POPPY SEEDS _ 90 -GM

They’re likewise high in copper, a mineral needed to make connective tissue and transport iron (5Trusted Source).

The seeds can be cold pressed to produce poppyseed oil, which is especially rich in omega-6 and omega-9 fats. It also contains small amounts of the essential omega-3 fat alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) (6).

Research typically links diets rich in these fats to improved overall health and a lower risk of heart disease (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).

That said, diets with a high omega-6 to omega-3 ratio may be linked to an increased risk of inflammation and disease. As such, you shouldn’t consume large amounts of poppyseed oil or other omega-6-rich oils on a regular basis (10Trusted Source).

Finally, poppy seeds and their oil are a good source of polyphenols — a type of antioxidant that may lower your risk of conditions like heart disease (11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source).

The poppy plant contains morphine, codeine, thebaine, and other opium alkaloids known for their pain-relieving, calming, and sleep-inducing properties. These compounds are often found in pharmaceutical drugs intended for these uses (13Trusted Source).

These alkaloids are typically present in the poppy pod’s milky white liquid, also known as poppy latex.

Poppy seeds don’t naturally contain opium compounds but may become contaminated with them during harvesting or as a result of pest damage (13Trusted Source).

Thus, before reaching supermarket shelves, poppy seeds are usually cleaned to get rid of any opium alkaloids with which they may have come into contact.

However, it’s possible to find and purchase unwashed poppy seeds that contain higher levels of these opioids. Unwashed poppy seeds are often proposed as a natural alternative to certain pharmaceutical drugs (14Trusted Source).

Yet, unwashed poppy seeds pose several health risks, the most severe of which is accidental death. As such, they should only be consumed under medical supervision (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).