The Power of Eating Pumpkin Seeds

October is Pumpkin Season all over the world, and pumpkins are everywhere. But this article is not about the season when pumpkins are plentiful. It's about the health benefits of adding pumpkin seeds to your diet all year.

Pumpkins Are Everywhere This Time of Year

As you drive by churches, you might see whole pumpkins on the lawn. Usually, they are selling them to raise money for their ministry. If you go to a garden center at The Home Depot or Lowes, you will find boxes, tables, and pallets of pumpkins of all sizes.

Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer and Lattes

Like many, I look forward to the stores stocking up on pumpkin-flavored coffee creamer from now until the end of the year.  Some people like to get their daily boost from cafes where they enjoy sitting down with their favorite lattes.

I Don't Need Fancy and Expensive Coffee

However, I am cheap. So, I get mine from local gas stations like WAWA and 7-11's. In fact, I bought some tonight - to refrigerate for tomorrow morning. I don't currently have any coffee creamer in my own fridge. Your girl is lazy about going to the grocery store this week, and I am good with it. Trust me. 

Making My Own Pumpkin Spice Creamer

But recently, I found a recipe to make my own coffee creamer at home for any time of year. And I tweaked it to my liking. You can do the same. 

My Recipe:

The ingredients include any milk you'd like. I prefer lactose-free milk. To that, I'll add a little bit of canned evaporated milk. Then I will throw in some nutmeg, some pumpkin puree, a sprinkle of cinnamon, a dollop of vanilla extract, and a little bit or honey. I could add some pure maple syrup that a friend from Canada gifted me.  I mean, that would give me the pumpkin-spice flavor I am looking for. Then, I will whisk all the ingredients together and enter my very own pumpkin-flavored heaven. 

Pumpkin Pie

'Tis the season for pumpkin pies, as well. I love me a good slice of pumpkin pie for sure. The problem is, I don't buy it by the slice. I go to the bakery and buy a whole pie, which creates another problem. I eat the whole thing within a couple of days. All by myself! I ain't got no shame. Well, maybe I do have some shame about it. So, I stay out of bakeries this time of year 

A Whole Pumpkin Pie By Myself

I could put down a whole pumpkin pie all by myself within two days. So, I try not to even bring one in the house. And that is nothing easy to publicly admit. 

Spice Your Drink Up Anyway You Want

I cannot recall what the heck happened, but at one time, pumpkin seeds were part of my regular diet. Life offers us choices, and pumpkin seeds are no exception. You can spike them up any way you'd like. I have heard that some people layer theirs with Louisiana Hot Sauce. You can go straight up Cajun-style, or even use Asian-flavored sauces. Have them your way.

I prefer to eat pumpkin seeds raw for their full nutritional benefit. No salt, no roasted ones.

No Right or Wrong Way to Eat Pumpkin Seeds

Enough talk about all the sugary treats we consume with pumpkin flavors. It is time to get to some serious health talk and the reason I am writing this article in the first place. 

No Salt, Not Roasted. Just Raw

There is no wrong way to enjoy pumpkin seeds. However, I will stick to my plain-Jane (raw) ones I prefer to eat for the full nutritional benefit. No salt, no roasted ones. No sprinkled cinnamon on top. Just plain. Plain and healthy.

It's Time For Me To Get Back on Track

All this talk about pumpkins reminds me that I need to reintroduce pumpkin seeds into my life. The thing is, I don't remember why I ever stopped eating them. But knowing myself, as I add different healthy things to my diet, I inadvertently push other things out. That is a bad habit I should change.  

Drying and Saving Your Own Seeds

Some prefer to dry and save seeds from all the pumpkins they and their friends carve for Halloween. I already have plenty of hobbies, so it’s easier for me to buy pre-dried seeds.

Buying Pumpkin Seeds in Bulk 

I usually fill up a bag from their bulk bins, but I may have purchased the pre-packaged seeds once or twice. I can't remember - which means I need to eat more pumpkin seeds to help jog my memory. Wait. Do pumpkin seeds improve memory? I should not get carried away. It's time to do my research.

 This article is about the health benefits of eating pumpkin seeds year-round.  

Nutritional Value of Pumpkin Seeds

Magnesium

It seems that Magnesium has been the buzzword in nutritional circles in recent years. So, I am glad to learn that pumpkin seeds contain a high amount of natural magnesium. I had no idea. Honestly, I didn’t do any research on pumpkin seeds when I started eating them years ago. 

Nutritional Information is Out There

In general, I added different raw seeds and nuts to mine and my children's diets after a friend suggested it. We still eat raw almonds regularly. I developed the habit of adding raw pumpkin seeds to my shopping cart. But that was the days before the internet and Google searches, so I didn't know their health benefits. Now, I have more time in these empty-nesting years to do in-depth research. And I like what I am learning about pumpkin seeds. 

Why Magnesium Though?

The word is out on the benefits of magnesium. Magnesium supports muscle and nerve function. It helps regulate blood pressure and improves bone health. And it can even help us get better shut-eye. I could definitely use help with getting more nights of deep, restful sleep. As an empty nester, I am up many nights thinking, or rather, worrying about my grown children even when it's not warranted. Perhaps that is something we empty nesters do. 

Don't Side-eye Me

I see you giving me the side eye. You know you still worry about your grown children, too. I admit that I create most of that worrying myself. Admittedly, it is not a good thing, but knowing that hasn't helped me.

Should I Eat Them Before Bedtime

So, we know that Magnesium can calm the nervous system, thereby possibly helping us get a more restful night. But I'm thinking about whether I should eat pumpkin seeds before bed. I don't want to eat them too close to bedtime because they might start churning in my stomach, and all that would do is keep me up all night - worrying about things.

https://www.realsimple.com/what-happens-when-you-eat-pumpkin-seeds-every-day-12109121

Caveats

Doesn't everything have caveats? I should think that would be a fact. So, before you run out and start gobbling up a pound of pumpkin seeds every day for the next 10 years, take a pause. Do a little digging on your own to figure out what works best for your lifestyle and current health status. Everything in moderation, right? 

It is always a good idea to check with your primary doctor before introducing even healthy foods to your diet. Otherwise, as it refers to pumpkin seeds, your biggest decision will be: 

• Roasted or Raw
• Seasoned or Unseasoned 
• Daily or Periodically

Just Enjoy the Healing Effects of the Seeds

Trust me when I tell you there is a ton of information online on how to consume pumpkin seeds. That said, there is no reason to overthink it. Start small. Grab a small pre-packaged bag. Or fill a small bag from the natural foods bin at a shop in your community. 

However you choose to eat pumpkin seeds, ENJOY a handful for me!

Additional Resources:

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/latest-news/magnesium-for-sleep-what-you-need-to-know.html?shem=aimgspe