For most of us our only encounter with pumpkin seeds comes when we scoop them out of the pumpkin each Halloween as we carve our jack-o-lanterns. After you’ve gotten a good look at pumpkin seed oil and its amazing health benefits, you’re going to look at pumpkin seeds in a whole new way. You know what pumpkin seeds are, but how well do you know the oil?
Pumpkin seed oil has actually been around for quite some time. It was a major commodity of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This oil is made from the process of pressing roasted and shelled pumpkin seeds. Also, it is typically used cold in salad dressings or to give a nutty flavor to vanilla ice cream. But it can be used wider for cooking. But heating it destroys the rich assortment of fatty acids found in this green gold. Of the ten fatty acids found in pumpkin seed oil, there are three most concentrated:
- Linoleic acid (omega-6) at 18% – 62%;
- Oleic acid (omega-9) at 7% – 39%;
- Palmitic acid at 12% – 14%.
Though they have a powerful effect on your health, these are not the only nutrients found in pumpkin seed oil. It is also rich in essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, E and K, and the minerals manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper and zinc in significant amounts. This dark green oil is powerful when used properly and can contribute a great deal to your overall health, but there are some precautions to consider.
Precaution for Using Pumpkin Seed Oil
Pumpkin seed oil is safe as long as it is consumed as one would consume a food. But when it is utilized like a medicine in higher dosages, it might not be safe for the following:
- People with hypoglycemia.
- Those with an allergy to pumpkins (rare).
- Pregnant or breast feeding women.
- It should not be used by infants.
- Not good for people on diuretic medications.
The proper medicinal dosage of pumpkin seed oil should not exceed 4000 mg or 1 teaspoon twice a day. For questions concerning the use of this oil as a medical option, you should consult a health care professional.
15 Surprising Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seed Oil
Improved Prostate Health
One of the great benefits of pumpkin seed oil that should get you excited is in its ability to improve prostate health.
What to do:
- Take pumpkin seed oil in capsule or straight oil form after meals twice a day.
- 1 teaspoon of oil or 4000 mg can be taken each time.
How it works:
The high concentration of zinc in pumpkin seed oil helps reduce benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH or enlarge prostate).
Healthy Hair
If you’re losing your hair or need to give it a healthy boost pumpkin seed oil is a great choice.
What to do:
- Massage the oil into your hair after shampooing and rinse with cold water.
- Use daily until your condition improves.
How it works:
This powerful oil inhibits the development of the hormone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is responsible for producing hair loss.
IBS Relief
Another the many benefits of pumpkin seed oil is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) relief.
What to do:
- Consume up to 4,000 mg of the oil in liquid or capsule form right after you eat.
- You can repeat this twice a day after meals.
How it works:
Because of the inflammatory issues that tend to be present with IBS, the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties of this super oil help bring relief to bowel issues.
Balancing Blood Sugar
Balancing blood sugar is another among the many healthy benefits of pumpkin seed oil.
What to do:
- To introduce more of this powerful food into your diet, why don’t you try out this pumpkin seed oil vinaigrette?
How it works:
This powerful oil decreases oxidative stress, which is a major factor involved in regulating insulin levels in your blood.
Eliminate Intestinal Parasites
You can eliminate intestinal parasites with pumpkin seed oil as well.
What to do:
- Take 1 tsp of oil on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. Then, wait 1o to 15 minutes before eating or drinking anything.
- Take a second tsp 10 to 15 minutes before your evening meal.
How it works:
Pumpkin seed oil contains curbitins, which paralyze the parasites. It also prevents them from keeping their grip on your intestinal walls, allowing them to be flushed out with your waste.
Immunity Boosting
Another addition to our list of pumpkin seed oil benefits is immunity boosting.
What to do:
- Boost your consumption of this super food by giving this recipe from down under a whirl.
- Start taking 1 tsp twice a day after meals whenever the flu is going around.
How it works:
Pumpkin seed oil contains 71% of your body’s necessary zinc requirements in a single teaspoonful.
Enhance Memory and Focus
Enhanced memory and focus is another prized use of pumpkin seed oil.
What to do:
- Use this oil in your afternoon protein shake as we mentioned above to give body and brain a boost.
- Or beat 2 tsp of the oil into 4 eggs along with 1 Tbsp of milk to give your morning scrambled eggs a little extra brain power.
How it works:
The combination of zinc and the rich fatty acids in pumpkin seed oil make it an excellent brain food.
Arthritis Pain Relief
Bringing relief to arthritis pain is yet another of the many benefits of pumpkin seed oil.
What to do:
- Mix ¼ tsp of cayenne pepper into 1 tsp of oil. Then, add enough turmeric powder to form a paste.
- Apply the paste to the affected areas.
- Consuming the oil will also help reduce symptoms.
How it works:
The combination of capsaicin and the anti-inflammatory benefits of both turmeric and pumpkin seed oil make this an excellent arthritis pain relief rub.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Believe it or not, pumpkin seed oil your cardiovascular health as well by lowering your blood pressure.
What to do:
- Here is another great salad dressing to replace those high sodium ones that are working against you.
How it works:
High amounts of magnesium found in this powerful oil make it an ideal remedy for helping to lower blood pressure, not to mention the effects the fatty acids will have on your cholesterol levels.
Better Eye Health
See more clearly by adding pumpkin seed oil into your diet and improving your eye health.
What to do:
- Prepare corn on the cob the way you usually do.
- Rather than coating it with butter, brush on pumpkin seed oil.
How it works:
This potent oil contains loads of zeaxanthin, which is an antioxidant proven to protect your eyes against UV and blue light damage.
Metabolism Boost
You can even get metabolism boost from pumpkin seed oil.
What to do:
- Try using slightly warmed oil mixed with a little bit of garlic and basil in place of butter to dip your bread into.
How it works:
Around 149% of your daily requirement of copper is found in this oil. This is essential for maintaining and healthy metabolism.
Restful Sleep
You can also sleep better when you consume pumpkin seed oil.
What to do:
- Try out any one of these great recipes to introduce more of this potent food into your daily diet.
How it works:
Tryptophan, besides being present in poultry, is also abundant in pumpkin seed oil. This amino acid converts into serotonin and then into melatonin after dark to make you sleep more soundly.
Reduction of Inflammation
Another on our list of Pumpkin seed oil is the reduction of inflammation.
What to do:
- Add 1 tsp of this oil into your favorite morning smoothie.
- Additionally, add another teaspoon to this afternoon protein shake.
How it works:
The abundance of magnesium and calcium found in pumpkin seed oil helps to inhibit the function of inflammatory enzymes.
Improved Liver Health
You can also improve the health of your liver by regularly consuming pumpkin seed oil.
What to do:
- A traditional Austrian use of pumpkin seed oil is to drizzle it over rare roast beef in order to enhance the flavor.
How it works:
The healthy fats and antioxidants contained in the oil support the proper development of healthy lipids in your liver.
Eases Postmenopausal Symptoms
The final, but in no way the least powerful motivation to make use of pumpkin seed oil is its ability to help ease postmenopausal symptoms.
What to do:
- Experiment and discover your favorite way of consuming pumpkin seed oil and have plenty of it on hand when PMS symptoms arrive.
- Consume double to triple the regular amounts until your PMS symptoms subside.
How it works:
Natural phytoestrogens found in this amazing green oil help to regulate postmenopausal hormones and eliminate or balance out symptoms.
One Last Word
You can certainly scoop those pumpkin seeds out of your annual Halloween jack-o-lantern and enjoy them roasted. But to get the greatest benefits from the great pumpkin, you’ll want to consider adding pumpkin seed oil into your regular diet.
Make use of one or several of these 15 amazing health benefits to straighten out some of the health conditions you already have or prevent them from coming along.
Make sure to add your favorite pumpkin seed oil uses and recipes in the comments below.
The images are from depositphotos.com and pixabay.com.