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A variety of species can provide edible seeds. Of the six major plant parts, seeds are the most important source of human food. The other five major plant parts are roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Most edible seeds are angiosperms, but a few are gymnosperms. The most important seed food source is cereals, followed by legumes, cooking oils, and nuts. Many fruits are eaten without removing the seeds. Seeds of other fruits are removed before eating the fruit, such as apple, avocado, papaya, peach, and pear. Some plants fit in more than one category. Maize, for example, is used as a cereal, cooking oil, snack, beverage and food additive. The list is divided into the following categories:
Beverages or drinks often contain seeds.
Cereals are in the Poaceae or Grass Family. They are the most important staple foods and are also called grains. The term cereal is also applied to some edible seeds in other families that are often used for flour. Those are classed as pseudocereals in this list.
Cooking oils are vegetable oils used in baking, frying, salad dressings, margarines and processed foods. Some of the edible vegetable oils also have industrial, medical and fuel uses.
Food additives from seeds may provide color or act as thickeners in processed foods.
Fruits eaten with their seeds. Although the seeds are edible for the fruits in this category, they are rarely eaten separately.
Gymnosperms produce seeds but not flowers or fruits.
Legumes have protein-rich seeds that are major sources of food. Legumes include the pulses.
Nuts are botanically a specific type of fruit but the term is also applied to many edible seeds that are not botanically nuts. Pine nuts and ginkgo nuts are listed under gymnosperm.
Pseudocereals are seeds not in the Grass Family that are used in a similar manner as cereals, often as flour.
Snacks are eaten between meals. Most nuts are also considered snacks but are not repeated here.
Spices are used to flavor food rather than provide nutrients.
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Beverages
Maize - in whiskey and grain alcohol, high fructose corn syrup in sodas and fruit drinks
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Cereals
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Cooking oils
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Food additives
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Fruits eaten with their seeds
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Gymnosperms
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Legumes
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Nuts
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Pseudocereals
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Snacks
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Spices
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Miscellaneous
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See also
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