The time for pumpkin picking and carving is beginning! When it comes time to carve pumpkins we usually scrape out and throw away the insides, but you can actually make a delicious and nutritious snack from your carved pumpkin seeds. What’s even better, they can roast in your oven as you carve your pumpkins and be a delicious, crunchy, and warm snack when you’re done.
Pumpkin seeds have many benefits and are:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Rich in fiber
- High in magnesium
- Sleep promoting due to being rich in Tryptophan
- High in zinc, copper, phosphorus, and selenium
- Full of vitamins like manganese and K
- Rich in Iron
- A great source of plant based protein
- Locally grown here in PA
Pumpkin seeds also have an anti-parasitic effect, and have been used to get rid of parasites in livestock for years. It contains a de-worming compound called cucurbitacin, which can help expel round worms and tape worms from the body. This is why you find pumpkin seed oil as an ingredient in many supplements that help rid the body of parasites.
You can enjoy pumpkin seeds many ways such as a topping on a salad or casserole, add to a smoothie or acai bowl, mix them into granola, make trail mix, bake them in bread, or simply enjoy them roasted.
To roast your own pumpkin seeds:
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- Clean and rinse your seeds
- Bring to a boil two cups of water for every cup of seeds
- Drain and add about a tablespoon of olive oil, salt, and spices of your choice
- Put on baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes
- Enjoy!
References
Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds. (2020, November 18). WebMD. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-pumpkin-seeds
14 Easy Ways to Eat Pumpkin Seeds. (2018, October 22). Organic Authority. Retrieved October 3, 2022, from https://www.organicauthority.com/eco-chic-table/14-easy-ways-to-eat-pumpkin-seeds
Pumpkin Seeds Do They Control Worms? (2010). Delaware State University. https://cast.desu.edu/sites/cars/files/document/16/pumpkin_seeds-worms_djo.pdf