Should we eat pumpkin seeds? The Seed Guide

While chia seeds have already found their place in the diet of many healthy lifestyle enthusiasts, other seeds are not so popular. A typical example is pumpkin seeds, which many people look down on. However, they are incredibly tasty and contain a wide range of important substances. So in our article today, we'll introduce them to you, and in addition to the health benefits, we'll talk about how to actually use them.

Article content:

• What are pumpkin seeds?
• What are the benefits of pumpkin seeds?
• They may reduce the risk of certain cancers
• How to use pumpkin seeds?

What are pumpkin seeds?

Although few people eat pumpkin seeds, everyone knows them. They are the seeds of the pumpkin (sometimes called gourds), one of the oldest crops ever grown. The seeds themselves are light green on the outside and oval in shape. Inside, they are completely white and, according to the available data, contain one 28-gram serving in terms of calories and macronutrients:

Pumpkin seeds are quite calorie dense, but they have a lot of benefits.

What are the benefits of pumpkin seeds?

Just like sunflower or chia seeds, which we wrote about for you in earlier articles in this series, pumpkin seeds have a huge variety of vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients that can have beneficial effects on health. The most commonly highlighted are the antioxidant contents (especially carotenoids and vitamin E), which have been shown to be important in the prevention of a number of diseases. However, other benefits worth mentioning include:

They may reduce the risk of certain cancers

Although most people probably wouldn't think it at first glance, even a bland food like pumpkin seeds may reduce the risk of certain cancers, according to some studies. This effect is most often attributed to substances called lignans, which are thought to protect the plant from the effects of various pathogens. Expert studies suggest that lignans may play an important role in preventing breast cancer, among other things. Research suggests that pumpkin seed extract may reduce the risk of developing other cancers, from lung to prostate.

They care for a healthy heart

On the other hand, it is quite obvious that pumpkin seeds are high in a number of substances beneficial for our heart. Whether it's the high amount of healthy fats, a hefty dose of magnesium and zinc, or the aforementioned antioxidants, all of these substances play an important role in preventing the onset of a range of cardiovascular diseases.

You can take unsalted pumpkin seeds to watch a movie instead of chips, for example. But be careful of the high calorie content.

They lower blood sugar

There is a lot of evidence that pumpkin, pumpkin seeds and other products made from this food can lower blood sugar levels, making them great foods for people with diabetes, for example. Plus, they are incredibly easy to use and if you add them to homemade baked goods, for example, you will reduce the resulting rate of nutrient absorption from that food.

How to use pumpkin seeds?

Pumpkin seeds have a huge advantage in that you can use them in both savoury and sweet recipes and once you buy them, you're sure to find a use for them. Sweetly, they can be used in a variety of sweet baked goods, homemade cookies or even granola. You can use them salted in various salads, savoury pastries, hummus, and finely chopped they can even be used as a wrap when roasting various meats.

Pumpkin seeds can be used to garnish popular pumpkin soup.

What to take away from today's article?

The main thing you should take away from today's article is that pumpkin is one of the oldest crops and has a very rich nutritional profile. In addition to healthy fats, it also contains fibre, many antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and important amino acids. No wonder, then, that experts say they can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, for example. You can buy them directly in our shop. Other types of seeds can be found directly in our nuts and seeds section.