The Most Surprising (and Scientifically Proven!) Benefits of Eating Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds reduce the risk of cancer

There is nothing quite as scary as the hidden threat of cancer. The average person has no idea of the things they interact with each day which may increase the risk of cancer. Fortunately, taking certain actions can reduce that risk, and that includes regularly eating pumpkin seeds.

Across different studies, pumpkin seed consumption seemingly helped reduce the risk of breast cancer, and prostate cancer and could help reduce the growth of existing cancer cells. All in all, this seems like a healthy way to reduce your risks or even help deal with a cancer diagnosis.

High magnesium content

If you just read that and asked “why do I need more magnesium,” you should know that this mineral is a real powerhouse. Those who get enough magnesium in their diets can strengthen their bones and reduce their risk of heart disease. Magnesium can even help to control blood pressure!

And you guessed it: pumpkin seeds are a great source of magnesium. Rather than having to remember to take annoying supplements each day, you can add pumpkin seeds to your diet and experience a whole host of natural benefits.

Full of antioxidants

Earlier, we touched on the fact that eating pumpkin seeds can reduce your risk of cancer. One of the reasons for this is that these seeds are full of antioxidants. And in addition to reducing those aforementioned risks, getting more antioxidants on a regular basis has plenty of other major benefits.

For example, because antioxidants protect your body against the damage caused by free radicals, they can help reduce the risks of arthritis, vision loss, heart disease, and the negative effects of aging (including the onset of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s).

Naturally lower blood sugar

Senior woman with glucometer checking blood sugar level at home. Diabetes, health care concept

Whether or not you’re diabetic, it’s important to keep an eye on your blood sugar. And while various medications can help you do so, it’s always a “win/win” when you find something tasty that can help you naturally lower your blood sugar back down.

You guessed it: pumpkin seeds are the key to doing just that. Different studies have found that pumpkin seeds can lower blood sugar after you consume a high-carb meal. And one long-term study discovered that those regularly eating pumpkin seeds had a 15 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Better heart health

The term “heart health” is pretty broad. That’s necessary because there are so many different things that can affect your heart, leading to things like heart disease. And while pumpkin seeds aren’t a perfect cureall, they can help you guard your heart against future dangers.

For example, pumpkin seed oil helps to naturally reduce both your blood pressure and your cholesterol, and this can help ward off heart disease. Pumpkin seeds can also expand your blood vessels, which is the key to good blood flow (and avoiding plaque building up in your arteries). Finally, these seeds help you increase the nitric oxide you need to foster overall heart health.

Improve digestion the easy way

Close-up of female hands shaping heart on belly

Improving digestive health is often a top priority for people, especially as they get older. And we love that pumpkin seeds naturally boost digestive health because they are so high in fiber.

Consuming more fiber helps improve your digestion while reducing your risk of diabetes and heart disease. As an added bonus, foods high in fiber will leave you feeling fuller for a longer time. This can help you finally lose those unwanted pounds and help you reduce the risk of obesity.

The key to a good night’s sleep

While everyone has different health goals for themselves, there are a few things that all of us can agree on. For one thing, we could all use a bit more sleep! And while you can’t always get enough hours of rest, you can at least make sure those hours are as restful as possible with pumpkin seeds.

For one thing, pumpkin seeds have tryptophan in them…that’s the same ingredient in turkey that helps make you so sleepy on Thanksgiving (you’ll need to consume about one gram for the best results). And as we noted before, pumpkin seeds are high in magnesium, and magnesium can help you get to sleep quicker and stay asleep longer.

That’s always a winning combination in our book!