Pumpkins are an integral part of the holiday season. From pumpkin carving to sweet pumpkin spice and fresh pumpkin pie, it’s hard to imagine fall without this bright orange fruit.

There are many benefits of pumpkin seeds that make them a worthy addition to your diet, both during the holidays and all year round.

Pumpkin seeds benefits can include better heart health, improved blood sugar levels, enhanced sleep quality and more.

We All Know whatpumpink seeds are right?

They’ve long been prized for both their unique flavor and potent healing properties. For example, indigenous groups in North America often used them for their gut-healing effects as a treatment for parasitic infections and tapeworm symptoms. Meanwhile, Aztec groups used them as both a source of nutrition and a ritual offering for religious ceremonies.

On anAyurvedic diet, they are considered to be alkalizing and thought to nourish the blood, act as a natural diuretic, suppress a big appetite and improve reproductive health in men.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, they are also used to help treat a variety of conditions, such as parasitic infections and stomach pains — plus they’re thought to support lactation in mothers and promote healthy digestion.

What are the benefits of eating pumpkin seeds? They’re a good source of many important nutrients, including

• amino acids

• phytosterols

• unsaturated fatty acids

• phenolic compounds

• tocopherols

• cucurbitacins

• valuable minerals

Today we know from studies that these valuable seeds contain bioactive compounds that have activities such as anthelmintic, antidiabetic, antidepressant, antioxidant, antitumor and cytoprotective effects.

Nutrition Facts

Pumpkin seed is a highly nutritious ingredient. One ounce (about 28 grams) of dried, hulled pumpkin seeds containsapproximately:

• Calories: 163

• Total Carbohydrates: 4.2 g

  • Fiber: 1.8 g

  • Sugar: 0 g

• Total Fat: 13.9 g

  • Saturated Fat: g

  • Polyunsaturated Fat: g

  • Monounsaturated Fat: g

  • Trans Fat: g

• Protein: 8.5 g

• Cholesterol: mg

• Sodium: mg (% DV*)

• Manganese: 0.9 mg (43% DV*)

• Magnesium: 151 mg (38% DV*)

• Phosphorus: 332 mg (33% DV*)

• Iron: 4.2 mg (23% DV*)

• Copper: 0.4 mg (20% DV*)

• Vitamin K: 14.5 mcg (18% DV*)

• Zinc: 2.1 mg (14% DV*)

• Potassium: 228 mg (7% DV*)

*Daily Value: Percentages are based on a diet of 2,000 calories a day.

In addition to the nutrients listed above, pumpkin seed’s nutrition profile also contains a small amount of folate, vitamin B6, thiamine, vitamin A and selenium.

In terms of their fat content, they are full of a variety of essential fatty acids, including capric, myristic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic.

Benefits

1. Rich in Disease-Fighting Antioxidants

Pumpkin seeds are loaded with antioxidants, which are powerful compounds that can fight free radical formation and protect cells against oxidative stress. Some research also indicates that antioxidants may aid in the prevention of chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer, diabetes and autoimmune disorders.

2. Boost Heart Health

Because they are a good source of electrolytes, such as magnesium and potassium, plus healthy fatty acids, pumpkin seeds, and pumpkin seed oil in particular, have been shown to boost heart health and help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in several different ways.

For starters, animal studies show that this oil can help decrease cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure, both of which are major risk factors for heart disease.

One study found that pumpkin seed oil supplements were able to decrease diastolic blood pressure while increasing levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol in the blood of adults.

Plus, pumpkin seeds may also increase levels of nitric oxide in the body. This can dilate the blood vessels and promote blood flow to help the heart work more efficiently.

3. Stabilize Blood Sugar

One of the top pumpkin seeds benefits is their ability to regulate blood sugar levels, which is important for preventing diabetes symptoms, such as increased thirst, fatigue, frequent urination and nausea.

These seeds are rich in protein and fiber, both of which can slow the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream to promote better blood sugar control. Interestingly enough, a 2011 animal model published in the Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications even reported that combining them with flax not only improved antioxidant status in rats, but was also effective at reducing the risk of diabetes complications.

4. Promote Sleep Quality

Can’t sleep? You may want to consider adding a dose of pumpkin seed to your daily diet. The seeds are a good source of several nutrients that are associated with better sleep quality, including tryptophanand magnesium.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that plays a role in the production of “feel good” chemicals in the body, including serotonin, melatonin, niacin and nicotinamide. This explains why tryptophan is well-known for its ability to enhance sleep quality, especially in those with sleep disturbances.

Meanwhile, they’re also a good source of magnesium, an important micronutrient that has been shown to help improve several measures of insomnia, including sleep efficiency, length of sleep and the amount of time that it takes to fall asleep at night.

5. Improve Male Fertility

Some research involving both humans and animals indicates that pumpkin seeds may be especially beneficial for male fertility due to their rich content of phytonutrients, including antioxidants, fatty acids and zinc. Plus, they can promote prostate health.

One 2012 animal model found that supplementing with pumpkin oil was effective at preventing sperm abnormalities and increasing sperm count in rats. Another study showed that pairing the oil with saw palmetto was able to decrease symptoms and improve quality of life in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common condition characterized by the enlargement of the prostate gland.

Why are pumpkin seeds also good for females? The fats they provide support reproductive health in both sexes, since the body requires fatty acids to make certain hormones. Plus they have certain phytoestrogen effects that can benefit some women who have low levels of estrogen.

6. Help Fight Cancer Cell Growth

Thanks to its high content of antioxidants, pumpkin seed may help fight the growth and spread of cancer cells to aid in cancer prevention.

One in vitro research study found that phytoestrogen extracts of pumpkin seeds had anticancer properties and could possibly play a role in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

Additionally, according to a review published in Food Research International, diets rich in pumpkin seeds have been linked to a lower risk of several types of cancer, including stomach, lung, colorectal and breast cancer.

7. Improve Bladder Function

Pumpkin seeds have been shown to improve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition that can cause difficulty urinating in men. Not only that, but pumpkin oil may also help improve other aspects of bladder function.

One study showed that it was able to significantly improve symptoms of overactive bladder and correct urinary dysfunction.

I like to leave you with an easy to do recipe to cook pumpink seeds.

In a cast iron pan or wok.

hit the wok or pan to a high temperature till it is really hot, then lower the hit and add the wash Pumpking seeds, when completely dry to the point of roasting add a dash of your favorite ionized salt and Olive Oil to enhance your intake of healthy fats and bust your gut-brain health, aslo good to lower cholesterol. once cooked let it seat to cooldown before serving.

california grown,local, organic olive oil Http//.ojaioliveoil.com

Integrative Nutrition, Health and wellness Coach Marleny Asquith 

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