Poppy Seeds vs Sesame Seeds: What’s The Difference?

Poppy Seeds and sesame seeds belong to the nuts and seeds food group, an important group for a healthy diet, as they provide a wide range of essential nutrients, such as protein, healthy fats, dietary fiber, and vitamins and minerals.

In this article, we’ll put a spotlight on poppy seeds and sesame seeds and compare their similarities and differences.

They both provide a variety of nutrients and are relatively high in calories, like other nuts and seeds.

Poppy Seeds

Poppy seeds (Papaver somniferum) are the tiny, black seeds of the poppy plant, native to the Mediterranean region.

These seeds have a slightly nutty and slightly earthy flavor, and are often used in a variety of dishes, including breads, pastries, and savory dishes.

Poppy seeds are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals.

They are also a good source of healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

There are many ways to incorporate poppy seeds into your diet.

They can be eaten raw or roasted, and are often used as a topping for salads and other dishes.

If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious seed to add to your diet, consider giving poppy seeds a try.

They are flavorful, versatile, and have a variety of health benefits.

Poppy Seeds are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine).

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), Vitamin B9 (Folate), and Vitamin E and some Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid).

Sesame Seeds

Sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum) are the seeds of the sesame plant, which is native to tropical regions of Africa and is now grown in many parts of the world.

These seeds have a slightly nutty and slightly sweet flavor, and are often used in a variety of dishes, including breads, pastries, and savory dishes.

Sesame seeds are a good source of nutrients, including protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals.

They are also a good source of healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

There are many ways to incorporate sesame seeds into your diet.

They can be eaten raw or roasted, and are often used as a topping for salads and other dishes.

Sesame seeds are widely available and can be found at most grocery stores.

If you’re looking for a tasty and nutritious seed to add to your diet, consider giving sesame seeds a try.

They are flavorful, versatile, and have a variety of health benefits.

Sesame Seeds are an excellent source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), and Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine).

They also contain a good amount of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), and Vitamin B9 (Folate).

Poppy Seeds vs Sesame Seeds Nutrition

Now that we’ve described the origin, taste, and usage of these foods, we can move to the most interesting part – comparing poppy seeds vs sesame seeds.

This comparison will start by comparing the caloric value of poppy seeds and sesame seeds and their macronutrients and then go more in-depth by analyzing their vitamin and mineral contents.

Poppy Seeds vs Sesame Seeds Calories

Nuts and seeds are generally high in calories; the same goes for poppy seeds and sesame seeds, so you should consume them in moderation.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a proper serving is one ounce, which is roughly equal to 1/4 cup or 28 grams.

To keep the portions under control, the amounts correspond to one serving size: 14 walnut halves, 16 cashews, 24 almonds, 28 peanuts, or 45 pistachios.

Comparing poppy seeds vs sesame seeds for weight loss, poppy seeds are slightly lower in calories, with 147 calories per serving, compared to 160 calories per serving of sesame seeds.

However, both poppy seeds and sesame seeds can and should be a part of a healthy diet, and neither one shouldn’t be avoided if you’re looking to lose weight. It’s just important to eat them in moderation.

Poppy Seeds vs Sesame Seeds Protein

Nuts and seeds, including poppy seeds and sesame seeds, are an important source of plant-based protein.

Sesame Seeds and poppy seeds offer the same amount of protein, 18 grams per 100 grams (or 5g per serving).

Poppy Seeds vs Sesame Seeds Carbs

Counting carbs can be important for some people for different reasons, including blood sugar control, weight management, or athletic performance.

It’s also important for people on a keto diet, so let’s compare the carbs content in poppy seeds and sesame seeds.

The total amount of carbohydrates is around 16% higher in poppy seeds than in sesame seeds. They have 28.1 grams per 100 grams, compared to 23.5 grams in sesame seeds.

There’s less sugar in sesame seeds than in poppy seeds, 88% precisely.

One handful of sesame seeds (28 grams) contains 0.1 grams of sugar, while the same amount of poppy seeds contains 0.8 grams.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the dietary fiber in poppy seeds and sesame seeds.

Dietary fiber keeps the digestive system healthy and helps with weight management by promoting a sense of fullness.

With 5.5 grams of fiber per portion, poppy seeds are a better source of fiber than sesame seeds which offer 3.3 grams per portion.

Poppy Seeds vs Sesame Seeds Fats

Like the other nuts and seeds, fats in poppy seeds and sesame seeds are a great source of healthy unsaturated fats, naturally cholesterol free, and free of trans fats.

Total fat in poppy seeds and sesame seeds:

• Poppy Seeds: 41.6 grams per 100 grams
• Sesame Seeds: 49.7 per 100 grams

Speaking of saturated fats, poppy seeds are 36% lower in saturated fats.

Poppy Seeds and sesame seeds contain 4.5 grams and 7 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams, respectively.

Poppy Seeds vs Sesame Seeds Vitamins Content

This section will discuss the vitamin content of poppy seeds and sesame seeds.

Vitamins are micronutrients, meaning we need only a small amount. However, they are very important for many processes in our bodies.

Poppy Seeds have a higher amount of vitamin A, vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B3 (Niacin), vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine), and vitamin B9 (Folate).

However, sesame seeds have a higher amount of vitamin C, vitamin B1 (Thiamine), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), and vitamin E.

Poppy Seeds and sesame seeds contain the same amount of vitamin D, vitamin B12 (Cobalamin), and vitamin K.

The following table shows the exact amount of vitamins poppy seeds and sesame seeds contain side by side, so you can easily compare them.

Poppy Seeds vs Sesame Seeds Minerals Content

Minerals are important for our body to function properly. We need only a small amount of minerals, so they are called micronutrients.

Some minerals, like iron, calcium, zinc or, iodine, are relatively hard to get on a plant-based diet, so it’s important to choose your foods thoughtfully. This part of the poppy seeds and sesame seeds comparison focuses on their mineral content.

Poppy Seeds are a better source of copper, iron, magnesium, and selenium than sesame seeds.

On the other hand, sesame seeds have a higher amount of calcium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc.

Poppy Seeds and sesame seeds contain the same amount of fluoride.

Check out the table below to learn how poppy seeds and sesame seeds compare when it comes to mineral contents.

The Final Word

Poppy Seeds and sesame seeds are highly nutritious and excellent sources of plant-based protein and healthy fats.

Although they are relatively high in calories, they are essential to a healthy, plant-based diet and are linked to many health benefits.

Both poppy seeds and sesame seeds are high in specific vitamins and minerals, and including them in your diet will give you the most benefits they offer.

Nuts and seeds are versatile foods, and can be part of any meal or salad, just be sure to eat them moderately, as they are loaded with calories.

Nuts and seeds are versatile foods and can be part of any meal or salad, just be sure to eat them moderately, as they are loaded with calories.