Poppyseed is among the seeds that people not only consume for its delicious flavor but also to get the most of its health virtues.

This seed is very famous around the world and mostly in Europe (Czech Republic) and Asia (India).

However, the good reputation of poppyseed made it grow in popularity in the US and today it accounts for 5% of the global poppyseed consumption.

In this article, we gathered all the useful information you need to learn about poppyseed benefits and nutritional values, precautions before you consume poppyseed, alongside tips on how to buy, consume and store poppyseed.

But before we start, let’s learn about these nutritious yummy seeds.

What is poppyseed?

Poppyseed is a small dried seed obtained from the poppy plant AKA “Papaver somniferum” and is generally used as food.

The most common ancient name for poppyseeds is “opium poppy” which means “bearer of sleep” or “seeds of sleep”.

For centuries, people used poppyseed for its medicinal properties by including it in most traditional food recipes.

In fact, ancient Egyptians valued poppyseeds for their curative virtues as they used them in their recipes and medicinal remedies.

It was not before the 19^th century when poppyseed got famous in Asia and Europe and people started adopting it as a natural remedy full of benefits.

Poppy plants are original to the eastern regions of the Mediterranean in countries like Turkey and Palestine.

They have white or red flowers that produce small, round, and black (or light gray) seeds depending on the environment where they’re grown.

Poppyseed has a gentle nutty flavor that is not too pronounced which makes it blend well with other ingredients.

The oil and the seeds of the poppy plant are a good natural remedy for asthma, coughs, headaches, insomnia …

Usually, unripe poppyseed contains opium which is a highly addictive narcotic substance.

However, this shouldn’t be a problem because mature poppyseeds are opium free and cause no narcotic effect.

Health benefits and nutritional values of poppyseed:

Poppyseed nutritional values:

These seeds are a source of many plant compounds with great antioxidant properties that help maintain overall health.

In fact, 3.5 ounces of poppyseed contain 19.5g of fibers, polyphenols (lignans), vitamin E, and B vitamins.

Poppyseed contains Iron, calcium, selenium, and many minerals essential for the bones, cardiovascular health, and many body functions.

Also, poppy seeds are a great source of amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids including omega 3 and omega 6.

The following information counts for a serving of 26g (3 tbsp) of cooked poppy seeds:

• Calories: 138
• Protein: 4.74g
• Carbs: 7.44g
• Sugar: 0.78g
• Dietary fibers: 5.16g
• Fats: 10.9g
• E vitamin : 3%
• B1 vitamin: 21%
• B5 vitamin : 3%
• B6 vitamin : 3%
• B9 vitamin: 6%
• Calcium: 30%
• Copper: 15%
• Zinc: 18%
• Manganese: 78%
• Iron: 15%
• Magnesium: 21%
• Potassium: 3%
• Phosphorus: 18%
• Selenium: 6%

Health benefits of poppyseed:

Prevents cancer:

In fact, there is a famous drug called Noscapine made from poppyseeds, that has been known for its effectiveness against the tumor.

This drug has the ability to stop the proliferation of cancerous cells and can even shrink an already existing prostate or breast cancer.

According to a study, poppyseed increases the activity and existence of glutathione-S-transferase AKA ligandins by 78%.

It is a natural enzyme that we get from different types of food and it plays a key role in the detoxification system.

Hence why many studies consider the detox properties that poppyseeds enough reason to consider it effective against cancer.

Promotes healthier hair & scalp:

Both traditional medicine and nowadays cosmetics use poppyseed to treat dandruff and scalp problems.

In fact, just applying poppyseed oil to the hair and leaving it overnight would significantly reduce the recurrence of dandruff.

Also, mixing ground poppyseed with coconut milk and applying it as a hair mask can stimulate hair growth.

Enhances female fertility:

Among the many possible treatments against infertility, doctors perform tubal flushing by using a fluid under pressure to make sure there is no blockage in the fallopian tube. (1)

Some doctors claim that using poppyseed oil as a fluid in the tubal flushing process allowed 40% of infertile women to get pregnant.

This could be because of the dissolving properties that poppyseed oil has against any possible mucus or residues in the fallopian tubes.

Also, poppyseed contains lignans which is a phytoestrogen that plays the main role in increasing the sexual desire of women.

Helps the digestive system:

Adding poppyseed to your diet will definitely have a positive impact on your digestive system, especially in case of constipation or diarrhea.

In fact, poppyseed is a great source of dietary fibers which are the building block of stool and our bodies need them to have normal defecation.

Many studies have pointed out the benefits and roles of fibers and they concluded that:

Dietary fibers are basically carbs that we don’t digest but they have a great impact on the microflora.

Consuming enough fibers promotes a stable metabolism, and reduces the risks of heart diseases and cancer.

Fibers in poppyseeds can also help regulates the feeling of hunger and reduce the risk of inflammations.

Other benefits of poppyseed:

• Strengthens the bones.
• Enhances eyesight.
• Improves the quality of sleep.
• Boosts the immune system.
• Promotes skin health.
• Protects from type 2 diabetes.
• Reduces any possible pain.
• Regulates blood flow.

Precautions before you consume poppyseed:

Poppyseeds are usually well protected as they grow thanks to the opium content that keeps them sterile.

Nonetheless, they can be contaminated in the case of bad harvesting technics or insect damage.

This shouldn’t be a concern as the majority of the poppyseed products in the market are strictly controlled and you have nothing to worry about.

Like almost any type of food, consuming too much poppyseed can lead to some side effects and some groups of people may be more vulnerable than others.

For instance, pregnant women and children should limit their poppyseed consumption to avoid possible urinary or respiratory complications.

Allergy:

In addition, the poppyseed can also cause an allergic reaction caused by its bet v 1 content and several symptoms may occur:

• Swelling of the tongue and lips.
• Itching of the throat.
• Fever.
• Anaphylactic shock (requires hospitalization).

Therefore, people who already have allergies should avoid consuming poppyseed products.

Narcotic compounds:

Despite the fact that mature poppyseeds contain no opium, it is recommended to not consume them in case of activities that require vigilance including driving.

Unwashed poppyseed tea may be risky as there has been a record of fatalities linked to it and it’s mostly because of the lethal dose of morphine.

This morphine is completely washed off before the seeds get sold in the market which is why you should only buy poppyseed from a trusted source.

Because of the narcotic compounds in natural unripe poppyseeds, they can have the same result as Marijuana in a drug test.

For instance, few amounts of codeine can still be detected in the urine up to 2 days after consuming a poppyseed product.

Most of the possible side effects are actually linked to the opium content, which is at the highest if the seeds are unripe and unwashed.

It is very difficult to know the state of the poppyseeds used to make poppy oil as they can still have opium content.

Therefore, to avoid all the possible side effects of a poppyseed product you need to only buy them from trusted sources where the seeds are fully ripe and fully washed before being sold.

Consuming poppyseed:

Around the world, people use poppyseeds in all of their forms, seeds, ground seeds, and oil to decorate their dishes and add a little crunch and flavor to them.

Consuming poppyseed oil:

Poppyseed oil is very delicious and adds a vibrating golden color to your dishes.

You can use this oil in pastry and also in savory dishes to add a noble nutty taste.

Poppyseed oil is perfect to prepare desserts, and cakes, as a dressing for salads, as well as on meat and fish.

In addition, it can be added to dairy products such as yogurt, creams, fruit shakes, and cheese.

Furthermore, poppyseed oil can also be used for its cosmetic properties to:

• Nourish the hair and nails.
• Massage any part of the body.
• Protect and nourish the skin.

Consuming poppyseed:

With their gentle nutty flavor, poppyseeds make it possible to blend with almost every recipe be it savory or dessert.

They are delicious with dressings, salads, soups, pasta, and marinades…

In addition, poppyseed is also perfect to decorate cakes, bread, muffins, and cookies …

Whether in sweet or savory dishes, poppyseeds will surely add a special touch to your cooking and can be your secret ingredient that would delight the taste buds of the greediest.

Poppyseed lemon cake:

Ingredients:

• 2 lemons.
• 150g butter (1/2 cup or 10 tbsp)
• 120g sugar (4ounces or 10 tbsp)
• 3 eggs.
• 225g flour (2 cups).
• 1tsp of baking soda.
• 2 tbsp of poppy seeds.
• 1 tsp of salt.

Preparation:

• Start by heating the oven to 350°F (180°C).
• Cut the lemons in halves then squeeze their juice into a bowl and make a zest from the remaining skin.
• Now add butter and sugar to the bowl and mix until you obtain a creamy yellow mixture.
• Add poppy seeds, baking soda, and salt, and then add the eggs one by one.
• Start adding the flour gradually to the bowl while stirring.
• When you obtain a homogenous yellow paste let it rest on the side.
• Get an oven tray and lubricate it with either flour or butter to avoid the cake from sticking.
• Pour the cake paste into the tray then place it into the oven and let it cook for 1 hour while checking it every now and then.
• Once the cake looks spongy and has a golden yellow top, take it out, cover it with a piece of cloth and let it cool down before unmolding it.
• Unmold the cake and serve it with lemon juice for up to 8 people, enjoy!

Poppyseed tea:

Ingredients:

• 1lb of poppyseed (450g).
• 3 cups of water.
• An empty bottle.
• 2 tbsp of lemon juice.

Preparation:

• Start by using a funnel to get the poppyseeds into the empty bottle.
• Pour warm water into the bottle just enough to cover the seeds fully.
• Now add lemon juice and close the bottle.
• Shake the bottle gently for 2 minutes until the water becomes yellow-brownish.
• Drain the seeds and enjoy the poppyseed tea with your loved ones.

Buying poppyseeds:

There are several varieties of poppyseed you can find in the market and they vary in color as they can be ivory, beige, dark gray, or black.

Fresh poppyseeds have a high polyunsaturated fats content which makes them vulnerable to rancidity and they can go bad.

To avoid buying bad poppyseeds, make sure they feel light and have a gentle smell.

Anyone basically can be a victim of poor quality poppyseeds and this is because of the tricks industries use.

In fact, it is very often that good quality poppyseeds are mixed with bad quality poppyseeds to yield more profit and reduce the production cost.

However, there are a few tips you can count on to choose the best poppyseed products:

• Good quality poppy seeds have a slightly nutty aroma that is very pleasant with a vibrating color.
• Bad quality poppyseeds can be rusty in color ranging from brown to gray and they have no fragrance and they are a little spicy as a sign of rancidity.

Storing poppyseeds:

As an oleaginous seed, poppyseed is more than 60% made of oil and this makes it susceptible to rancidity and oxidation.

Because of that, it is crucial to keep this seed away from humidity therefore air.

Therefore, to store poppyseeds we need to put them in an airtight container.

The best way to do so is by putting them in a dark glass jar and placing the jar in the pantry or the fridge for up to 2 months.

In addition, for a longer lifespan, it is better to only grind poppyseed right before usage as the powder has a shorter lifespan than the seeds.

If you want to store ground poppyseeds make sure you put them in the fridge and consume them within 3 days.