Updated April 05, 2014.
When I was growing up, sunflower seeds were used to feed the birds. Then at some point in the late 60's, people started eating them. I ate "sunburgers" when I was a vegetarian in the 70's. They started appearing in salads and in cookies, and then finally little bags of them as snacks all on their own. And it turns out these little gems have a lot of nutrients to give us.
Carbohydrate and Fiber Counts for Sunflower Seeds
- 1/4 cup sunflower seed kernels: 3 grams effective (net) carbohydrate plus 4 grams fiber and 207 calories
- 1 oz. sunflower seed kernels: 3 grams effective (net) carbohydrate plus 3 grams fiber and 175 calories
Glycemic Index for Sunflower Seeds
As with most nuts and seeds, there is no scientific study of the glycemic index of sunflower seeds. This is because it would require too eating too many seeds to be practical.More Information about the Glycemic Index
Estimated Glycemic Load of Sunflower Seeds
Most authorities estimate the glycemic load of sunflower seeds as zero.More Information About the Glycemic Load
Health Benefits of Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of fiber and vitamin E, a very good source of copper, manganese, and selenium, and a good source of pantothenic acid and folate. They are also rich in phytosterols, which tend to lower LDL cholesterol.More Carb Profiles:
Sources:
USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 26.