1. Pumpkin Seeds Are Full of Antioxidants

One of the major health benefits of pumpkin seeds is their wide range and high concentration of antioxidants. Antioxidants improve your immunity and boost your body’s ability to avoid degenerative diseases. The helpful antioxidants within the seeds include:-
• Minerals, such as manganese and zinc.
• Antioxidant phytonurients such as, ligans lariciresinol, medioresinol. and pinoresinol.
• Vitamin E
• Phenolic antioxidants such as hydroxbenzoic, caffeic, sinapic, syngic acid, and more.

2. Diabetes Support

If you suffer with diabetes then there are good reasons to eat pumpkin seeds. Studies have shown that pumpkin seeds can help protect the kidneys of people who have diabetes. They can also improve insulin regulation. If you have diabetes then get down to your local health food shop and stock up on the snack.

3. Help to Prevent Cancer

It seems that everything these days can give you cancer, so you’ll like this benefit of eating pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are so packed with antioxidants that they can actually help to reduce the risk of cancer. The studies on pumpkin seeds and the prevention of cancer has been focused on the lignans which are in the seeds and how they can reduce the risk of prostate and breast cancer.

4. Full of Protein

Not had enough health benefits of pumpkin seeds to be convinced yet? How about this one - one ounce of pumpkin seeds contains 9.35 grams of protein. If you didn’t know, protein helps to build bones, cartilage, skin, blood, and muscles. If you are a vegetarian, or looking to build up or maintain your muscle then protein is a must, and you can get an abundance from these seeds.

5. Help with Menopausal Symptoms

Pumpkin seeds contain phytoestrogens which can increase good “HDL” cholesterol. The seeds can also decrease blood pressure, headaches, reduce the dreaded hot flashes, joint pains, and more that are symptomatic of the menopause.

6. Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Can’t sleep? Try eating pumpkin seeds a few hours before you go to bed. Pumpkin seeds contain tryptophan which your body cleverly converts into serotonin, and then melatonin which is known as ‘the sleep hormone’. A few seeds will help you to get the peaceful night sleep you need.

7. Anti-inflammatory Effects

The oil from pumpkin seeds has been found to treat inflamed areas. There was even a study which showed that treatment from the seeds worked just as well as Indomethacin, the drug for treating arthritis.

8. Rich in Zinc

One ounce of pumpkin seeds contains more than 2mg of zinc. Having zinc in your diet has many benefits: it is important for your mood; taste and smell senses; insulin regulation; and sleep. Having a diet which is rich in zinc will also help boost your immunity. If you don’t want the sniffles during the cold and flu season, get to the shops and experience the health benefits of pumpkin seeds for yourself.

9. Treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Pumpkin seeds and oils are used for treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. The studies have demonstrated a benefit between the nutrients in the seeds and the treating of BPH. The nutrients within the seeds which help to treat the illness are lignans, zinc, phytosterols, and more. The research suggests that pumpkin seeds can help maintain prostate health. It’s a great idea to get your man eating pumpkin seeds too.

With such great benefits, there’s really no excuse to not start adding pumpkin seeds to your diet. You can eat them as a snack, toasted or untoasted, added as a topping to smoothies, yogurt, soup and oatmeal and added to homemade breads and cakes. Are you impressed enough by the health benefits of pumpkin seeds to start eating them? Maybe you already have them in your kitchen?