The fantastic pumpkin seed

With Halloween around the corner, people will be carving pumpkins into Jack-o-lanterns, and Thanksgiving and Christmas will give us the opportunity to dig into some tasty pumpkin pies. A little known fact about the pumpkin is that the seeds, and pumpkin seed oil, are nutritional powerhouses. And yet hardly anybody knows about this.

What follows has been quoted from Life Extension magazine, about the benefits of pumpkin seed oil. Its author is Walter Gamonski.

While most people only think of pumpkins on Thanksgiving or Halloween, the seeds of this fruit offer an impressive cocktail of health enhancing and disease fighting compounds, vitamins, and minerals that can be consumed year-round. In addition, they are packed with tryptophan and essential fatty acids. Emerging evidence indicates that pumpkin seeds represent a potent functional food in the battle against heart disease, osteoporosis, bladder dysfunction, anxiety, and arthritis. 

Improved bladder function 

Among its unique multitude of health benefits, pumpkin seeds stand out for their ability to effectively treat an overactive bladder, a condition characterized by a sudden urge to urinate that may lead to an involuntary loss of urine Researchers estimate that 16 percent of men and women suffer from overactive bladder symptoms such as urination urgency as well as frequent daytime and night urination. Although an overactive bladder poses no threat to overall health, it has been shown to reduce quality of life.

Several studies have shown compelling data in pumpkin seed extract’s ability to support bladder function and combat the symptoms associated with an overactive bladder. In an animal study published in the Japanese Journal of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science, rats supplemented with pumpkin seed extract significantly improved bladder function and decreased urinary frequency.

In another study, 45 men aged 65 or older experienced significant reductions in nighttime urinary frequency and improved sleep satisfaction after supplementing with the combination extract for six weeks.

Furthermore, pumpkin seeds might provide dramatic relief for aging men suffering from urinary symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia, or an enlarged prostate. Researchers revealed that 53 men ages 50-80 taking a pumpkin seed extract containing mixture for three months produced an over 40-percent increase in urinary flow and a 30 percent reduction in nighttime urinary frequency compared with those taking a placebo.

Thwarting heart disease

Pumpkin seeds modulate several cardiovascular disease risk factors. In a recent study published in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, researchers found that rats induced with atherosclerosis and supplemented with pumpkin seeds for 37 days experienced not only significant increases in protective HDL cholesterol but also a 47-percent decrease in total cholesterol and a 78-percent reduction in LDL cholesterol.

One possible reason for pumpkin seeds LDL cholesterol lowering effects is due to its high concentration of phytosterols, plant compounds that inhibit cholesterol absorption in the small intestine. Pumpkin seeds have the third highest phytosterol content among nuts and seeds commonly consumed as snacks.

While managing LDL cholesterol is often the focal point of many heart boosting regimens, research indicates that increasing HDL cholesterol might play an equally pivotal role in heart protection as higher levels have been associated with a decrease in cardiovascular disease risk.

Pumpkin seed oil has favorable effects on HDL cholesterol, according to a study reported in the journal Climacteric. Researchers randomly assigned 35 postmenopausal women 2 g of pumpkin seed oil or wheat germ oil daily for 12 weeks. Measurements of blood lipids and blood pressure were recorded. The results showed that the pumpkin seed oil group experienced a 16-percent increase in HDL cholesterol levels in addition to a nearly 7-percent drop in diastolic blood pressure level.

Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of magnesium, phosphorous, and zinc, all overlooked minerals in optimizing bone health and preventing osteoporosis.

Researchers at the University of Tennessee assessed the relationship between magnesium intake and bone mineral density, a major factor in the development of osteoporosis, in over 2,000 elderly men and women aged 70-79. After taking into account confounding factors of age, calcium intake, osteoporosis status, BMI, and physical activity, researchers concluded that higher intakes of magnesium were correlated with greater bone mineral density, particularly for Caucasian individuals. Researchers believe one possible mechanism for magnesium’s beneficial effects is its ability to promote a more alkaline environment inside bones, which has shown to be conducive to boosting bone mineral density.

Easing arthritis

Pumpkin seed oil has also shown powerful antioxidant properties that might ease inflammation associated with arthritic symptoms. In a study published in the journal Pharmacology Research, rats induced with arthritis showed significant increased levels of inflammation that were reduced when administered pumpkin seed oil; results that compared favorably to when the rats received the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin. Furthermore, the indomethacin-supplemented rats experienced increased levels of liver lipid peroxidation, an indicator of liver injury, whereas the pumpkin seed oil group experienced no side effects.

 Anxiety relief

 A study published in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology revealed that tryptophan, an amino acid abundant in pumpkin seeds, might help alleviate anxiety. Since tryptophan is converted into serotonin, a neurotransmitter that enhances mood and promotes wellbeing in the brain, researchers investigated whether consuming a tryptophan-rich food could boost serotonin levels and reduce anxiety symptoms. They discovered that subjects with anxiety disorder who consumed tryptophan-rich gourd seeds with carbohydrates before an anxiety test experienced greater improvements in subjective and objective measures on the Endler Multidimensional Anxiety Scale compared with those who consumed only carbohydrates.

Although the article did not mention it, pumpkin seed oil has proven hair-regrowth properties. I read a fascinating article on the Internet about the correlation between a daily tablespoon of pumpkin seed oil and hair regrowth. So for anyone with thinning hair, including me, taking a tablespoon of this oil will definitely help with new hair growth.

Lots of places sell capsules of pumpkin seed oil, but you’re better off buying a pint bottle (or larger) and taking a tablespoon every day. The caps just don’t provide enough.

The seeds are pretty good, but you have to crack them open with your teeth to get to the actual seed inside. Although it is possible to find pumpkin seed that have been hulled. They are a really healthy and powerful snack—even the salted variety.