Pumpkin Seeds For Healthy Prostate

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Pumpkin seeds have recently become more popular, as research suggests that they have unique nutritional and health benefits

Pumpkin seeds have a rich history in herbal medicine in the Americas. The Navajo Indians used them to relieve the intense pain of burns and the Cherokee Indians used them for treating gout, kidney stones, urinary burning, and difficult urination. The Pueblos used them to cure gout and reduce swollen knees and ankles, while the Zunis used them to expel tapeworms and roundworms. It is said that voodoo witch dctors used them to cure fevers and diarrhoea, and the Yumas used them to heal wounds.

Chinese medicine

Use of pumpkin seeds was adopted in traditional Chinese medicine in the 17th century; they were considered to be a symbol of prosperity and health. The pumpkin became known as the ‘Emperor of the Garden’. Pumpkin seeds are rich in antioxidant vitamins A, C and E; many valuable minerals like zinc; amino acids, including the rare myosin and the unusual cucurbitin, which is good for worm infestations. Pumpkin seeds contain essential fatty acids, fibre and four times the amount of beta-carotene than found in carrots.

Health benefits

Men 50 years and older very often develop benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH, which involves enlargement of the prostate gland. BPH constricts the urethra, causing discomfort and urinary problems. Pumpkin seeds are now consumed by younger men who want to protect their prostate gland. To help prevent BPH, eat about a handful (about 1oz) of shelled pumpkin seeds three times a week.

Phytosterols: Pumpkin seeds are known for their protective compounds called phytosterols, which may be responsible for shrinking the prostate. They also contain chemicals that may prevent some transformation of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which, at high levels, are associated with an enlarged prostate (www.prevention.com).

Pumpkin seed oil has the potential to interrupt the triggering of prostate cell multiplication by testosterone and DHT, although the exact mechanism for this effect is still being researched. Oil extracts from the seeds contain components helpful to the prostate.

Carotenoids: Pumpkin seeds also contain carotenoids. It is believed that pumpkin seeds are also being studied for their potential prostate benefits, as carotenoids create less risk for BPH.

Zinc: Another important component of pumpkin seeds is zinc, which aids in the proper functioning of the prostate gland.

Protection for men’s bones

Older men gain additional benefit from zinc-rich pumpkin seeds, which affect their bone-mineral density, especially because older men are at the highest risk for osteoporosis. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, there is a clear correlation between low dietary intake of zinc, low blood levels of the trace mineral, and osteoporosis at the hip and spine.

Anti-inflammatory benefits in arthritis

Preliminary research indicates that arthritis sufferers may get some relief from eating pumpkin seeds.

Rich source of nutrients

Traditional nutrients are found in abundance in pumpkin seeds, which are excellent sources of magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus, and a good source of iron, copper, protein and zinc. A quarter-cup of pumpkin seeds provides:

46.1 % of the daily value (DV) for magnesium

28.7% of the DV for iron

52.0% of the DV for manganese

24.0% of the DV for copper

16.9% of the DV for protein

17.1% of the DV for zinc.

Lower cholesterol

Phytosterols in pumpkin seeds have a chemical structure close to cholesterol. When sufficient amounts are present in the diet, it is believed to reduce blood levels of cholesterol, enhance the immune response and decrease the risk of certain cancers.

The effects of phytosterols are so dramatic that they have been extracted from soybean, corn, and pine tree oil and added to processed foods, such as ‘butter’-replacement spreads, which are then touted as cholesterol-lowering ‘foods’. Pumpkin seeds provide a naturally rich source of phytosterols and cardio-protective fibre, minerals and healthy fats.

In a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers ranked pumpkin seeds closely behind pistachios and sunflower seeds as being rich in phytosterols.

Depression treatment

Pumpkin seeds contain L-tryptophan, a compound naturally effective against depression.