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.