Poppy seed, commonly known as ‘khus khus‘ in Hindi, ‘Gasagasalu‘ in Telugu, ‘Kasa Kasa‘ in Tamil, ‘Kas Kas‘ in Malayalam, ‘Gasagase‘ in Kannada, ‘Khuskhush‘ in Gujarati, ‘Khas Khas‘ in Marathi, ‘Posto‘ in Bengali and ‘Khush khush‘ in Punjabi. It is essentially the oilseed derived from the poppy plant (scientific name: Papaver somniferum). These seeds do not contain narcotic properties. They are small and deformed in shape, slate-blue in colour, having a crisp texture and nut-like flavour.
They are customary in flavored bread, cakes, rolls and cookies. Poppy seeds are often sprinkled on top of dishes, used as garnish or as a spice with farm cheese, cheese, eggs, pie crust, salad, cookies, cakes, bread, pastries, salads, sauce, curries, sauces for meat and fish, vegetables and noodles.
Cooking gently in a dry fry pan makes it crisp and oozes out the seed’s full nutty flavour. In India, poppy seeds (khus khus seeds) are used in Dal and Raita for seasoning or as ‘tadka’. Poppy seeds have been cultivated for over 3,000 years. During the second century women used to cultivate flower plants for this controlled substance and steer it into medication. Muslim and Arabian countries used controlled substances as drugs and narcotics during the 6th century. Poppy seeds are grown in various European nations and in countries like Australia, India and Turkey. Besides being used as an ingredient in several foods, these seeds are ironed to yield flavoured oil having nutritive qualities.
People typically express concern over the narcotic properties of the flower plant from which poppy seeds are derived. Though it is true that the unripe seed of the plant contains alkaloids like morphine, a painkiller which might be addictive, the ripe seeds used for preparations contain only traces which do not seem to cause any form of addiction. However, we should keep in mind that even trace amounts of the alkaloids will cause a false positive end in drug tests. The alkaloids will stay within the body up to 2 days and hence, continuous result checks should be performed.
1. Poppy seeds are effective in quenching thirst, fever, inflammation, constipation and irritation of the abdomen.
2. Poppy seeds are one of the necessary ingredients in many cooling medicines.
3. Poppy seeds act as a supply of your daily dose of minerals like iodine, manganese, zinc, magnesium and copper.
4. The oil from poppy seeds plant is useful in treating carcinoma as it contains monounsaturated fatty acids.
5. Poppy seeds add flavour and texture to breads, cookies, muffins, cakes and other foods.
6. As an Ayurvedic medicine, these seeds are sometimes grounded into a paste with milk to form a skin-renewing moisturizer.
7. Poppy seeds contain Linoleic acid that is beneficial in preventing heart disorders and abdomen conditions.
8. These seeds have a decent supply of fatty acids that are needed for the body’s physiological state. They are found to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
9. Poppy seeds also are used as narcotics to treat pain-related conditions. They’re utilized in treating respiratory disorders, infectious diseases, diarrhoea and sleep disorders.
10. Poppy seeds relatively contain lower quantity of alkaloids and are used in the treatment of various nerve disorders.
As already stated, poppy seeds are a wonderful beauty aid. Their role in skincare has been recognized in Ayurveda. Nutritious as they are, they can be beneficial to your skin in the following ways.
Poppy seeds are effective in treating eczema due to their high content of linolenic acid. Poppy seeds soaked in water or milk can be ground along with lime juice to form a smooth paste. Applying this paste externally helps in treating burning sensation and skin itchiness. It also acts as an effective pain killer by relieving the pain caused by skin inflammation.
Hair problems like dandruff, hair loss, thinning hair, split ends and alopecia are a common sight these days. There can be several causes of these problems ranging from harsh chemical treatments and exposure to pollution to inadequate nutrition and prolonged illness. It is a well-known fact that proper nutrition is vital not only for a healthy body but also for healthy hair. Poppy seeds are a good source of unsaturated fatty acids as well as minerals like calcium, zinc and magnesium which contribute to healthy hair.
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