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The Health Benefits of  Pumpkin seeds

• The seeds take good quality proteins. 100 g seeds provide 30 g or 54% of recommended daily allowance. In addition, the seeds are excellent source of amino acids tryptophane and glutamate. Tryptophan is changed in to serotonin and niacin. Serotonin is a beneficial neuro-chemical often labelled as nature’s sleeping pill. Further, tryptophan is predecessor of vitamin niacin 60 mg of tryptophan = 1mg niacin).

• Crunchy pumpkin seeds are rich in calories. In addition they are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals and numerous health promoting antioxidants.

• Pumpkin kernels are also outstanding source of B-complex group of vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) and folates. These vitamins functions as co-factors for enzymes during cellular substrate metabolism in the body. In addition, niacin help reduce LDL-cholesterol levels in the blood. Along with glutamate, it enhances GABA activity inside the brain which in turn help reduce anxiety and neurosis.

• 100 g pumpkin kernels provide 559 calories. Their high caloric content mainly comes from fats. However, the nuts are especially rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) like oleic acid (18:1) that helps to lower LDL or “bad cholesterol” and increase HDL or “good cholesterol” in the blood.  Research studies suggest that Mediterranean diet which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids helps to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid profile.

• Glutamate is required in the synthesis of γ-amino butyric acid (GABA). GABA, an anti-stress neurochemical in the brain, helps reducing anxiety, nervous irritability and other neuroses conditions.

• Pepitas are very good source of anti-oxidant vitamin E; contain about 35.10 mg of tocopherol-γ per 100 g (about 237% of RDA). Vitamin E is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant. It prevents tissue cells from the free radical mediated oxidant injury. Thus it maintains the integrity of mucus membranes and skin by protecting it from harmful oxygen free radicals.

• Furthermore, its seeds contain very good levels of essential minerals like copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium. Just as pine nuts, pumpkin seeds are very rich in manganese (provide 4543 mg per 100 g, about 198% of daily recommended intake), pines are one of the richest sources of manganese. Manganese is an all important co-factor for antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. It is therefore consumption of pumpkin kernels helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen free radicals.