New York Post quoted information from nutrition experts Samantha Cassetty and Natalie Rizzo last week saying that pumpkin seeds are truly a super seed because they benefit the body in many ways. They note that 28g of unsalted pumpkin seeds contain 8g of protein, 14g of fat, 4g of carbohydrates, 2g of fiber and many other essential nutrients.
The above experts emphasize that with the above amount of pumpkin seeds, your body will be provided with 18% of the zinc value, 13% of the iron value, 37% of the magnesium value and 40% of the daily copper value. Here are some reasons you should add pumpkin seeds to your daily diet.
Pumpkin seeds have anti-inflammatory effects
Pumpkin seeds are rich in antioxidants, which help protect your cells from damage caused by disease and reduce inflammation in the body. Studies show that anti-inflammatory foods like pumpkin seeds can help you prevent chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Good for sleep
Pumpkin seeds are rich in tryptophan – an amino acid that helps your body produce melatonin and serotonin. These are hormones that help you get a good night’s sleep. Melatonin controls the body’s sleep-wake cycle while serotonin helps regulate mood and sleep.
he zinc, copper and selenium in pumpkin seeds may also affect sleep duration and quality. Finally, studies show that magnesium has the ability to help reduce stress and anxiety – common causes of insomnia.
Pumpkin seeds help improve heart health
The high magnesium content in pumpkin seeds helps reduce blood pressure and keep blood pressure stable. This is associated with a reduced risk of stroke and death from heart disease. Studies also show that antioxidants in pumpkin seeds also increase nitric oxide levels in your body.
Nitric oxide molecules help keep blood vessels running smoothly, flexible and healthy. Therefore, adding pumpkin seeds to your daily diet can improve blood flow and reduce the risk of cardiovascular and blood circulation problems.
Anti-cancer properties
Laboratory studies show that pumpkin seeds can prevent the growth of breast cancer and prostate cancer cells. These seeds are also believed to 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 cancer cells by triggering them to induce apoptosis or cancer cell death.
Researchers suggest that pumpkin seeds’ anti-cancer properties may be due to their high antioxidant content. But more research is needed to see how effective pumpkin seeds are in humans at stopping cancer cells from growing or 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ing cancer cells.
