Sunflower seed kernels Seeds are called sunflower seeds. Sunflower is cultivated primarily for the production of sunflower oil, which, in addition to being used in cooking, is also used in the paint and soap industry and for the production of margarine, and its waste (oil cake and meal) is eaten for livestock. Sunflower seeds are rich in beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids, so they are an excellent tool for the prevention of atherosclerosis, heart attack and other diseases of the cardiovascular system.