Sunflower oil - helianthus annuus

Family Asters (Asteraceae).

Botanical characteristics. Annual herbaceous plant originating from South America. Sunflower grows to a height of 2 m. The stem is straight, covered with dense hairs, has a spongy core. Inflorescence is a large basket. The marginal flowers are barren, bright yellow, and the inner small, tubular, hermaphrodite, yellow-brown. Blooms in July - August. Fruit is the seed.

Spread. In Europe, the plant was first introduced by the seafarers of Spain. Long grown as decorative and much later began to pay attention to the taste and usefulness of seeds. In Russia, sunflower was imported from Holland by Peter I.

Chemical composition. Leaves and flowers contain pigments, flavonoids, carotenoids, anthocyanins, saponins, phenolcarboxylic acids, rubber, resinous substances, betaine, choline.

Sunflower seeds are rich in fatty oil, carbohydrates, proteins, phytin, tannins, fosoflipids, sterols, carotenoids, organic acids (citric, tartaric, chlorogenic), vitamins A and E.

In sunflower oil, a large amount of glycerides of unsaturated fatty acids - arachidonic, oleic, linolenic, palmitic, (which prevent sclerotic processes in the human body.

The baskets of threshed sunflower hats are the source of the pectin polysaccharide, production of such a process is widely established in Denmark.

Application in medicine. In tropical countries, the alcoholic tincture of marginal sunflower flowers has long been used to treat malaria, influenza, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, asthma attacks, and also as an appetizing remedy.

Fresh sunflower seeds are effective for allergies, bronchitis.

Pectin from sunflower baskets has antitumor and anti-radiation effects.

Seeds are a valuable source of vitamin A and E and are useful for children with growth retardation and a decrease in the rate of sexual development, infertility in diabetic patients, and impotence in men.

Purified sunflower oil is used for cholecystitis, cholangitis, cholangohepatitis, calculous cholecystitis as a cholagogue.

Preparation

• Tincture flowers and leaves of sunflower ordinary: 1 tbsp. L. Crushed dry flowers and leaves are poured 100 ml of alcohol (70 °) and insist in a dark place at room temperature for 3 weeks. Filter, take 30 drops 3 times a day with influenza, asthma attacks, with a decrease in appetite.
• Tincture of dry stems of sunflower ordinary: Dry stems are ground and poured with vodka in the ratio 1:10. Insist in a dark place at room temperature for 2 weeks. Filter, drink 2 tbsp. L. On an empty stomach with fever.
• Decoction of sunflower stalks: Dry or semi-dry stems are finely shredded and poured with water (1 cup of raw material 1 glass of water). They boil for 10 minutes. Give it to stand, filter, add honey and drink a glass during the day with tumors.
• Decoction of flower baskets of sunflower ordinary: Small, usually lateral, flower baskets are dried and crushed. 1 tbsp. L. Raw materials pour 1 glass of water and boil for 5 minutes. Insist 30 minutes. Filter and drink 0.5 cup 3 times a day with urticaria in diabetic patients.

Use in nutrition

Since ancient times, sunflower has been cultivated as an edible plant, an oilseed crop. Seeds, fried and ground, are used as a filler in dough, cookies, wafers, as a filling for sweets, halva and other confectionery products are prepared on their basis.

In England, young baskets of sunflowers are added to salads.

Cream of sunflower seeds, cocoa and cream

Seeds are fried in a frying pan, allowed to cool and cleaned of husk. Grind in a coffee grinder, mix with cream, cocoa, add sugar, thoroughly grind. Served for dessert.

• Sunflower seeds - 100 g,
• Cream - 30 grams,
• Cocoa - 10 g,
• Sugar - 15 g.

Dessert from sunflower seeds and hazelnut nuts

Seeds are fried in a frying pan, allowed to cool a little, cleaned of husk. Grind in a coffee grinder with pre-dried and peeled kernels of nuts. Cream, can be whipped, sugar, cocoa. Served for dessert.

• Sunflower seeds - 50 g,
• Kernels of hazelnuts - 60 g,
• Cocoa - 10 g,
• Cream whipped - 50 grams,
• Sugar (xylitol) - 10 g.