The Kitchen Witch
Dea November 1st, 2008
The Great Pumpkin…Seed
Pumpkins are one of Mother Nature’s many gifts. It is easy to take this gift for granted especially, when we see them adorning walkways and porches in honor of Halloween. In fact many of us throw out the most important part of the pumpkin, the seed. Pumpkin seeds are one of nature’s perfect foods. The nutritional value of pumpkinseeds makes them a powerhouse of nutrients packed with most of the B vitamins, as well as C, D, E, and K. They contain essential minerals including magnesium, calcium, potassium, niacin, zinc and phosphorous. Holistic practitioners have used Pumpkin seeds for centuries to eliminate various types of intestinal parasites, support male reproductive health, and aid in digestion. In recent years many herbal or “folk” remedies have come under the scrutiny of modern western medicine. I am please to report that Pumpkin seeds continue to withstand the tests of clinical trial. Studies have found that Pumpkinseeds can assist in treating enlarged prostates, reduce the occurrence of kidney stones, has anti-inflammatory properties, and improve bladder & urethra function. Some even say it can help lower cholesterol.
How to eat them? Well you put them in your mouth of course. But, they really should be consumed whole, shells and all. You did read that right, whole, shells and all. I have tried to do this a few times (ok twice to be exact) and let’s just say it was not exactly a pleasant dining experience. I wanted to reap the benefits of pumpkin seeds and I have found that there is pumpkin seed oil (which should be refrigerated) or pumpkin seed supplements that are pills which you can find at your local health food store or online. Pumpkin seeds and their supplements have been known to motivate the digestive system if you catch my drift. You may want to limit the amount you ingest the first time.
How to make your own pumpkin seeds. If you find yourself hollowing out a pumpkin and think better of wasting those little gems you can simply wash them and place them on a cookie sheet and lightly roast them at 160-170ºF for 15-20 minutes. Roasting them for a short time at a lower temperature can preserve their healthy oils. I would recommend that you store them in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
Roasted or toasted pumpkins seeds are a nutritional powerhouse and no matter how you sneak them into you diet your body will thank you.
I am a Certified Herbal
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