6 Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds - They Serve As Anticancer Seeds Too!

Pumpkin seeds contain compounds which fight efficiently against cancer cells. In fact, anticancer seeds are effective against different types of cancer and have anti-inflammatory properties.

A German study showed that women which pass through menopause should consume organic pumpkin seeds daily and have 23% lower chances of developing breast cancer.

•Anticancer Seeds – The Pumpkin's Secret Weapon

1. Against Insomnia
Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of tryptophan, an amino acid. Tryptophan has been used to treat chronic insomnia because the body converts it into melatonin, the "sleep hormone".

A study published in Nutritional Neuroscience suggested that consuming tryptophan from a gourd seed alongside a carbohydrate source was comparable to pharmaceutical grade tryptophan for the treatment of insomnia.

Having a few pumpkin seeds before bed, with a small amount of carbohydrates such as a piece of fruit, may be beneficial in providing your body with the tryptophan needed for melatonin production.

2. For Better Sight
The seeds from the pumpkin are a rich source of zinc, which is crucial for the immune system. Moreover, they can enhance your sleep, eyesight, skin and mood.

What's more, these anticancer seeds are abundant in manganese, fibers, potassium, phosphor and proteins.

3. Weight Loss
These seeds can also help you lose weight, as they are a rich source of proteins, and they can keep you full. 30g of pumpkin seeds contains 5g of protein.

4. Protein High Food
According to the USDA nutritional database, this is how 1 cup of roasted pumpkin seeds stacks up nutrition-wise: (Other sources proffer them with even higher positive numbers, but we're sticking with the more-conservative USDA data.)
*.285 calories
*.11.87 grams protein
*.12.42 g fat
*.11.8 g dietary fiber

Although plant-based protein differs from animal-based, it's just as important and pumpkin seeds are a great way to boost your protein intake without resorting to red meat. The fiber is a great bonus too; and while the fat content looks high, it is predominantly the "healthy fats" that many of us don't get enough of.

5. Rich In Potassium
The body likes potassium for jobs such as helping muscles contract, regulating fluids, balancing minerals and maintaining blood pressure; it may also help reduce the risk of recurrent kidney stonesand bone loss as the body ages.

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science recommends that adults consume at least 4,700 milligrams of potassium every day, which is twice as much as most people get.

Pumpkin seeds are a notably rich source of this important mineral with 588 mg per cup. Compare that to the famous potassium source known as a banana— a medium one provides 422 mg.

6. Against Prostate Diseases
Research suggests that pumpkin seed oil and pumpkin seeds may be beneficial in supporting prostate healthas well as treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, or enlarged prostate).

Prevention magazine reports that pumpkin seeds have protective compounds known as phytosterols, which might be responsible for shrinking the prostate.

They also offer chemicals that may prevent some transformation of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is associated with enlarged prostate.

Shape magazine suggests that the L-tryptophan in pumpkin seeds can improve the mood naturally and may even be effective against depression.

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