Online Recipes

Are you fond of pastries? If yes, you are most probably well aware of the many food ingredients including the famous seeds baked in or sprinkled in your favorite pastries. If not, then clicking on this page will make you acquainted with important seeds whose facts are interesting enough to have this article devoted for them.

Although pastries are sold in large quantities everyday, many people rarely take time to find out the facts about the poppy seeds sprinkled in these pastries. 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.

Asias general climate provide for the most suitable temperature for the poppy seeds 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. Due to the recent studies conducted, poppy seeds are now used as natural remedies for coughs, earaches, toothaches, inflammation, fever, dysentery, and other sickness. Because of these benefits, dried poppy pods are cultivated in many parts of the globe.

Most of the time, poppy seeds are used in baking. They are used as condiments or baked in or sprinkled on our favourite pastries. They are in-demand for cooking rolls, breads and cakes. Aside from their savory tastes, poppy seeds are also recommended by nutritionists because of the nutrients they contain. Based on studies, poppy seeds contain linoeic acid, oleic acid and unsaturated fatty acids. In addition to nutritional value, poppy seeds extracted oil can be used in cooking and soap making.

Apart from its health benefits, poppy seeds are perceived to be a symbol of fertility and prosperity. They are used in rituals and as amulets to fight off bad luck and to attract love, money, and luck. Red poppy seeds are also a symbol for fallen warriors.

Poppy seeds may bring a lot of advantages, but they can also be dangerous when taken without knowing its negative effects. Aside from nutrients, poppy seeds contain alkaloids such as morphine and codeine which are addictive. According to health experts, poppy seeds can be eaten when ripe because at that stage alkaloids are only minimal and hardly detrimental to the body. Unripe seeds contain a lot of alkaloids, hence can pose danger to physical and mental health.

Knowing all these facts is very necessary in order to know how we can benefit most from poppy seeds and how to avoid their undesirable effects.