Importance of Seeds as a Food Source

Question 1

What are the benefits of seeds?

Answer 1

• have great food value
• are a very practical source of food as they are easy to transport and store well for long periods

Question 2

What are the 3 groups that plants with edible seeds fall into?

Answer 2

• grains (from grass-like plants)
• pulses (from pea and bean plants)
• nuts (any large, dry, oily seeds found within a hard shell and used as food)

Question 3

Why are grains and pulses so important in terms of diet?

Answer 3

• form the staple diet of most of the world’s population
• provide almost half of all the calories eaten in the world per year
• (maize, wheat and rice)

Question 4

Why are grains and pulses so important in terms of nutrition?

Answer 4

• have a high nutritional value
• the principle nutrient is carbohydrate but they also are a valuable source of protein, especially in poorer countries

Question 5

What do grains provide?

Answer 5

• a rich store of starch which provides a very good source of energy
• fibre, which helps keep the bowel healthy preventing constipation and diverticulitis as well as protecting against colon cancer
• most of the B vitamins and many minerals from the bran
• small amounts of protein and fats

Question 6

Why are pulses important?

Answer 6

• very good source of protein, minerals and vitamin Bs
• help regulate blood sugar levels

Question 7

Why are nuts important?

Answer 7

• are very good sources of energy, as they are the most calorie-rich natural food apart from animal fats
• are rich in monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids
• supply one of the best natural sources of vitamin E

Question 8

What are oil seeds?

Answer 8

• seeds produced by plants that can be eaten as such or processed to produce vegetable oils

Question 9

Why are oil seeds important?

Answer 9

• are rich in monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids
• can contain vital omega-3 fatty acids