Pumpkin seeds nutrition facts -Health & Beauty Informations. This article, entitled Pumpkin seeds nutrition facts, we have prepared this article carefully for you so you can retrieve information therein. Hopefully you understand the contents of this article that we put under the category other, well, happy reading.

Title : Pumpkin seeds nutrition facts
link : Pumpkin seeds nutrition facts

Pumpkin seeds nutrition facts

today's article is approximately "Pumpkin seeds nutrition facts". hopefully "Pumpkin seeds nutrition facts" is effective to suit your needs. Don't forget to share this post in your internet sites if deemed helpful. and thanks for your visit.

Pumpkin seeds nutrition facts

Pumpkin seeds nutrition facts

Pumpkin seeds (pepita) are edible kernels of fruit pumpkin.
The seeds, in-fact, are concentrated sources of many health-benefiting
vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, as well as an important essential
amino-acids such as tryptophan, and glutamate.

Pumpkin fruit is a squash-like gourd in the Cucurbitaceae
family of vegetables native to Mexico. Scientific name: Cucurbita pepo. In the
Central Americas, hulled and gently roasted pumpkin kernels are popularly known
as Pepita.

pumpkin seeds - pepitas pumpkin kernels pumpkin fruit

Pumpkin (whole) seeds. Note for whole seeds with ash-white
color husk. Pumpkin kernels. Note for olive green color kernels. Mature pumpkin
fruit.

(Photo courtesy: terren)

The pumpkin fruit, in general, is grown as a field vegetable
crop. Its seeds, at the same time, have been in use as food, and to extract
pumpkin seed oil since centuries. In fact, in some parts of central Europe
(Styrian province in Austria, Slovenia and Hungary), pumpkins are being
cultivated solely for their seeds, as a major oil-seed crop, at a commercial
scale.

Generally, the pumpkin fruit is allowed to mature completely
in order to obtain good-quality seeds. Each fruit contains up to 500
cream-white husky seeds located at its central hollow cavity interspersed in
between net like mucilaginous fibers. The seeds are semi-flat, feature typical
oval shape with a conical tip. Inside, the edible kernel has olive-green color.
The kernels have sweet, creamy, nutty flavor and enjoyed in deserts, as a
snack, in savory dishes, etc.

Health benefits of pumpkin seeds

Crunchy, delicious pumpkin seeds are high in calories, about
559 calories per 100 g. In addition; they are packed with fiber, vitamins,
minerals, and numerous health promoting antioxidants.

Their high calorific value mainly comes from protein and
fats. Nonetheless, the kernels are especially rich in mono-unsaturated fatty
acids (MUFA) like oleic acid (18:1) that helps lower bad LDL cholesterol and
increases good HDL cholesterol in the blood. Research studies suggest that
Mediterranean diet, which is liberal in monounsaturated fatty acids help to
prevent coronary artery disease and strokes by favoring healthy blood lipid
profile.

Pumpkin seeds hold good-quality protein. 100 g seeds provide
30 g or 54% of recommended daily allowance of protein. In addition, the seeds
are an excellent source of amino acid tryptophan and glutamate. Tryptophan is
converted into serotonin and niacin. Serotonin is a beneficial neuro-chemical
often labeled as nature's sleeping pill. Further, tryptophan is the precursor
of B-complex vitamin, niacin (60 mg of tryptophan = 1 mg niacin).

Glutamate is required in the synthesis of γ-amino butyric
acid (GABA). GABA, an anti-stress neurochemical in the brain, helps reducing
anxiety, nervous irritability, and other neurotic conditions.

Pumpkin seeds are a very good source of anti-oxidant vitamin
E; contain about 35.10 mg of tocopherol-gamma per 100 g (about 237% of RDA).
Vitamin E is a powerful lipid soluble antioxidant. It prevents tissue cells
from the free radical mediated oxidant injury. Thus, it helps maintain the
integrity of mucus membranes and skin by protecting from harmful oxygen-free
radicals.

Pumpkin kernels are also an excellent source of B-complex
group of vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin
B-6 (pyridoxine) and folates. These vitamins work as co-factors for various
enzymes during cellular substrate metabolism in the human body. In addition,
niacin helps in the reduction of LDL-cholesterol levels in the blood. Along
with glutamate, it enhances GABA activity inside the brain, which in turn
reduces anxiety and nervous irritability.

Furthermore, its seeds contain very good levels of essential
minerals like copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and
selenium. Just as in pine nuts, pumpkin seeds too are very rich in manganese
(provide 4543 mg per 100 g, about 198% of daily-recommended intake). Manganese
is an all-important co-factor for antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. It
is therefore, consumption of pumpkin kernels helps the body develop resistance
against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals.

Medicinal values of pumpkin seeds.

Research studies suggest that pumpkin seeds has DHEA
(Di-hydro-epi-androstenedione) hormone blocking actions at the receptor levels.
Exposure to high DHEA levels may lead to gonadal tumours. Thus, the seeds cuts
the risk of prostate and ovarian cancers in human.

In addition, experimental studies suggest that certain
phytochemical compounds in pumpkin seed oil may have a role in prevention of
diabetic nephropathy (diabetic kidney disease).

nutritional value pumpkin seeds nutrition facts
pumpkin seeds benefits for men
sesame seeds nutrition facts
kalonji seeds nutrition facts
pumpkin seeds health facts
calories pumpkin seeds
pumpkin seeds carbs
pepita seeds healthy
sunflower seeds nutrition
raw pumpkin seeds nutrition facts
raw pumpkin seeds nutrition
pumpkin seeds calories
salted pumpkin seeds nutrition
pumpkin seeds nutrition pregnancy
cooking pumpkin seeds
pumpkin seeds nutrition zinc
pumpkin seeds in hindi
pumpkin seeds online
pumpkin seeds benefits for men
how to eat pumpkin seeds
pumpkin seeds recipe
pumpkin seeds for hair
pumpkin seeds side effects
roasted pumpkin seeds

Thanks for Reading Pumpkin seeds nutrition facts

Thank you for reading this Pumpkin seeds nutrition facts, hopefully can give benefits to all of you. well, see you in posting other articles.

You are now reading the article Pumpkin seeds nutrition facts Url Address https://healthnbeautyarticles.blogspot.com/2015/10/pumpkin-seeds-nutrition-facts.html