Pumpkin seeds have long been regarded as the source of mineral zinc. The World Health Organization recommends pumpkin seeds as a good way to obtain this nutrient. If you want to get the most zinc from pumpkin seeds, we suggest that you consider purchasing it in shell form. *** *** *** The whole roasted pumpkin seed contains about 10 mg of zinc per 3.5 oz, while the roasted pumpkin seed with shell (usually called pumpkin seed kernel) contains about 7-8 mg. Therefore, even if the difference is small, even if the grain is still a good source of zinc, but if eating zinc with shell, it can also increase the intake of zinc.

Although pumpkin seeds are not a highly abundant source of vitamin E in the form of α - tocopherol, recent studies have shown that pumpkin seeds provide us with many forms of vitamin E. From any fixed amount of vitamins, when we get all the different forms of vitamins, we are likely to get more health benefits. In the case of South melon seeds, vitamin E is present in all of the following forms: α - tocopherol, γ - tocopherol, δ - tocopherol, α - tocopherol and β - tocopherol. The last two forms have not been found in pumpkin seeds until recently, and their health benefits (including antioxidant effects) are currently the focus of vitamin E research, because their bioavailability may be higher than other forms of vitamin E. Bottom line: the amount of vitamin E in pumpkin seeds may bring us more health benefits we usually expect, because there are many forms of vitamin E in this food.

Most of the evidence we see about pumpkin seeds and the prevention or treatment of diabetes comes from animal studies. Therefore, we believe that this research is only preliminary. However, recent studies on experimental animals have shown that ground pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed extract and pumpkin seed oil can improve insulin regulation in diabetic animals and prevent some adverse effects of diabetes on renal function. The reduction of oxidative stress has played a key role in many studies that have shown the benefits of pumpkin seeds to diabetic animals.

For a long time, pumpkin seed, pumpkin seed extract and pumpkin seed oil have been paid attention to because of their anti microbial effects (including anti fungal and anti viral properties). It is pointed out that the unique protein in pumpkin seed is the source of many antibacterial effects. Lignans in pumpkin seeds (including terpineol, resorcinol and lariciresinol) have also been shown to have antimicrobial properties, especially antiviral properties. The effects of Cucurbita seed protein and Cucurbita seed plant nutrients (such as lignans) symmetrical to interferon - γ (IFN - γ) on the activity of signaling molecules may be related to this food-related antibacterial effect.

Pumpkin seed extract and oil have long been used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is a health problem involving non cancerous hyperplasia of the prostate gland and usually affects middle-aged and elderly men in the United States. Different nutrients in pumpkin seeds, including phytosterols, lignans and zinc, have been linked to their beneficial effects on BPH. Among these people, the research on phytosterols is the strongest, and the three kinds of phytosterols found in pumpkin seeds are concentrated: β - sitosterol, sitosterol and avenesterol. In some studies, phytosterols, including rapeseed sterols, soybean sterols and rapeseed sterols were also found in pumpkin seeds. Unfortunately, BPH research often involves extracts or oils, not pumpkin seeds themselves. Therefore, it is impossible to determine whether daily intake of pumpkin seeds in the form of food has a beneficial effect on BPH. It is also uncertain whether eating pumpkin seeds in the form of food can reduce the risk of BPH in men. We look forward to future research and hope to provide us with answers to these questions.