
Pumpkin seeds are rich in fiber and contain oleic fatty acids, along with omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids.
Enjoy pumpkin seeds on their own, in trail mix, in smoothies, made into pumpkin seed butter or pumpkin seed milk, on top of hot cereal, on top of yogurt, and in salads.
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are a nutritional powerhouse. In the Mayan language chia stands for strength.These tiny super seeds are hydrophilic or water loving and can absorb many times their weight in water which makes them extremely hydrating to the body.
Chia seed’s high level of nutrients helps build strength and endurance which makes them the perfect food for physically active people and athletes.
Chia seeds contain protein, all the essential amino acids, calcium, magnesium, antioxidants, potassium, B vitamins, high amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, and soluble fiber which make these seeds a potent superfood. Chia seeds have a mild taste and crunchy texture that turns into gel when added to a liquid.
Enjoy chia seeds in smoothies, in puddings, in kombucha tea, in sauces, in fruit kefir beverages, in fresh vegetable juices, in homemade jams, on top of hot cereal, in salad dressings, in cookies, made into chia butter, on top of yogurt, and in salads.
I hope that this information will convince you to try these super seeds and reap all the health benefits they provide.
I will be posting recipes featuring these wonderful seeds so check back soon.
If you like this article and would like to contribute to the conversation, please take a moment to leave a comment.
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Hey Shelley, That’s such a pretty picture of seeds. I’ve never really considered seeds in the “food” category although many enjoy sunflower seeds. I’ve made some roasted pumpkin seeds before that were pretty good although thats about the limit of my experimentation with them. Fascinating to discover there is a whole assortment to try. From the pictures, it would appear that many of them are too small to “peel” and so are eaten whole? Interesting!
Kim
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Hi Kim, I glad you like the picture. Seeds are wonderful foods to include in your diet. I will be posting some good recipes that will show you ways to enjoy them, so check back or sign up for our free email to get the updates sent to you. Have a good one!
Hi Shelley,
You have a great loook to this site. Chia bread is all the rage around here, but I didn’t reallize how valuable the seeds were. I am not sure whether I can get hemps seeds, but you have inspired me to go to the health food shop and take a look.
I love sprinking seeds and nuts on fresh salads. They seem so much healthier.
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Hi John, I’m glad you like the look of my site
Seeds really add alot of nutrients in your diet and are so versatile. Hemp seeds are available at Whole Foods and Sprouts market. You can also get them online from some of my favorite sources including Manitoba Harvest, Essential Living Foods, and Nutiva. I love that you sprinkle them on your salads! Seeds are also yummy on oatmeal or yogurt.
Hi Shelley,
I never really thought of eating seeds anywhere but on a salad. I usually use hemp and sunflower seeds.
and I only use the hemp because someone gave them to my husband and he didn’t like them.
I love the information on the Chia seeds, I am going to have to go out and find some!
thanks for the great info
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Hi Carla, I’m so glad you want to try chia seeds! They are so nutrient dense and alot of fun to create recipes with. If you live near a Sprouts market or Whole Foods market they have Chia seeds. Also you can get them online from Living Tree Community Foods or Essential Living Foods.
Shelley:
Wonderful post! I love Pumpkin seeds & also eat sunflower seeds. You have me excited to try the chia & hemp seeds. I think this would be a simple & enjoyable way to positively effect my diet.
Be Blessed!
Matt Geib
Hi Matthew, thanks for the great comments
Adding chia and hemp seeds to your diet will absolutely have a positive effect.
This is some great information on seeds. Being in the Army we are banned from using Hemp in any form but the pumpkin seed I do love! I never heard of the Chia seeds before though. Where do you recommend we look in order to try them out?
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Hi Clint, thank you for the kind comments. You can find chia seeds at Whole Foods market or Sprouts market. Chia seeds are also available online. Some of my favorite sources include: Living Tree Community Foods, Essential Living Foods, or Vivapura. Hope this helps
Hello Shelley,
Although I know seeds can be super nutritious it is easy to get stuck in routines and forget about the many wonderful foods available to us. Thanks so much for posting this excellent information on the seeds. I have eaten/used all of them but it is good to be reminded…especially about the chia seeds in particular.
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Hi Bruce, you are right about routines with eating the same foods which are familar to us. Thank you for the wonderful comments. I am going to post a chia seed tapioca pudding recipe next week so stay tuned
Thanks for the very useful post on these 3 amazing raw seeds. I once had the opportunity to taste cookies made with hemp seeds and couldn’t believe how good they tasted! They had a nutty flavor…regretfully I don’t seem to be able to find that recipe as I was hoping to share it. Love the picture too…great website…I’ll be visiting again. Thanks.
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AD’Angelo, I’m glad you enjoyed the post! Hemp seeds make great cookies, I will have to post a recipe which includes them. Thanks for sharing.
Hello Shelley
Very informative information about your favorite seeds. Seeds have made a difference in my health. Flaxseeds have been a part of my diet for years. They have helped to reduce my cholesterol and prevented me from having to take the dangerous statin drugs. Looking forward to trying your 3 favorite seeds.
Thanks
Perry A Davis Jr
Music City
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Hi Perry, I’m glad seeds have made such a difference in your health
I know that eating them has changed my health for the better! I hope you enjoy my 3 favorites.
Will soaking them overnight in the coconut milk (as in your coconut pudding recipe) remove enzyme inhibitors as well? Making it for breakfast in the morning, so excited!
Hi Elyse, yes soaking overnight will remove the enzyme inhibitors. I hope you enjoy the pudding.
Hi Shelly,
I’m so glad I found your website through TSA. You have so much incredible information about nutrition and holistic foods! I’ve eaten pumpkin seeds and had a fair understanding of their value, but your article is a real education about the benefits of your favorite super seeds and how they increase strength and energy. I will definitely try chia and hemp seeds and looking forward to visiting your blog often. Congratulations on your upcoming book!
Raena Lynn
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Hi Raena, I am so glad you found my blog too! I really love being a part of TSA because I get to meet great people like you
Thank you for all the wonderful comments and I hope you enjoy the chia and hemp seeds. I will be creating new recipes featuring these great foods in upcoming posts so check back.
Hi Shelley,
thanks to your post with the recipe for Chia and Pumpkin Chocolate mousse I found this post.
Somewhere I read that the Aztec messengers could run all day on a handful of chia seeds.
Hemp seeds sound interesting too. I haven’t seen them yet in the shops here New Zealand.
Thank you so much for this great information.
To Health!
Yorinda
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Hi Yorinda, I’m glad you found this post. Chia and Hemp seeds are both fantastic super seeds to add into your diet. I hope you can get them soon in New Zealand. Maybe you can check online for some websites that may ship to your area.
Hi there Shelley I incorporate these three seeds into my diet everyday…. either in a smoothie or on salads and vege dishes and I’m happy to read more about why its a great thing to do. Just came across your site today…. Its a great read, so thank you. Sally
Thanks Sally! I’m so happy to hear that you eat these three seeds everyday. They really are fantastic in some many different recipes.
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