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Pumpkin Body
Benefits of Raw Pumpkin Seeds
Raw pumpkin seeds are some of the healthiest of all seeds. This article looks at pumpkin seeds nutritional information and why we really should eat them raw rather than roasted.
Nutritional Information for Raw Pumpkin Seeds
Raw pumpkin seeds are low in carbs and full of protein (at nearly 1/3 protein, which is extremely high for a non-animal source food). They also have loads of essential fatty acids and are full of vitamins, minerals and other health nutrients.
Some of the vitamins occurring in pumpkin seeds in good amounts include a variety of B vitamins, the important vitamin K (which can be hard to get from plant sources) and vitamin E, which is particularly high in it’s gamma-tocopherol version – believed to be a very good antioxidant. Pumpkin seeds also contain some vitamin C and beta-carotene for vitamin A.
Pumpkin seeds are actually better known for their high mineral content, particularly magnesium and zinc. Magnesium is a mineral that many people are deficient in, but pumpkin seeds contain nearly half the recommended daily allowance in just a quarter of a cup of raw seeds.
Zinc is another important mineral, especially for men. Pumpkin seeds are a great vegetable source of zinc for protecting men’s prostates from beniegn prostatic hyperplasia, maintaining a healthy sex drive and many other benefits.
Pumpkin seeds also contain good levels of other minerals like manganese, phosphorus, iron and copper.
Why Pumpkin Seed Should Be Eaten Raw Rather Than Roasted
While the mineral content of pumpkin seeds will be maintained when roasted, some of the other health nutrients are likely to be damaged by the high temperatures used to roast pumpkin seeds.
Vitamins like vitamin C and vitamin E are known to be destroyed by high temperatures. Perhaps even more importantly, the essential fatty acids in pumpkin seeds are likely to become damaged with the kind of temperatures used in roasting. EFAs are used by our bodies for regulating metabolism; for healthy hair and skin; for proper brain function; and a whole host of vital processes for overall health.
Unfortunately though, when essential fatty acids are damage by high temperatures they lose most of these health benefits. In fact, some researchers believe that when once healthy fatty acids are damaged by heat, their structure changes and they can cause inflammation within the body, actually doing more harm than good.
Some people suggest that if you roast pumpkin seeds at 175°F or lower, you may prevent most of the essential fatty acids from being damaged. Personally, I’d rather my eat pumpkin seeds raw to get more of their nutritional benefits. I think they taste better this way too.
About the Author
If you’re interested in much more detail on the health benefits of pumpkin seeds, such as helping with prostate problems and preventing hair loss, see the Superfood Profiles website at http://superfoodprofiles.com/. Here you’ll find an in depth look at why pumpkin seeds and other superfoods are so much better for your health and energy than ineffective multivitamins.
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