Poppy seeds have been used as a traditional remedy for centuries. Its flowers produce small, round, bluish seeds, black or light to dark gray, depending on where they are grown. These seeds are used in baked goods and traditional dishes around the world.
Poppy seeds (Papaver rhoeas) can be found in herbalists or specialized food stores. They have a slight calming actionalthough the poppy seeds known as opium poppy are those of opium (Papaver somniferum), which are not sold because the plant is illegal.
Poppy seeds in cooking: nutritional profile
Like most seeds, poppy seeds are rich in fiber, unsaturated vegetable fats and several micronutrients.
One tablespoon (10 grams) can provide 25% of the daily needs of manganese, 16% of copper, and around 6-7% of magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, iron and vitamin B1.
Are very rich in calcium (1,450 mg / 100 g), surpassing seaweed and dairy products, but they are taken in smaller quantities, sprinkled on breads or in salads and vinaigrettes. a handful of 30 g provides 54% of the calcium needed per day.
The seeds can be cold pressed to produce poppy seed oil, which is especially rich in omega-6 and omega-9 fats. It also contains small amounts of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) from the omega-3 family.
The seeds have a mild flavor and a grayish color. They can be used directly on the cooked dish (vegetable, soup, pasta) or previously toasted in the pan (whatever enhances its aroma).
In Asian cuisine, a cream is made with 100 g of butter, 25 g of poppy seeds, 10 g of sesame seeds and two tablespoons of olive oil.. Melt all the ingredients in a bain-marie, let it rest until it cools and add salt.
Therapeutic uses of poppy seeds
1. They strengthen bones
The manganese that these seeds contain in abundance is an important trace element for the bone health and blood clotting. This mineral also helps your body use amino acids, fats, and carbohydrates.
They are also high in copper, a mineral necessary for produce connective tissue and transport iron.
2. They relieve pain
Poppies contain active ingredients with a powerful analgesic action, such as morphine, codeine, thebaine and other alkaloids that calm pain and induce sleep. These compounds are found in the milky substance that is extracted from the capsule that contains the seeds and is known as opium.
Opioid drugs and medicines are extracted from the opium of a variety of purple and light flowers. The cultivation of this variety is legal but only for ornamental purposes. The rest of the varieties contain very small doses and The seeds have been cleaned so that they are free of this latex.
The seeds may contain traces of these compounds that They can promote sleep and relieve pain. A study carried out at the German Sports University in Cologne proved that after consuming muffins with poppy seeds, morphine and codeine can be found in the urine in sufficient quantities to be detected by anti-doping controls carried out on cyclists.
Some varieties, such as Papaver rhoeas, with characteristic red flowers that are easy to see in the fields, they do not contain morphine, but rhoeadine, a slightly sedative substance.
3. They are good for the heart
In moderate quantities the unsaturated fats and the antioxidant polyphenols in poppy seeds can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by up to 17%, especially if they replace less healthy saturated fats.
Combining them with a source rich in omega-3 such as walnuts or flax seeds can enhance their heart-healthy effect.
4. They promote digestion
Poppy seeds can help with digestion due to their fiber richness, that improves intestinal health and combats constipation.
5. Useful against fertility
In this case the benefit does not occur by consuming the seeds, but as a consequence of a treatment that consists of irrigating the fallopian tubes with poppy seed oil.