Are you looking for a snack that doubles as an amzing health food? Look no further, pumpkin seeds are just what you are looking for.
Pumpkin seeds contain a wide variety of nutrients, from magnesium, manganese, protein, copper and zinc. These seeds are nutritional powerhouses wrapped up in a very small package.
Get to know its 10 health benefits as well!
1. Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Pumpkin seed oil has been known to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. In an animal study, it worked as well as the anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin. Indomethacin is used in treating arthritis, but without the side effects.
2. Benefits for Postmenopausal Women
Pumpkin seed oil is rich in natural phytoestrogens, which may help lead to a significant increase in good HDL cholesterol, along with decreases in blood pressure, headaches, hot flashes, joint pains and other menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women.
3. Boosts Immunity
Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc, an essential mineral that plays a significant role in immune function. NHI or the National Institutes of Health, recommends 8 mg of zinc daily for adult women. 1 cup of pumpkin seeds contain 6.59 mg and almost meet the daily requirement.
4. Full of Antioxidants
Pumpkin seeds are rich in antioxidants. It contains various form of vitamin E, phenolic acids like caffeic, hydroxybenzoic, coumaric, sinapic, ferulic, protocatechuic, vanillic and syringic acid.
Also antioxidant phytonutrients such as lignans are also found in pumpkin seeds. These includes the lignans medioresinol, pinoresinol and lariciresinol.
5. Great Source of B-complex Vitamins
Pumpkin seeds are a good source of B-complex group of vitamins. These includes riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), pantothenic acid and folates.
These vitamins acts as co-factors for various enzymes during cellular substrate metabolism in the body. While niacin, on the other hand, helps in the reduction of LDL-cholesterol levels in the blood.
6. Heart Health
Just one-quarter of pumpkin seeds contain nearly half of the recommended daily amount of magnesium. Magnesium is vital for physiological functions, that includes the creation of adenosine triphosphate or ATP, the energy molecules of your body, the synthesis of DNA and RNA and DNA, proper bone and tooth formation, relaxation of the blood vessels, proper bowel function and pumping of the heart.
7. Prostate Health
Pumpkin seeds is an important natural food for men’s health. This is due to its high zinc content, which is important for prostate health. Also because pumpkin seed extracts and oils help play an important role in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, enlarged prostate.
8. Promotes Restful Sleep
Pumpkin seeds are a good source of tryptophan, an amino acid or protein building block, that your body converts into serotonin, which is converted into melatonin, known as the “sleep hormone”.
Consuming pumpkin seeds a few hours before bed, along with a carbohydrate such as a small piece of fruit, may be beneficial for providing your body the tryptophan needed for your melatonin and serotonin production. This is needed to help promote a restful night’s sleep.
9. Plant-based protein
Pumpkin seeds are a good source of good-quality protein. 100 gram seeds provide 30 grams or 54% of recommended daily allowance of protein. The seeds are also an excellent source of amino acid glutamate and tryptophan.
10. Rich in Potassium
Pumpkin seeds are rich in potassium with 588 mg per cup. Potassium helps in muscle contraction, balancing minerals, regulating fluids and maintaining blood pressure. It also helps reduce the risk of kidney stones and bone loss as the body ages.