Ten Health Risks and Dangers Associated with Sunflower Seeds
In general, sunflower seeds are not considered as an unhealthy or harmful food. Below are some possible health risks listed:
1. Calories and Weight Gain
Sunflower seeds are high-calorie and high-fat food (1).
- One ounce (28 grams) of dry roasted sunflower seed kernels (hulled — without hulls) contains 165 Calories.
- One-half cup (64 grams) contains 372 Calories.
Sunflower seeds by themselves are not fattening, but eating them in large amounts can contribute to weight gain.
2. Salt
2 oz (57 g) of salted sunflower seed kernels contains about 370 mg of sodium (2), so individuals on a low-sodium diet may need to avoid them.
3. Mouth Sores, Enamel Loss
- Grinding whole sunflower seeds with the teeth can cause gum sores.
- In this Pakistani investigation, consumption of dry roasted sunflower seeds was associated with the higher rates of damage of the tooth enamel.
4. Epiglottitis
Shells could theoretically stick in your throat and cause inflammation of the epiglottis (the fold that covers the voice box).
Picture 1. Sunflower seed or its shell can stick behind the epiglottis
(source: Flickr, Creative Commons License)
Picture 2. Sunflower seeds can get stuck above the epiglottis
or enter the windpipe (red arrows)
(adapted from Wikimedia, CC license)
5. Aspiration During a Baseball Game
In 2010, in Northern Virginia in the United States, a baseball player was hit by a ball in the throat while chewing sunflower seeds. He aspirated on some seeds, what triggered cardiac arrest; he died later in the hospital (18).
6. Stomach Ache, Upset Stomach, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Both shelled and unshelled sunflower seeds are high in soluble fiber (1,17), which can cause excessive bloating, abdominal pain and flatulence.
- Both shelled and unshelled sunflower seeds are high in insoluble fiber (1,17), which may trigger diarrhea in some individuals with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS).
7. Sunflower Seed Shells, Bezoars and Constipation
Eating large amounts of sunflower seeds with shells at once may cause severe constipation (obstipation, impaction) and formation of bezoar (a clump of undigested material) in the rectum, which may need to be removed under general anesthesia (3).
Picture 3. CT image of the seed bezoar in the colon
(source: Ijri.org)
8. Allergies
- Sunflower seed dust may trigger an allergic reaction or anaphylactic reaction or development of chronic asthma in sensitive people who, for example, clean bird cages (4,5).
- Eating sunflower seeds, which may contain high amounts of nickel, can trigger eczema in individuals with nickel allergy (13).
- Due to mixing during manufacturing, certain sunflower seeds sold in stores may be contaminated with soy allergens.
- Individuals who are allergic to sunflower seeds only rarely react to sunflower oil (7).
- Cross-reactivity between sunflower seeds and pistachios, peanuts and walnuts (8), mustard seed (8), certain fruits (10) and ragweed pollen (11) has been reported.
9. Migraine
Some sources (14) mention sunflower seeds as a possible migraine trigger. The supposed triggering substance is tyramine (14).
10. Manganese Overdose
Individuals with a genetic disease called “Dystonia/Parkinsonism, Hypermanganesemia, Polycythemia, and Chronic Liver Disease” should avoid sunflower seeds because they are high in manganese (15).
Oxalate Kidney Stones?
For individuals with oxalate kidney stones, doctors recommend low-oxalate diet with less than 50 milligrams oxalates per day. One-half cup of sunflower seeds may contain up to 10 milligrams oxalates (16).
Addiction?
Some individuals have reported getting addicted to dill-flavored sunflower seeds.
Aluminum?
Some Chinese manufacturers add aluminum and talc powder to sunflower seeds to enhance flavor. Aluminum toxicity has not been reported, though.
Heavy Metals?
Sunflower seeds can accumulate cadmium, lead, nickel, vanadium, zinc and other heavy metals but not necessary in greater amounts than certain other plants, like barley (6,21) or spinach.
Diverticulitis?
Some doctors recommend avoiding eating sunflower and other seeds to individuals with intestinal diverticulosis, but the association between sunflower seeds and diverticulitis has not been proven (12).
Mouth Cancer?
Cancer.org does NOT mention sunflower seeds as a risk of oral cancer.
Vitamin B6 Toxicity?
According to Linus Pauling Institute, vitamin B6 toxicity caused by any food, including sunflower seeds, has not been reported so far. One cup of dehulled sunflower seeds contains about 1 mg vitamin B6, and the tolerable amount of vitamin B6 for adults is 100 mg per day and for children 4-13 years old 40-60 mg per day.
Possible Health Benefits of Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are high in:
- Monounsaturated fats
- Proteins
- Calories
- Vitamin E
- Selenium
- Vitamins from B complex
In summary, unsalted, shelled sunflower seeds seem to have fewer side effects than salted whole seeds.
- References
- USDA.gov (Sunflower seed kernels calorie and nutrient content)
- USDA.gov (Salted sunflower seeds)
- PubMed (Unshelled sunflower seeds and constipation)
- PubMed (Airborne allergy to sunflower dust)
- PubMed (Anaphylactic reaction)
- Lombi E et al, 1998, Mobility of heavy metals in soil and their uptake by sunflowers grown at different contamination levels Agronomy
- Halsey AB et al, 1986, Sunflower oil is not allergenic to sunflower seed-sensitive patients PubMed
- Aaaai.org (Nuts cross-reactivity)
- Madrid F et al, 2002, Heavy uptake by barley and sunflower grown in abandoned animal lagoon soil Pen State University
- Wiley.com (Cross-reactivity between seeds and fruits)
- Acaai.org (Ragweed seed cross-reactivity)
- Niddk.nih.gov (Diverticulosis)
- PMC (Nickel allergy)
- Mgwater.com (Sunflower seeds and migraine)
- Nih.gov/books (Dystonia/Parkinsonism, Hypermanganesemia, Polycythemia, and Chronic Liver Disease)
- How To Eat A Low Oxalate Diet The University of Chicago
- Journal of Food Composition and Analysis (2002) 15, 715-723
- Loudountimes.com (A baseball player dies from aspiration of sunflower seeds)
I eat sunflower seed 10 grams in a week, i am feeling that my eyesight increased, is it vitamin loss or other thing please..
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Iam addicted to sunflower seeds like gum. I need something in my mouth all the times. I used to smoke a lot for years. It’s been 10 yrs since I quit smoking, but I go through many bags of seeds in a week. I lost my voice for 2 mths this summer, plus had cold for 2 wks last mtg, but I still have pain in my throat, would eating these seeds contribute to it. Also have kidney stones…maybe I should quit seeds, but not sure what to replace it with….please awaiting for your advice..thankyou
Try to concentrate on your work. Then chewing sunflower seeds will start to bother you.
sunflower seeds is good for heart blockage & piles patient??
I wouldn’t know that.
Since I switched over to [edit: we do not discuss brands], I have noticed that I am receiving severe body cramps. Hands, feet and especially legs. Do you think that their could be a correlation between these. I am kind of at my wits end
It’s much more likely that you have cramps from other cause than sunflower seeds. You may want to see a doctor.
Sunflowers in the shell are a driver’s best friend. If you feel drowsy behind the wheel, cracking open a sunflower seed with your teeth and tongue will wake you up instantly. It works. I’m a delivery driver and I eat about half a bag a day(225g).
However I am aware of another problem. I think they are changing the odor of my bowel movements. From a regular stinky odor to an unnatural odor of stinky dirty socks. Sounds strange. I’ll try to quit eating them on the weekend and see what happens. I eat a lot of fiber and am as regular as a clock, but this is a strange odor. Any advice?
No.
I ate sunflower seeds and over time noticed a couple of sprouted seeds in my stool – I have diarrhea prone IBS – is this something to be concerned about?? Do I need to stay away from sunflower seeds altogether?
Theoretically, there is no food that would be bad for people with IBS-diarrhea, but personally, if you feel they irritate you, you may want to avoid them.
Are you saying food does not affect people with IBS? If so, you are incorrect. I have had Crohn’s for over 50 years and food does affect the GI system. Dairy, wheat, sulphur, etc.. Many foods affect the gut. The gut pretty much dictates the rest of the body. There are countless books and articles now available on that subject. Correct me if I have misinterpreted your comment.
If a shell gets stuck behind the epiglottis how can you take it out?
You can try to repeat the swallow, cough, gargle some water or, if your gag reflex allow, try to move it off the place by using some semi-soft stick. If nothing works, your primary doctor should be able to help.
I’m buying unsalted, unshelled sunflower seeds in SPROUTS farmers market, i ate alot everyday, is it bad for my health? Maybe one cup or more everyday? How much portion can i eat per day? Thank you.
Sunflower seeds by themselves are neither healthy or unhealthy. One cup of sunflower seeds is a lot of calories.
i eat about a serving or a little more than a serving of spitz black pepper seeds at my desk at work. I sometimes do not eat dinner and i exercise and jog atleast 4 times a week. should i be worried about weight gain?
Is your body weight increasing? It’s calories in – calories out…what affects the body weight.
no and that is what i am saying i dont think i could gain weight over sunflower seeds. I eat really healthy. i never eat friend foods and i always incorporated fruits and vegies such as broccoli, snap peas, carrots and eat foods such as cottage cheese yogurt. whole grain bread only in the morning at 8 am. This article just made me think.
I had a normal bowel movement this morning, then ate 1/2 bag of David’s shelled sunflower seeds. I have sharp pain in my right lower abdomen tonight. Have I done any damage to my intestines?
If the pain does not subside soon, you may want to visit a doctor. There is appendix in the lower right abdomen. Sharp pain without other symptoms (fever, nausea) can occur in simple constipation, though.
Thank you, Jan. I didn’t mention that my appendix was removed as a child. I’ve now had my first bowel movement since the pain started. There was no blood. I don’t have a fever or vomiting. Perhaps it is my first episode of diverticulosis (age 64.) I will probably not eat seeds again. I eat a good diet with adequate fiber, but will plan on sticking to fluids until the pain resolves. What do you think, please?
Shelled sunflower seeds are digested in the first part of small intestine, so only that small amount of indigestible fiber they contain actually reaches the start of the large intestine in the lower right abdomen. They are sunflower shells and the small grape seeds that could be more of a problem in diverticulosis. Diverticles can occur anywhere in the large intestine but are more common on the left side.
Anyway, at some point, a big amount of dry food can form a bolus in the intestine and temporary blocks it. In general, it is eating dry foods with insufficient water that can create such problems.
I’ve been eating alot of shelled sunflower seeds at school latley and just got a really bad case of diarrhea but I do not have IBS but I have had life-long constipation. Is there any explanation for this?
Diarrhea can often occur if you exaggerate with certain foods.
intake of quater cup sunflower seeds daily increases weight?????
1/4 cup sunflower seeds is 168 Calories. This would increase your weight only if your total daily intake of calories (from all foods and beverages together) would be greater than your daily calorie loss.
I just began to eat sunflower seeds, I have a bad habit of snacking during the day at my desk, so I thought that sunflower seeds might be the best, also trying to loose weight, will they be ok to eat during my process
Bobbie, sunflower seeds have quite some calories. They are very calorie dense.
any problem occur to eat sunflower seeds
pl z answer me
Hello, my experience about sunflower seeds that is caused me addiction, dizziness, and poor eyesight, when i being eaten it for three months, even though my visual was excellent before sunflower seeds, as well as, i didn’t make any changing on my food habits, except sunflower seeds.
Panorama, I’m not aware that sunflower seeds or any common intoxication associated with it would cause dizziness or poor eyesight.
Hi, I live in Middle East, and here people eat too much sunflower seeds and other seeds, even i have a habit of eating sunflowere seeds like popcorn while watching a movie. Or while working in office, everyone is eating seeds countinuously. I just want to know how much is OK.
Yavr, eating a lot of sunflower seeds by itself is not harmful. The problem is, if this leads to weight gain or if someone stops to eat foods from other important food groous like vegetables, which may lead to certain mineral/vitamin deficiencies.
I am addicted I eat at least a cup or 2 raw shelled a day n I can stop I think of them from the moment I wake up lol I’m serious graze on them by the handful I guess it’s my body needing them What do I do sunflower seed aa ? I have hypothyroid /hashimotos I think I’m lacking something from that cheers
Cazzie, to know if hypothyroidism is associated with a certain mineral/vitamin deficiency, one would need to have a blood test done. One good way to get rid of food craving is to concentrate on some mental or physical work that requires some effort.
The experience I had when I ate sunflower butter for the first time was unbelievable cramping and diarrhea. I do have ibs-d and wasn’t aware of any problems I would have from eating this. So, if according to #6 on your list that this is only a belief of those of us who suffer from ibs-d I certainly had a first and last time “belief” experience with sunflower butter. My mother tried it after me and had the same experience. By this time this company removed any cross contamination with soy so it can’t be the soy.
Lynda, it’s commonly reported by people who have IBS that foods high in insoluble fiber trigger symptoms in them.
This may sound crazy but this always happens. As soon as I start to eat sunflower seeds my nipples start to itch like crazy! I use to be addicted to them, 24/7. I use to go through a 5 1/2 pound bag a day every day. Then, I stopped due to the itching. I just recently started eating them and after only a handful, the itching starts. Does anyone know why?
Tima, such itching could be a symptom of an allergic reaction; not sure, though.
This article paints some doomsday scenarios around Sunflower Seeds. C’mon people, it’s a harmless seed! Eat responsibly and use common sensed and you’ll be fine
Wes, I agree, sunflower seeds are pretty harmless when you eat using common sense, as the first sentence in the article says. With exaggeration, each and every scenario mentioned is possible (and references provided).
i let my 13 year old daughter eat sunflower seeds all the time she eats the jumbo bags in a week should i be conserned? is this bad for her? she eats sunflower seed all day but if shes not eatting sunflower seeds shes chewing on something else it seems as if something always has to be in her mouth should i be worried?… today she ran out of sunflower seed and she snacked on alot of food (chips, popcorn, candy, pb and j sandwich, plums, and apples,) in a small amount of time she didnt wake up til 12 in the afternoon. but her dads a heavy eatter too he has to eat every 3 hours… what should i do about my childs sunflower seed addiction
Ally, is she getting too much weight? The only thing, I personally believe that works against excessive eating is concentrating on some work you are passionate about. As a mother, do what you feel is right. If you feel that eating many snacks is not good for her then do not buy them to her. Kids can concentrate on foods when they are anxious about something: school, relationships…Is she missing something? Nobody understands her? Do you personally can do something about it?
I have same problem
are you serious I love sunflower seed but my stomache is killing me
Too much sunflower seeds can cause tingling in hands and legs.
Too much vitamin B6.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/297217-sunflower-seeds-b6-toxicity/
Trinity, from the evidence I’ve found, vitamin B6 toxicity from any food including sunflower seeds, has not been observed so far.
I use to eat Spitz seeds and noticed I’d get hives ..possible allergy to nuts ..Also major cramping and bloating ..Also the salt leaking out my pored for around 3 days ..although normal batheing was accurate ..however I could still smell and taste the salt .weird!! However they are amazing and I truelly am a SEEDER haha
Amanda, hives and cramping is probably from an allergy. I don’t recommend eating sunflower seeds if you are allergic to them.
I eat about 1/4 cup or a little more a day of roasted & salted sunflower nuts y. My potass
ium level has risen since I have started eating the nuts. On the package it says nothing about potassium.
Is there a connection between the nuts & the risen level of potassium.
Betty, 1/4 cup, that is probably 2 oz of sunflower seeds, can contain about 600 mg of potassium, which sounds a lot for a single snack, but it’s not really that much, because the “adequate intake (AI) for potassium” is 4.7 grams per day, that is 8 times as much as in your portion of sunflower seeds. In healthy people, any potassium ingested in excess, is quickly excreted through the urine, so it should not raise blood potassium levels. I suggest you to see a doctor who can find the cause. It could be a problem with kidneys or adrenal glands, for example.
I love sunflower seeds i can finish a package a day. Thats why i decided to see the pros and cons. I like this blog. I now have more knowledge regarding what im putting in my body. Thank you
Thanks so much for the info. 1. Some brands of sun flower seeds are on the FDA recall list because of a .Listeria outbreak.Go to CNN or the FDA.gov websites.
2. I have had two pre-asthma attacks after eating almost 1 2i/2 oz.bag of David’s
Sunflower seeds. Each time, I sensed that a piece of shell or an unchewed seed had gotten stuck in my throat–but I tried to cough it up but kept right on eating the seeds! My breathing became. labored and I started wheezing. Apparently, I had aspirated something down the wrong pipe into the lung. I know it was the seeds! I had asthma attacks as a child and was taught how to handle them so that they do not become full-blown. Though nutritious and tasty, there is a downside to eating more than a few of these seeds at a time. Adults and children must be cautioned. Thanks for your website.
your comments on on the danger of eating sunflower seeds is exaggerating. if it is you want people to avoid them, is a healthy snack I eat in moderation and I feel good. eating in moderation is beneficial but to much is not good.
Cantoy, the first sentence of the article says: “In general, sunflower seeds are not considered as an unhealthy or harmful food.” But, addiction to sunflower seeds is quite common and can obviously result in weight gain. The shells can also cause problems. The article is not intended to convince people to not eat sunflower seeds.
Do sunflower seeds cause cancer or not
Jessica, there was some concern that removing the shells by teeth when eating sunflower seeds could increase the risk of mouth cancer, but I have found no scientific evidence for this. Sunflower seeds and foods by themselves, when used within the expiration dates, do not likely cause cancers.
Hello
Thanks for these l’information and the network advice in Tis website.
I bought brown bread with sunflower seeds. I suffered bowls stomach ache and sevre irritation and discomfort, lot of gad and passing wind constantly. I even went to E&A and they prescribed me BUSCOPAN tablets and pain killers. I took them for a week but I didn’t notice any changes.
It’s only when I read in this website that doctors advice patients with divirticulsis in the intestines when I realised it’s the sunflowers seeds that caused me all those troubles. In fact I have osoephagus diviticulosis.
Zouhra Balouh from London
I just quit smoking and started eating bbq flavored sunflower seeds (but nood the shells). I go through a 227g bag every 3 days or so. Now that i’ve quit smoking, i’m worried about gaining weight. So am i eating too many sunflower seeds?
kerry, 227 grams of sunflower seeds is a lot of calories. You can try to experiment with other foods that have less calories but are also quite filling, for example, whole grain bread. You can also try some vegetables.
Can sun flower seed contribute to or cause high cholesterol I’m addicted to them and cant help buying a bag every other day.
Alex, if you gain weight from sunflower seeds this can increase your cholesterol.
I eat a lot of sunflower seeds I don’t eat the shell. I thought they were healthy plus I smoke less but I have gained a lot of weight. From reading all content of this page I’m now confused. I eat 1lb bag of David jumbo sunflower seeds a day. I always had ulcers and high cholesterol could this be why they have gotten worse plus a lot of nausea and weight gain?
dawn, one pound of sunflower seeds has about 2,500 Calories, which is more than a sedentary adult needs per day, so yes, this seems to be a major cause of weight gain. About nausea – stop eating sunflower seeds and see if it helps.
I’m 110% hooked on dill flavor seeds. Thanks now I know I’m not alone:)
I started to consume sun flower seeds one week back. I have cough with colorless phlem now. Whether this is a allergic cough caused by sun flower seed.
Baboo Tharian,
cough is much more likely from a piece of sunflower seed shell stuck in your throat than from allergy. Allergy would likely also cause mouth and skin itch and red rash within minutes of consumption. If the cough continues you may want to ask your doctor to check your throat.
I found this site because I wanted to know if I should be worried that I aspirated a full seed last night. I know it went all the way down my airpipe. I went to er and they gave me a chest x-ray but it didn’t show up, however, today I am experiencing tightness in my back area where my lungs are.. I don’t have a fever but I am definitely having tightness. Will the shell and seed deteriorate? The Dr said he is not sure whether it would show on an x-ray so to come back if I get worse. I threw my bag away and will never eat another one. Can I die?
Ryan,
it’s not that you’ll die from one sunflower seed, but if you continue to feel bad go to the doctor again. Sunflower seed can be really hard to see on X-ray.
I was wondering about the salt. I have constipation but always had that. No flatulance but am addicted to eating, cracking, sucking the salt off, and having something to do with my hands when just sitting around. I prefer these to ice cream, cheese sticks, chips, or candy that has sugar. Seems like a trade off to me. I feel addicted to these things and eat a bag at work a day and at home every few days. bag = 5.25 ounces. My tongues gets sore andI drink a lot of water. I feel like it has to be bad for me eating that much salt. Do you know the stats of that?
Thank you
Diana M.
Diana,
a general rule is, if you think you are exaggerating with something in the way it can harm you, it is likely that it can harm you…The statistic is actually quite misleading: 5.25 oz of salted sunflower seeds contain only about 1 gram sodium this is a good 2 grams of salt (reference 2 in the article above). Salt may not be the main issue here. You probably get more than 1/3 of your daily calories solely from sunflower seeds, which is probably a very unbalanced diet. Sunflower seeds may aggravate constipation. Dietary fiber from whole-grain bread can help relieve constipation and does not cause excessive gas.
I just recently started eating the Bigs sunflower seeds. I quit smoking cigarette and the sunflower seeds were a big help. I am smoke free now. However, I was eating a big bag of them every night almost. I started having bad abdominal pains. I ended up going to the emergency room just the other day. They told me I have pancreatitis. I was throwing up for a couple days, so i was also very dehydrated. I guess I thought it was healthier than smoking, but didn’t realise it would be a such a problem. So yeah, too many can cause problems. They are so darn good tho.
Hello guys,
I have a question about sunflower seeds consumption. I have been eating a lot of them lately, especially in the evenings. Almost every day. I suppose its an addiction as I eat fairly healthy otherwise. But the amount has been high – up to half a bag or the whole bag (2 oz). For nearly a month now. Ive noticed abdominal weight gain and that concerns me as I have not changed anything else in my regimen. I have also started taking vitamins B6 n B12. Steady for a month now. So same timing as the sunflower seeds. Everything esle status quo, could the sunflower seeds have caused the abdominal bloating/weight gain? Please let me write if you have any ideas. Thank you.
Narina
Sunflower seeds have a lot of calories if you eat them a lot. It can help if you can concentrate on something what will make you actively busy, not just sitting and eating. I don’t know why are you taking vitamin supplements; if you are healthy and eat enough of various foods you do not need them. Bloating could be from constipation from sunflower seeds or from excessive fiber if you eat them with shells.
Are seeds a good alternative to chewing tobacco? I chew tobacco but when I’m eating sunflower seeds my crave for tobacco seems to diminish. is this just a mind thing?
It can mean that craving for chewing tobacco is a mind thing.
Ive been eating sunflower seeds for 2 days and all of the sudden I noticed I couldn’t taste or smell. Can eating to many sunflower seeds cause you to not taste anything?
-Thanks, Ezrah
Not likely. It’s usually clogged nose that can affect both smell and taste.
I eat sunflower seeds everyday all day i do not eat any other foods i only drink because i do get thirsty is it ok
Not sure if I have understood you. If you are asking if eating sunflower seeds with no other foods at the same time, only drinking, is OK, then yes.
I’ve eaten three big bags of Spitz cracked pepper flavored sunflower seeds in less than a week, is that dangerous, health wise?
It does not sound dangerous to me. A lot of spices may cause stomach upset in some people.
Hi, I also consume salted sunflower seeds on a daily basis while at work. I have noticed over time that I have a constant wraspy voice, I never swallow the shell, only the seeds. Do you think eating sunflower seeds is giving me a wraspy voice? Its like I have a constant “morning voice” all day long.
You can try stopping eating sunflower seeds and see.
But what about heavy metals in sunflower seeds? I know that they’re used to leach lead out of soil, but I’ve also heard that they’re often high in other hazardous metals.
I can’t say if sunflower seeds are any worse or better in terms of accumulation of heavy metals than certain other plant foods. Barley may accumulate more lead than sunflower seeds, for example. Sunflower seeds are high in selenium, but I have not heard of selenium intoxication from sunflower seeds.
Hi there I would just like to say I am addicted to the salted sun flour seeds. I eat a bag everyday. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I can not stop. Its like my body has to have them. If I see I’m getting low in the bag I’m eating out to of I have to go to the store to get more. I will even buy 3,4 bags at a time. I am a very small person, when I stared eating these I was maybe 110. I have now put on 20 lbs. I now weight 130 lbs. When ever I set down to watch t.v or a movie I have yo have my seeds.
How can I stop the craving for them? I need to stop eating them, but how????
Thanks for listening.. April
It is not likely your body specifically needs sunflower seeds. It can help if you find some serious activity that brings you real pleasure (joy, piece) without guilt and then see how eating sunflower seeds help or prevent you to achieve your new goals.
Hi April, I had the same problem! I started taking passion flower to help calm me down. It kind of turned into a nervous habit for me. I hope this helps.
Hi. I love to eat sunflower seeds and I experience the constipation and bloating. I don’t eat them every day all day but I do have phases where I do. In thay aspect I guess you can say it becomes an addiction. I never knew the real effects they can have on my body or that the stomach issues are from the seeds when I consume them. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
I can say I’m addicted to them I eat 2 bags a day. I feel bloated and I feel so horrible. I need to stop eating them completely
I have the same problem I going of test cuz I eat to many sunflower seeds
Thanks Jan. Very kind of you. Personally, I do consume a good amount of sunflower seeds on a daily basis because of its health benefits. I don’t exaggerate though. So far I have not had any irritation in the “mucosa” or even the throat, and I am not sure of the “bad breath” or the “degradation”. Even when I talk there seems to be no irritation. Do I need to be worried as of now?
If it happens a sunflower seed sticks above the epiglottis and you forget about it, it will slowly break apart and the area will probably get cleaned naturally eventually but this can take quite some time. I’m not sure if a “bezoar” (a small clump of debris) could develop above epiglottis. You can check the area by using bathroom mirror, a small mirror in the mouth and a good light.
Probably not. Smh.
Dear Sir/Madame,
I wanted to know, if the sunflower seeds or shells get stuck above the epiglottis, would there be a natural reaction to cough it out or do the seed particles simply stay there without causing any disturbance to the throat or the voice box… The point is, to be removed, the seed particles need to create some disturbance or else they will remain there forever…
Bryan, you may or may not be able to cough out a sunflower seed or its shell when it get stuck above the epiglottis. From my experiences, you can cough out most pieces of food sooner or later. If a seed sticks there for a prolonged time, it will start to degrade, irritate the mucosa and cause bad breath; in this case it would be probably most appropriate to ask a doctor to remove it.
Ut hurt the throat gives you a cough. Hard to speak sometimes and hurts a lot. Can stop you from breathing I.e kill you. I’ve got it at moment.