For men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, pumpkin seeds are an excellent natural remedy. Not only do pumpkin seeds improve male prostate health, they are also good for pain relief and ridding the body of intestinal parasites.
Pumpkin Seeds Improve Prostate Health
Half of men over the age of 50 have a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. This is a medical term for enlarged prostate. Studies have shown that combination of pumpkin seeds and tomatoes can shrink the prostate naturally and prevent symptoms such as frequent urination, pain and inflammation, and erectile dysfunction.
Pumpkin seeds are good for prostate health because they contain protective chemical compounds called phytosterols to fight inflammation and chemicals that prevent the transformation of testosterone in dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Excessive amounts of DHT have been shown to greatly increase the likelihood a man will develop benign prostatic hyperplasia. Pumpkin seeds are also loaded with zinc and magnesium, two minerals which have been shown to improve prostate health.
More Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds
- Elevates Mood
Regular consumption of pumpkin seeds can help elevate mood and decrease anxiety. This is because they contain a high level of magnesium and tryptophan. Millions of people are magnesium deficient, leading to increased incidents of depression, insomnia, and anxiety. Just a handful of pumpkin seeds each day gives you your daily allotment of magnesium and tryptophan to naturally calm your nerves and improve your mood.
- Fights Osteoporosis
The high zinc and magnesium levels in pumpkin sees make it an ideal natural protectant against bone loss and osteoporosis. Without magnesium and another vital nutrient, vitamin D, your body is unable to absorb essential calcium from the food you eat.
- Provides Pain Relief
For arthritis sufferers looking for natural pain and inflammation relief, they may need look no further than a handful of pumpkin seeds. Research has shown that pumpkin seed oil works similarly to the arthritis medication, indomethacin, without side effects.
- Treats Intestinal Parasite Infection
Tapeworms and roundworms are a common problem all over the world. Even in seemingly-clean populations, intestinal parasite infection runs rampant. An increase in intestinal parasite infection is due to a combination of extremely poor diet, excessive use of antibiotics and NSAID pain relievers, (which lead to leaky gut syndrome), and environmental allergens that weaken the immune system.
Symptoms of intestinal parasite infection include:
- Gurgling intestines
- Anal itching (especially at night)
- Waking in the night (between 2am and 3am)
- General malaise
- Itchy nose
- Emaciation
- Ravenous appetite
According to an article published on the Natural News website, regular consumption of pumpkin seeds can both prevent and eradicate parasitic infection.
- Eases Insomnia
Millions of people toss and turn from insomnia every night. This is commonly due to stress, poor diet, environmental toxins, and media overload. Pumpkin seeds contain two calming nutrients; magnesium and tryptophan to ease insomnia and help you sink into a peaceful slumber.
- Lowers Cholesterol
Cholesterol-lower statin drugs have been known to cause horrible side effects such as severe muscle spasms to diabetes. Statin drugs have even been known to increase risk of cancer. Eating pumpkin seeds regularly can help lower cholesterol with chemical compounds called phytosterols.
- May Prevent Cancer
These same phytosterols have also been linked to the prevention of many different types of cancer including colon, breast, and prostate. Phytosterols enable the body’s anti-tumor response and slowing cancer cell cycle progression.
- Fights Premature Aging
Pumpkin seeds contain a variety of essential nutrients and antioxidants to help fight the free radicals that cause premature aging.
How to Prepare Pumpkin Seeds from Scratch
Though you can always buy pumpkin seeds at the grocery store, it can be a lot of fun to prepare your own pumpkin seeds from scratch. During the fall and winter months, there are plenty of pumpkins to go around.
To prepare pumpkin seeds from scratch, carve the top of a small pumpkin and separate the seeds from the stringy insides. Wash the dry the seeds and allow them to drain in a colander for 30 minutes. Next, spread them out on a cookie sheet and place them in the oven at 150F to dry them, stirring every few minutes.
Remove them from the oven and allow the oven to preheat to 275F. Meanwhile, add your seasonings. Lightly baste the seeds with butter or olive oil and seasonings of your choice. Bake for 10-30 minutes, checking on them frequently to be sure they don’t burn. They should be a nice golden brown when finished.
The health benefits of pumpkin seeds go beyond protecting prostate health by preventing premature aging and lowering cholesterol naturally. In addition to their medicinal benefits, pumpkin seeds are a tasty, protein-filled snack that can help you lose weight by beating those mid-afternoon vending machine cravings. Pumpkin seeds are an excellent snack choice for just about everyone. Load up on some today!
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