Poppy Seeds and All Its Goodness

Being fond of food may have led you to click on this page, or maybe mere fact hunting has brought your attention to this article. Whatever motivation drives you, this article offers facts about one type of seeds popularly used in baking pastries which are called poppy seeds.

Poppy seeds are known by people who are fond of foods and who make a living through baking. Only food enthusiasts and people who work as chefs or cook know the important information related to poppy seeds.  If you want to be one of the few who know the facts, read on and find out.

Poppy plants are mostly found in Asian regions where the general climate provides for the best temperature for the plants to grow. The seeds are actually taken from the head of poppy plants and are like nuts when tasted.

Today, poppy seeds are most popular as food ingredient, however during the ancient times, they were known for their medicinal properties. Hippocrates brought these seeds in Greece that were prescribed for patients suffering from insomnia. It is found out that poppy seeds are effective cure for coughs, earaches, toothaches, inflammation, fever, dysentery and the list goes on. Because of these benefits, poppy pods are cultivated in many parts of the globe.

As a food ingredient, poppy seeds are used in baking pastries as condiments, baked in or sprinkled. They are in-demand for cooking rolls, breads and cakes. Aside from its nutty taste, poppies are very enticing to eat because of the nutrients each seed contains.  Each seed contains linoeic acid, oleic acid, and unsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, the seeds have extracts that can be used in cooking and making soaps.

Poppy seeds are not only appealing to food lovers and the health conscious but to those who sound superstitious also and are thought of as a symbol of fertility and prosperity. They are part of many rituals and used as amulets to fight off bad luck and invite love, money and luck. Red poppy seeds are also a symbol for fallen warriors.

Documents can attest for the health benefits of poppy seeds but studies show that these seeds bear negative effects if precautions are not taken. Aside from nutrients, poppy seeds contain alkaloids such as morphine and codeine which are addictive. Health experts prohibit consumers from eating the unripe seeds and recommend the ripe ones instead. The unripe ones may have high levels of alkaloids that are dangerous to physical and mental health.

Getting acquainted with all this information is significant as poppy seeds are loaded with opposing benefits that can destroy or improve our health.