9 Healing Reasons To Use Annatto Seed
Annatto seeds are the seeds of the achiote tree, which is a shrub native to Central and South America. The fruit and seeds are the most useful part of the plant, which grow in clusters with spiky reddish-brown pods and seeds. Annatto seeds are commonly used to dye cosmetic products, but here we discuss a number of surprising health benefits that may have you reaching for ground annatto seeds to sprinkle on all your favorite recipes.
Consume the earthy-flavored seeds to improve the following health problems:
Oxidative damage
Annatto seeds, just like many other seeds, are high in antioxidant compounds. Annatto is particularly high in antioxidants that benefit skin health, which is one of the reasons it is often added to cosmetic products. Annatto paste applied to the skin helps fight wrinkles, sun damage and other signs of aging, while consuming the seeds provides similar benefits from the inside out.
STDs
Perhaps the most surprising health benefit of annatto is how effective it is against gonorrhea. According to a 2014 study published in the International Journal of Pharmacy and Biomedical Research, annatto applied both topically to outbreaks and taken internally was able to reduce symptoms of gonorrhea. This may be due to the inhibition of the enzyme lens aldose reductase that the plant provides.
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Every Day is Earth Day
Source: http://www.riseearth.com/2016/02/9-healing-reasons-to-use-annatto-seed.html
