NUTRITIONIST’S NOTEBOOK: Poppy seeds

Poppy seed nutrients

These seeds are amazingly high in calcium, with just one tablespoon containing 126 milligrams – the recommended daily intake is 700 milligrams. Problem is, it’s estimated that we absorb only between eight and 15 per cent of poppy seeds’ calcium because they also contain compounds that inhibit its availability. If you soak and cook or bake them – think poppy seed cake, pastries or savoury dishes – it increases the calcium availability but exact figures aren’t known. In short, poppy seeds can provide a good calcium boost but are not as rich as some believe.

Poppy seeds also contain good