Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin Seed, or more specific the green pepita, is a known nutritional powerhouse! Pumpkin seeds are abundant in the minerals magnesium, calcium, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, iron and copper. The fact that they are green brings all the benefits of eating any chlorophyll rich food. They are considered both a high fiber and high protein food.

Pumpkin seed’s nutrients also include vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K and the B vitamins: thiamin, riboflavin and niacin.

Pumpkin seeds are one of the best sources of plant-based omega-3s (alpha-linolenic acid or ALA). However, ALA has to be converted by your body into the far more essential omega-3 fats EPA and DHA — by an enzyme in which can be impaired by high insulin levels. (Quality turmeric is excellent at facilitating the conversion of ALA to both EPA and DHA).

Pumpkin seeds are also rich in the anti-oxidant, Vitamin E. In the case of pumpkin seeds, vitamin E is found in all of the following forms: alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol, alpha-tocomonoenol, and gamma-tocomonoenol. These last two forms have only recently been discovered in pumpkin seeds and bring potent anti-oxidant benefits.

Pumpkin seeds have long been valued for their anti-microbial benefits, including their anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and anti-viral properties. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, patients diagnosed with parasites should “eat more raw garlic, pumpkin seeds, pomegranates, beets, and carrots, all of which have been used traditionally to kill parasites.”

One fourth cup of pumpkin seeds contains approximately 9-10 grams of protein. Pumpkin seeds are high in the amino acids, tryptophan and lysine. The most overlooked benefit of these two amino acids is that they are essential to the construction of other proteins. Lysine is the first limiting amino acid needed to digest food proteins. The body must have L-lysine to construct new proteins. Without it, no matter how much protein is in the food, it will not be properly assimilated to use further in the body as building blocks.

Pumpkin seed oil is rich in natural phytoestrogens or plant based estrogens. Pumpkin seeds deliver a safer amount of plant estrogens compared to soy. I am not a fan of soy mostly because it is over used and consumed creating more harm to health than good. Plant based estrogens are known to help prevent certain cancers, including breast cancer. They are beneficial to heart health, weight loss and increased libido. Pumpkin seeds are known to help ease the symptoms of menopause.

For more on plant estrogens: https://draxe.com/phytoestrogens/

Try this great recipe: Pumpkin Seed Basil Pesto