Poppy Seeds – A Powerhouse of Nutrients and Antioxidants

Poppy seeds are a beloved European tradition, found adorning soft bread pastries like buns. Additionally, poppy seed tea is another option. The Amazing fact about dried poppy pods ( unwashed).

Growing or possessing certain varieties of Papaver somniferum poppy pods (Papaver somniferum) and pods in the United States can be illegal; CBS 2 investigated, and those caught may face criminal charges.

Benefits

Poppy seed plants produce alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, and thebaine, which contain pain-relieving and sleep-inducing properties and addictive tendencies; they’re commonly found in pharmaceutical drugs like heroin.

Poppy seeds do not naturally contain any opium alkaloids; however, they may become contaminated during harvesting or due to pest damage. They require cleaning before reaching supermarket shelves to rid themselves of these potential toxins.

Eating poppy seeds in moderation is generally safe; however, too much can result in a positive drug test for opioids, as opium absorbs through skin pores into urine and stool when eaten in large quantities.

Poppy seed oil is packed with essential omega-6 fatty acids like linoleic acid that are known to protect against heart disease. Furthermore, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus found in poppy seed oil help support bone health and are high sources of zinc that improve vision while protecting against eye conditions such as macular degeneration.

Vitamin A in poppy seed oil helps protect eyes from ultraviolet rays while encouraging healthy skin and treating acne and psoriasis. Soaking poppy seeds in water before applying them directly onto the scalp to treat dandruff is also effective while mixing poppy seeds with curd can further decrease its recurrence rate.

Poppy seeds are an excellent source of iron, helping purify the blood and increase hemoglobin levels for improved brain oxygen supply and cognitive performance. Poppy seeds have also been known to reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure levels while helping prevent kidney stones and their recurrence. Regular consumption may even help protect kidney health!

Precautions

Poppy seeds (Papaver somniferum) can be harvested and dried for decorative use from their pods once the petals fall off and collected after being spread out for drying in airy environments for several weeks. Once dry and brittle with seeds rattling inside, these pods can be poured into containers to separate trash; though this process takes some time, it is well worth your while to ensure you avoid wasting precious seeds!

Be mindful that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has asked some seedmen and flower shops not to sell pods or ornamental seed heads as decorative decorations, so take caution when ordering poppy seeds or growing pods for yourself. Harvest them early not to create milky sap that could give a positive drug test result for opiate use; poppy seeds contain alkaloids that could trigger positive results for such use.

Poppy seeds provide numerous health advantages, from lowering cholesterol to improving heart health and stimulating cognitive functioning. Furthermore, these seeds contain plenty of fiber to support digestive health.

Poppy seeds contain antioxidants that prevent food from becoming rancid and extend its shelf life. They are packed with fatty acids that reduce bad cholesterol while raising good levels, making them an excellent addition to a weight-loss diet.

Poppy seeds contain essential fatty acids used to produce poppy seed oil, an excellent way to improve cardiovascular function and lower blood pressure. Poppy seeds may also be an effective treatment for mouth ulcers; mix ground poppy seeds with crushed dry coconut and powdered sugar candy until a pellet forms, then suck on it for instantaneous relief.

Poppy seeds are easy to cultivate in any garden. They require full sun and well-drained soil, along with regular fertilization. Seeds should be planted during the spring planting season and thinned before their pod production in early summer.

Medicinal Uses

Poppy seeds are packed with essential vitamins and antioxidants. They reduce skin inflammation while protecting hair health by preventing hair loss. Furthermore, poppy seeds contain vitamin A and crucial minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and zinc that help treat dandruff and itching.

Soaking poppy seeds is an effective treatment for insomnia, restlessness, mouth ulcers, and digestion. Poppy seed oil may even be applied directly onto fallopian tubes for treating infertility in women – clearing any blockages within and increasing fertility significantly.

Poppy seeds provide abundant fiber, vitamins, minerals, and anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties to assist with treating stomach ulcers, peptic ulcers, and other forms of sores. Furthermore, they act as natural laxatives, relieving constipation while helping lower blood pressure by controlling cholesterol levels.

Poppy seeds may provide numerous medicinal benefits, yet they should only be consumed in moderation, as too much can cause bloating, diarrhea, and nausea. Consult a healthcare practitioner before using them as medicine; those suffering from hyperoxaluria – excessive excretion of oxalate in urine – should restrict their consumption as this increases the risk of calcium oxalate kidney stones forming. They are not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Safety

Poppy seeds contain natural opioid compounds such as morphine and codeine that are extracted and concentrated for use in pharmaceutical pain medications and other prescription drugs. Unfortunately, some consumers illegally import poppy pods into the country to create their own homemade opium-like poppy tea, violating federal law. It can result in arrest if caught doing this activity.

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), any pods or seeds of an opium poppy capable of creating opium or other opiates are classified as Schedule II controlled substances and highly addictive drugs with the potential to produce large doses of these opiates, including Morphine, Codeine, and Oxycodone found naturally within such plants.

There are various varieties of poppy plants, most of which can be grown without needing a permit to cultivate in gardens. However, some strains are explicitly developed to produce high amounts of opium; their pods and stalks contain higher concentrations of codeine and morphine than all other poppy pods and seeds. One such illicit strain was the DuPage County poppy that Todd and Carolyn Anderson cultivated in DuPage County.

In November 2012, the Center for Science in the Public Interest sent letters to both DEA and FDA asking them to intervene against sales of contaminated poppy seeds and pods. Their watchdog group requested they jointly clarify that importing and selling opium-producing plants are illegal practices that carry potential criminal penalties for those engaging in these acts.

CBP agriculture specialists and officers investigating an international shipment at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas discovered it contained 5.7 pounds of Papaver somniferum pods and seeds, also known as poppy seed pods, which had been manifested as “seed cones for bouquets and ornamental purposes.” CBP confiscated these items, being shipped to Dover, Delaware, as they had been marked for destruction.

Poppy seeds are generally safe to consume in moderate amounts or as tea. However, large doses or drinking too much poppy seed tea could result in uncomfortable symptoms, including itching, swelling, reddening skin, or difficulty breathing. Furthermore, too much omega-6-rich oils may increase your risk for cardiovascular disease.

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