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Seeds of health

A commonly consumed oilseed northeastern India - Perii.- frutescens or Hanshi - has bee- found to reduce blood cholestero i, Researchers at the Hyderabad- basec National Institute of Nutrition haN e shown that Perilla oil in the diet reduces LDL cholesterol and trig - erides -fatty acids -whose anipic presence in blood leads to heart attacks and strokes.

Moreover, the seed has been found to contain high nutritive value. It holds 16-24 per cent protein and 44-50 per cent oil. These seeds may help supplement the diet of tribal children in the absence of milk and milk products, reports Nutrition News, Vol 16, No 3.

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