Health benefits of pumpkin seeds, You must have heard about the health wonders associated with pumpkin seeds. They are small but packed with valuable nutrients. Consuming a small quantity of pumpkin seeds provides you with ample healthy fats, magnesium, zinc, and other nutrients that enhance heart and bone health. Pumpkin seeds, across many countries and cultures, are in use as a folk remedy for:
1. Urinary tract and bladder infections
2. High blood pressure and blood sugar
3. Kidney stones
4. Parasites like worms
It has a long history of nutritional use, especially in Mexican cuisine. It is often consumed as a nutritious snack by people around the globe. They are often referred to as “pepitas,” Spanish for “little seed of squash.”
Modern science has confirmed that pumpkin seeds have an impressive nutrient profile that benefits your overall health. They are rich in protein, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, reducing the risk factors of many chronic diseases and preventing cancer development in cells.
It has a long list of health benefits; the following are the top 8 benefits mostly associated with pumpkin seeds by its consumers.
Full Pack of Valuable Nutrients:
One ounce or 28 grams of shell-free pumpkin seeds has roughly 151 calories, mainly from healthy fats and protein. Still, it also contains fibers, carbs, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper. It is also packed with good antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin b2, and folate.
High Quantity of Antioxidants:
Pumpkin seeds are rich in antioxidants, which protect our cells from damage caused by disease and help reduce inflammation in our bodies. Pumpkin seeds help us maintain the function of the liver, bladder, bowel, and joints.
One study found that women who take pumpkin seeds daily have a low risk of developing breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal women. Another study also dictates that pumpkin seeds may help in protecting women from pre-menopausal effects.
Recover Prostate and Enhance Bladder Health
A study published in the Medicinal Food journal of the National Library of Medicine, U.S., states that pumpkin seed oil can help cure benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It is a type of prostate enlargement that can create problems in urinating.
Consuming pumpkin seeds regularly reduces the risk of prostate diseases and overall improves bladder health. Another study, including 45 men and women, shows that consuming 10 grams of pumpkin seed extract daily improved urinary functions to a great extent.
A Supplement High in Magnesium:
Do you know? Magnesium is required for 600 plus chemical reactions in your body. For instance, it helps control blood pressure, reduces the risk of heart diseases, is associated with forming healthy bones, and supports regulating blood sugar levels. A study conducted by the U.S. Agriculture department shows that 79% of adults in the U.S. have an intake of magnesium below the recommended value. Pumpkin seeds are one of the best natural sources of magnesium. In most western populations, the daily diet routine lacks the ingredient required for the body to maintain its most crucial functions.
Regulates Blood Sugar
The majority of us don’t want to risk unbalanced blood sugar. For this reason, let us share some interesting facts about pumpkin seeds. An observational study on over 127,000 people found that food rich in magnesium can help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 33% in men and up to 34% in women.
This extraordinary impact of pumpkin seeds on the human body makes them a must-take ingredient of our daily meals.
Prevents Cancer
If you are habitual in consuming pumpkin seeds in your daily meals, then I have great news. Studies have demonstrated that those who consume pumpkin seeds or their extract have a reduced risk of developing stomach, breast, lung, prostate, and colon cancers.
For postmenopausal women, studies have shown that consuming a fair quantity of pumpkin seeds greatly reduces the risk of developing breast cancer.
Regulate Blood Pressure and Strengthens Heart Function
We all want a healthy heart pumping blood all day for years. What if I tell you that the secret to keeping your heart healthy and beating is sitting on your kitchen shelf. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of antioxidants, magnesium, zinc, and other fatty acids that help keep your heart healthy. It also enhances your body’s ability to produce nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is responsible for expanding your blood vessels to improve blood flow and reduce the risk of developing plaque which might interrupt the flow of blood in arteries.
A 12-week study by the National Library of Medicine shows that pumpkin seed oil supplements reduce diastolic blood pressure by 7% and increase good cholesterol by 16%.
So you who want an ever-green heart must consume a fair quantity of pumpkin seeds in your daily diet.
Helps You Sleep Better:
We live in a fast-paced world surrounded by gadgets and technologies of the 21st century, which keeps us engaged all night long. Many people, like you and me, suffer from a lack of sleep or insomnia in their early twenties or thirties. Keeping pumpkin seeds based on a regular diet helps reduce stress and anxiety levels and helps us keep our nerves strong and relaxed. Studies have shown that taking magnesium-rich pumpkin seeds into the diet helps improve overall sleep quality and total sleep time.
Some Top Uses of Pumpkin Seeds in Daily Life include adding them to your smoothies, mixing them in yogurt or cereal, adding them for an extra flavor in salads, garnishing your meal, baking them into cookies, or roosting them in spice or seasoning for a healthy snack.
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