Nature is the best medicine. Any illness is an indication of being out of balance with nature. By the use of natural herbs, one can certainly keep the diseases at bay and also overcome many disorders of the body as natural medications act as permanent remedies and also supports in leading a balanced and healthy living.
In addition to their taste, these fruits are loaded with lots of vitamins and minerals. One such fruit is pumpkin which is enjoyed all over the world. It also has many health benefits.
These fruit are eaten as a vegetable which is used in soups or pies. The blossoms are also edible. Seeds are high in nutrients and can be eaten as raw, roasted or used to extract oil.
The fruit contains seeds which are numerous in number, white or brown in color. The seeds are albuminous, cotyledon large and oily. After the skin is removed, the seeds have greenish color on the surface.
Pumpkin Seed
The pumpkin seeds have been found to have few physiological actions and also few medicinal utilities.
Seed kernels are rich in oil and protein. It contains considerable amounts of Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese and Calcium. Oil extracted from the seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic acid and oleic acids as the major components.
Many people link pumpkin with thanksgiving or halloween, often ignoring the year-round benefits of this healthy food, particularly the seeds, also known as pepitas.
With a remarkable assortment of health-enhancing nutrients, pumpkin seeds are fast becoming a popular snack among health-conscious people.
Pumpkin seeds are high in manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, copper, zinc, iron, tryptophan and protein. They are a good source of vitamins E, K, C and many B vitamins.
They are also rich in good quality protein and essential fatty acids. In addition, phenolic and free radical-scavenging antioxidants are present in various forms.
Best of all, pumpkin seeds are readily available year-round and are highly portable and require no refrigeration.They make an excellent and quick snack to have on hand whether you are at home, office or on a vacation.
The seeds have a sweet, creamy, nutty flavor and are enjoyed in deserts, as a snack and in savory dishes. You can add the seeds to sautéed vegetables and sprinkle them on salads, soups and smoothies. In addition, you can use pumpkin seeds in your baking.
Even the super-nutritious pumpkin seeds are a health freak’s dream snack. Here’s a look at the many health benefits of pumpkin.
Health Benefits Of Using Pumpkin Seeds
1. Helps Weight Loss
If you’re looking to shed a few pounds, you might want to add pumpkin seeds to your diet or you can also add in the form of capsules or supplements. It contains a good amount of fiber, generally fiber is just what your digestion needs to make things a lot smoother and a heavy dose of fiber every day can help with weight loss.
Have a pumpkin seed supplement after a everyday workout. It can replenish the potassium you lost during your workout session.
2. Boosts Immunity
Getting sick often? Struggling to recover from a nasty cold? You need pumpkin seeds in your diet. From fighting against infections to keeping your bones strong, vitamin A has a truckload of responsibilities. And this particular vitamin is extremely high in pumpkin.
Vitamin C is another essential part of raising your immunity. Generally vitamin C can help reduce the severity of cold. Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of vitamin C. In fact, one cup of pumpkin seed can give 20% of your daily vitamin C requirement.
Pumpkins are also great sources of folic acid, manganese, and riboflavin – all essential for a healthy immune system. Are you grabbing that pumpkin seeds already? if No then try INLIFE pumpkin seed oil capsules for an easy way to get all those nutrients in your body.
3. Improves Eye Health
Did you know eating a cup of pumpkin seeds can give you 200% of your daily vitamin A? This particular vitamin is important for sharper vision, better performance under dim lights, and to keep your eyes in good health.
Also, the chemical components of pumpkins reduce the risk of cataracts and development of other optical issues. You can also have INLIFE pumpkin seed oil capsules for an easy way to protect your eyes.
4. Maintains Heart Health
Pumpkins are great for the heart thanks to their fiber, vitamins, and potassium content. When you eat a diet rich in fiber, it helps to protect the heart from ailments. Also, a good intake of potassium is proven to reduce the risk of stroke.
Magnesium is another reason why you need to eat pumpkin seeds. It is a vital mineral for your heart. Even a slight deficiency can create changes to the heart.
It’s important for the pumping of your heart, for healthy blood vessels, and to reduce the risk of heart attacks. And all you need is just a quarter cup of pumpkin seeds to meet half the magnesium requirement for a day. Pumpkin seeds were also found to lower LDL aka “bad” cholesterol.
5. Reduces Cancer Risk
A pigment known as beta-carotene is the reason why pumpkin seeds generally get their deep orange color. But this particular pigment is not just known for its color.
When consumed, beta-carotene turns into vitamin A in our system. Generally few diets that are rich in beta-carotene and zinc reduces the risk of cancer, especially prostate and lung cancer.
By adding pumpkin seeds (rich in both beta-carotene and zinc) into your diet, it should help lower the risk of cancer. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. And this beta-carotene also reduces the risk of colon cancer.
6. Prevents Skin Aging
Pumpkin seeds contains beta-carotene that work wonders for the skin as well. They help delay signs of aging , increase collagen production, and brightens the skin. Because of its strong vitamin A and C presence, it allows the skin to remain soft and smooth.
7. Boosts Mood
If the thought of eating a yummy pumpkin seeds recipe puts you in a good mood, here’s news for you. Eating pumpkin seeds or taking pumpkin seeds in the form of capsules or supplements works wonders for your mood.
Pumpkin seeds have a high amount of tryptophan, a type of amino acid that is the building block of a mood-lifting neurotransmitter called serotonin. Generally as you all know that deficiency in serotonin can lead to anxiety and depression.
8. Improves Sleep Quality
Since pumpkin seeds are rich in tryptophan, they could also act as a sleep stimulants. As Tryptophan produces serotonin and this, in turn, relaxes and calms you, so you eventually fall asleep. As you all know that this could be the reason why people tend to sleep after a heavy Thanksgiving feast.
9. Boosts Male Sexual Health
As you all know that even smelling pumpkin seeds can set you in the mood for a little action between the sheets.
There are also links between eating pumpkin seeds and raising testosterone levels and increased sexual desire. The pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc, making them useful to tackle erectile dysfunction. Low levels of zinc were found in men who experience erectile dysfunction.
10. Reduces Inflammation
Pumpkin seeds generally have been found to decrease inflammation. As you all know that pumpkin seed oil could provide relief from arthritis and reduce other inflammatory effects.
It was also noted that pumpkin seed oil functioned like arthritis medication. You can have pumpkin seed in the form of capsules or supplements.
11. Prevents Kidney Stones
By eating pumpkin seeds or by having pumpkin seeds in the form of supplements or capsules can prevent calcium oxalate stone, the most common type of kidney stones.
Although the few properties present in it are responsible for this, it is said that pumpkin seeds help reduce levels of the substance responsible for the formation of kidney stones, and it increases the levels of the substance that helps prevent the formulation of stones.
12. Hair Growth And Skincare
Pumpkin seeds happen to be super effective in this area as well! If you are suffering from hair loss or thinning of hair, or if your skin needs rejuvenation, pumpkin seeds are the way to go!
Pumpkin seeds has potassium and zinc properties. They help cure hair loss by stimulating hair growth; helps strengthen your hair, maintain a healthy scalp and helps in the formation of collagen and skin cells and, therefore, rejuvenating it.
13. Improves Prostate Health
Pumpkin seeds support bladder function and combat symptoms associated with an overactive bladder. They can also help treat an enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The compounds known as phytosterols that are found in pumpkin seeds help shrink an enlarged prostate.
Moreover, the high zinc content supports the prostate health, it also helps improve urinary flow and reduces nighttime urinary frequency.
14. Protects Bones
In addition, pumpkin seeds are rich in phosphorous and zinc, which are natural protectors against osteoporosis. These minerals also reduce the risk of bone fractures.
Consumption of pumpkin seeds daily can reduce bone weakness and also reduces osteoporosis symptoms. Pumpkin seeds contain high amounts of zinc and rich in phytoestrogens, and this helps in the increase of “good” HDL cholesterol and decreases blood pressure, hot flashes, headaches, joint and muscle pains in postmenopausal women.
The high zinc content in these seeds reduces the risk of osteoporosis especially at the hip and spine in men and women.
Pumpkins and it’s seeds are pretty versatile. Above all are the benefits of pumpkin seeds. You can have pumpkin seeds in the form of capsules and also supplements.