What are the Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds?

Pumpkin seeds do not seem like much, but they are filled with some highly beneficial nutrients. Eating a small amount of pumpkin seeds can provide you with a good amount of healthy unsaturated fats, protein, carbohydrates, antioxidants, minerals, and dietary fiber which can help promote a good digestive system.

Pumpkin seeds are full of antioxidants like carotenoids and vitamin E which can help protect your cells against harmful radicals and lower the risk of diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.

They are also known to have one of the best natural sources of magnesium, something that is often found lacking in the diets of Western populations. This mineral is essential in regulating blood sugar levels (beneficial especially for type 2 diabetes), controlling blood pressure, and good for reducing the risk of heart disease.

Pumpkin seeds are also naturally high in zinc, which can benefit you in some interesting ways. Low zinc levels have been associated with an increased risk of infertility in men due to reduced sperm quality. As pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc, they may help to improve sperm quality.

Eating pumpkin seeds may also help you sleep better because it is rich in zinc and contains a natural source of an amino acid known as tryptophan. Zinc will help to convert this amino acid into serotonin which then changes it into a melatonin; a hormone known to regulate your sleep cycle.

If you have trouble sleeping, try eating some pumpkin seeds before going to bed!