When it comes to superfoods, there are a decent number of options available—right from various nuts to spices and seeds. People are all gaga over these tiny nutritious foods like chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, and flax seeds which are quite popular all over the world today.
But let me bring to your notice another tiny treasure of nutrients: garden cress seeds.
These wonder foods are also known as halim seeds in Hindi and are popular as haliva seeds in Maharashtra. These tiny red-coloured seeds are a powerhouse of nutrients like iron, folate, fibre, vitamins C, A, and E, and protein.
These nutrients make halim seeds a potent remedy for various health conditions.
1. Halim seeds helps treat anaemia
The high levels of iron in Halim seeds promote the production of red blood cells and also helps in improving the haemoglobin levels in the body. In the long run they can help treat anaemia to some extent. After all, just a tablespoon of halim seeds offer 12 mg of iron. It is advised to eat vitamin-C rich foods along with iron to increase the absorption of the mineral in the body. Halim seeds are a rich source of vitamin C themselves and therefore they do not require any such additional sources.
2. It enhances breast milk production
Since halim seeds are rich in protein and iron, and have potent galactogogue properties, they are extremely beneficial for lactating mothers. Galactogogues are foods that are used to induce, maintain and increase breast milk production from the mammary glands. Thus nursing mothers should definitely be encouraged to include halim seeds in their diets. Add halim seeds to the laddoo full of nuts and gond made for nursing mothers and enhance its properties.
3. They help to regulate menstruation
The regulation of the menstrual cycle is very important for women to plan pregnancy. Halim seeds are rich in phytochemicals which imitate oestrogen hormone that can help regulate irregular periods. It can be a natural way to regulate hormones and normalise irregular menstrual cycles.
4. Halim seeds help with weight loss
Halim seeds, being rich sources of fibre and protein, add satiety to the food they are eaten with. Thus they help avoid hunger pangs or overeating, the biggest struggles for any weight watcher. The good protein content of these seeds enables you to maintain the body’s muscle mass and lead to a healthy weight loss.
5. They boost immunity
Loaded with flavonoids (antioxidants), folic acid and vitamins A, C and E—halim seeds is an excellent food for improving the body’s immunity and can help protect you from various infections and diseases. Its antimicrobial properties help prevent various infections like fever, cold, and sore throat.
6. Halim seeds relieve constipation
The high-fibre content of halim seeds make them a perfect bowel mobilizer. And so they help in relieving constipation and related issues like gas and bloating. There are many more benefits that these tiny seeds have to offer. Thus including it in your diet is surely going to enhance your body’s nourishment. But like I always say, moderation is the key. Just because it’s a powerhouse of nutrients do not over consume it. Limit its consumption between 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon a day, 3 to 4 times a week and enjoy the brilliant benefits it has to offer.
Ways to incorporate garden cress seeds in your food
1. Soak 1 tablespoon of halim seeds in water and add it to a cup of milk or fruit smoothie.
2. Mix a little black salt with hand ground halim seeds and add to salads.
3. Add coarsely hand ground halim seeds along with nuts to laddoo.
4. Mix coarsely hand ground halim seeds with finely-chopped onions, green chillies, coriander leaves, spices and stuff it in roti dough to make stuffed roti.