Sunflower seed

Asunflower seedis a seed from asunflower(Helianthusannuus). There are three types of commonly used sunflower seeds:linoleic(most common),high oleic, andsunflower oilseeds. Each variety has its own unique levels of monounsaturated, saturated, and polyunsaturated fats. The information in this article refers mainly to the linoleic variety.
For commercial purposes, sunflower seeds are usually classified by the pattern on their husks. If the husk is solid black, the seeds are called black oil sunflower seeds.  The crops may be referred to as oilseed sunflower crops. These seeds are usually pressed to extract their oil. Striped sunflower seeds are primarily eaten as a snack food; as a result, they may be called confectionery sunflower seeds.
The term "sunflower seed" is amisnomerwhen applied to the seed in itspericarp(hull). Botanically speaking, it is acypsela.When dehulled, the edible remainder is called the sunflower kernel or heart.
In 2022, global production of sunflower seeds added up to 54 milliontonnes, led byRussiaandUkrainewith 51% of the world total combined (table).Argentina,China,Turkey,Bulgaria, andRomaniaalso contributed significant volumes.
Sunflower seeds are commonly eaten as a snack, but can also be consumed as part of a meal. They can be used as garnishes or ingredients in various recipes. The seeds may be sold as in-shell seeds or dehulled kernels or besproutedand eaten insalads.
When in-shell seeds are processed, they are first dried. Afterwards, they may be roasted or dusted with salt or flour for the preservation of flavor.
Sunflower seeds sold by the bag are either eaten plain, salted (sometimes called 'plain') or with flavoring added by the manufacturer. Flavor examples include barbecue, pickle, hot sauce, bacon, ranch, and nacho cheese.
In-shell, sunflower seeds are particularly popular inMediterranean, Eastern European, and Asian countries where they can be bought freshlyroastedand are commonly consumed as street food, the hull being cracked open with the teeth and spat out, while in many countries, they can be bought freshly packed in various roasted flavors. In the United States, they are commonly eaten by baseball players as an alternative tochewing tobacco.
Mechanically dehulled kernels are sold raw or roasted and are sometimes added to bread and other baked goods for their flavor. Sunflower seedbrittleis produced by embedding the kernels in hard sugar candy. In Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania, roasted ground seeds are used to make a type ofhalva.
Sunflower butteris similar topeanut butter, but made from sunflower seeds instead of peanuts, and may be a substitute for those with nut allergies. However, sunflower seeds may also  cause allergies in rare cases.
Sunflower seeds are commonly used as food for pets, typically being included in birdseed mix forbird feeders.
In a 100-gram serving, dried whole sunflower seeds provide 584kilocaloriesand are composed of 5% water, 20%carbohydrates, 51% totalfatand 21%protein(table). The seeds are a rich source (20% or higher of theDaily Value, DV) of protein (42% DV),dietary fiber(36% DV), manyB vitamins(23–129% DV) andvitamin E(234% DV). The seeds also contain high levels ofdietary minerals, includingmagnesium,manganese,phosphorus,ironandzinc(40–94% DV).
Half of the weight of sunflower seeds is fat, mainlymonounsaturatedandpolyunsaturatedfats, principallylinoleic acid. Additionally, the seeds containphytosterolswhich may contribute toward lower levels ofblood cholesterol.
Sunflower oil is popular worldwide. The oil may be used as is, or may be processed into polyunsaturatedmargarines. The oil is typically extracted by applying high pressure to the sunflower seeds and collecting the oil. Theprotein-rich cake remaining after the seeds have been processed for oil is used as livestock feed.
The original sunflower oil (linoleic sunflower oil) is high in polyunsaturatedfatty acids(about 68%linoleic acid) and low in saturated fats, such aspalmitic acidandstearic acid. However, varioushybridshave been developed to alter the fatty acid profile of the crop for various purposes.
The hulls, or shells, mostly composed ofcellulose, decompose slowly and may be burned asbiomassfuel.Sunflower hulls of the cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus) containallelopathiccompounds which are toxic to grasses and the vast majority of cultivated garden plants.Only a small number of garden plants, such asday lilies, are unaffected by the allelopathic compounds found in sunflower hulls.