Did you know that poppy seeds that you enjoy on your bagel, pastry, or muffins are a pack of nutrients? Despite the small size, poppy seeds are full of essential vitamins, nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants.
Poppy seeds come from the opium poppy plant (Papaver smoniferum) and have been used in traditional medicine for a long time.
The poppy plant is native to the Eastern Mediterranean. Its flower has many colors, including white, yellow, red, etc.
The seeds of poppy flowers are small, round, black, bluish, or light to dark gray in color depending on their location of cultivation.
In this blog, we will closely look into the remarkable benefits of poppy seeds, what we call poppy seeds in Urdu, their nutritional value, and their potential uses.
Poppy Seeds in Urdu
Poppy seeds in Urdu are called خشخاش. In Roman Urdu, it is written as Khash Khash.
Khash Khash is readily available and you can buy it from any grocery store near you.
7 Poppy Seeds Benefits (خشخاش)
You may not have tried these tiny nutritious seeds but after reading about these poppy seeds’ benefits you won’t skip them ever. Here are some of the major benefits of poppy seeds in Urdu:
1. Have Pain Relieving and Calming Effect
The Poppy plant has one compound known as Morphine, along with many other compounds known as thebaine, codeine, and other opium alkaloids. These compounds are well-known for their pain-relieving, sleep-inducing, and calming properties. Some of these compounds are also added to pharmaceutical drugs.
These alkaloids are normally present in the pod milky white liquid of poppy which is also called poppy latex.
One interesting thing is that poppy seeds don’t have an opium compound naturally. However, during harvesting or due to pest damage, they become contaminated.
Therefore, before arriving in grocery stores, poppy seeds (Khash Khash) are cleaned to remove any present opium alkaloids.
Moreover, it is also feasible to find and buy unwashed poppy seeds that have high concentrations of alkaloid opioids.
Unwashed poppy seeds have many health risks or may cause accidental death. Hence, unwashed forms should only be used under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
Read Also: 10 Effective Khashkhash Benefits That You Should Know
2. Boosts Heart and Skin Health
Poppy seeds have a large amount of dietary fibers which are beneficial for lessening bad cholesterol levels. On one side, they reduce bad cholesterol, while on the other end, they keep good cholesterol up.
As they are full of iron, they act as a natural blood purifier. It also helps in raising the hemoglobin and red blood cell count in the blood.
Moreover, these tiny round seeds have Oleic acid which lessens the blood pressure levels. Furthermore, Omega-6 fatty acids upkeep the health of the heart and also decrease the chances of heart blockages or attacks.
Being the powerhouse of antioxidants and essential nutrients, it can treat skin inflammation and scalp infections. Linoleic acid being present in high quantities makes it extremely effective in treating burns, eczema, and itching.
Useful Tip: Make poppy seed paste and apply the mask on the face. This mask can help in treating pimples and acne.
3. Helps in Digestion
Dietary fibers are present in large quantities in these small round seeds. These fibers are highly beneficial in promoting digestion and also increase nutrient absorption from food.
Apart from this, these seeds also relieve constipation and allow easy food passage via the alimentary canal.
Read Also: 8 Surprising Poppy Seeds Benefits During Pregnancy
4. Enhances Fertility
Poppy seed and its oil are magic for those women who want to improve their fertility.
If a fallopian tube is blocked, it doesn’t allow the fertilized egg to attach itself to the uterine wall. Therefore, women who take products having poppyseed oil flushed through the fallopian tube dissolve any mucus particles or debris from the tube. It also aids in opening the blockage which improves fertility.
Many researchers also propose that the presence of aligning in these seeds has an aphrodisiac effect which improves libido and also enhances sexual health.
5. Improves Bone Health
Being rich in calcium other than trace minerals, zinc, and copper, they improve bone health and mineral density. It also strengthens the bones and connective tissue which prevents bone breakage.
These seeds also have manganese which aids in collagen production in the bones and also protects the bones from any damage.
6. Regulates Blood Pressure
As discussed earlier, poppy seeds have oleic acid which also helps to normalize the blood pressure levels. It is crucial for both low and high blood pressure conditions.
It also promotes heart functions by enhancing cardiovascular endurance and also reduces the chances of cardiac anomalies such as heart blockage, heart attack, etc.
تھکاوٹ دور کرنے کے لیے 9 قدرتی اجزاء جو آپ نہیں جانتے
7. Prevents Ulcers
Poppy seeds have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties which play a crucial role in treating various ulcer types, including peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis, mouth ulcers, or canker sores.
The bioactive compounds in poppy seeds promote regeneration of tissues and wound healing.
Useful Tip: Make a pellet by combining some grounded poppy seeds wiht crushed dry coconut and powdered sugar candy. Suck on this pellet for instant relief to treat mouth ulcers.
Poppy Seeds Nutritional Value
Like many other seeds, poppy seeds are packed with plant fats, fiber, and nutrients.
A tablespoon (9 grams) of poppy seeds have the following nutrients:
- Calories: 46
- Carbs: 2.5 grams
- Protein: 1.6 grams
- Fiber: 1.7 grams
- Fat: 3.7 grams
- Manganese: 26% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Copper: 16% of the DV
- Magnesium: 7% of the DV
- Thiamine: 6% of the DV
- Phosphorus: 6% of the DV
- Calcium: 10% of the DV
- Zinc: 6% of the DV
- Iron: 5% of the DV
Poppy seeds are enriched in manganese which is important for blood clotting and bone health. This also helps in utilizing fats, amino acids, and carbohydrates.
Moreover, they are also rich in copper. This mineral is used to make connective tissues and also transport iron.
Furthermore, poppy seeds and their oil are an excellent source of polyphenols which are a type of antioxidants.
Poppy Seeds Uses
These tiny round seeds are not only nutritious but also add a crunch and nutty flavor to a range of dishes.
Here are some of the potential uses of poppy seeds in various dishes:
- Used in baking (poppy seed bagel, bread with poppy seeds, almond poppy seed muffins, poppy seed buns, cookies, cakes, etc)
- Used as salad toppings
- Used as a coating (for fish, tofu, chicken, etc before frying or baking)
- Can be used in smoothies
- Use as a Dressing Ingredient (salad dressings or sauces for nutty taste)
Final Words
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Are The Side Effects Of Poppy Seeds?
Poppy seeds have many health benefits only if they are consumed in minimal quantity. If it is overdosed, it can become a habit and can cause Oedema and even result in slow, irregular breathing, a slow heartbeat, sleepiness, etc.
Can Poppy Seeds Be Consumed Daily?
Yes. Poppy seeds or Khus Khus can be taken daily but only in moderation. It can either be consumed directly, by mixing with a glass of milk, or by making a paste of it. It is okay to drink it in moderate quantities but if consumed in large quantities, it can cause certain health issues.
Can Poppy Seeds Promote Mental Health?
Dry poppy seeds have a very small quantity of opium alkaloids which have significant effects on the body. You can take poppy tea in moderate quantities which can calm nervous irritability. It also acts as a painkiller and reduces stress levels.
Can we eat Khus khus daily?
Yes. we can eat Khus Khus daily but only in moderate quantities. Foods that have approximately 50 grams of poppy seed can be consumed regularly.