Benefits of Black Oil Sunflower Seeds

Black oil sunflower seeds hold numerous benefits for both humans and wild creatures. The greatest treasure held by the seeds is the oil they contain.

Attracting Birds

Black oil sunflower seeds are the most attractive sunflower seeds for drawing in seed-eating birds, notes the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Sparrows and finches feed on the seeds, along with larger birds. The University of Missouri Extension says that the seeds have a high oil content that makes them a good energy supply for birds.

Cost

In use as birdseed, black oil sunflower seeds offer a lower cost per pound, according to the University of Missouri Extension. The Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests buying black oil sunflower seeds and white prove millet separately, rather than a mixture of seeds, to attract a range of bird types.

Premium Oil

Black oil sunflower seeds provide a source of premium cooking oil. The oil contains unsaturated fatty acids, has a bland flavor and features a high smoke point. The oil provides antioxidant vitamin E in the form of alpha-tocopherol.

References

• University of Missouri Extension: Sunflower: An American Native
• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Feeding Wild Birds
• Purdue University: Alternative Field Crops Manual -- Sunflower
• National Sunflower Association: Sunflower Oil: A Healthy Way to Eat
• National Sunflower Association: Sunflower Oil Fatty Acid Profiles
• National Sunflower Association: Managing Insect Pests of Texas -- Sunflowers

Resources

• National Sunflower Association: All About Sunflower