Pumpkin seeds: benefits, dosage and side effects

Pumpkin seeds are powerful antioxidants, which fight against the oxidative damage caused due to free radicals. This helps in keeping your skin soft, glowing and youthful. Free radicals consist of a reactive oxygen species, which actively interacts with human molecules causing damage; the most common organ affected due to the activity of free radicals being the skin. This damage is manifested as wrinkles, age spots and other signs of ageing.

Pumpkin seeds are a source of essential fatty acids, which play an important role in your skin health. They help in the avoidance of dryness of skin and the subsequent appearance of wrinkles as per clinical evidence. Further, pumpkin seeds may help in reducing the appearance of acne or pimples, by controlling the production of skin oils. This action is due to the high zinc content of pumpkin seeds.

Some in-vivo animal studies have proved the promising potential of pumpkin seeds in the process of wound healing.

To utilise these benefits and to attain healthy and youthful skin, you can make a pumpkin seed face mask at home. It is found to be beneficial for all skin types.

(Read more: Skincare routine for a flawless skin)

To make this simple mask, simply combine an equal amount of pumpkin seeds and rose water and store them overnight in the refrigerator. The next day, blend the two ingredients along with some honey and your mask is ready to use. After letting it soak in your skin for 20 to 30 minutes, or until it dries, you can wash it off with the help of some warm water.

(Read more: How to get rid of acne)

Who does not love strong and shiny hair and a head full of mane? But, hair fall is a problem among many. Probably due to bad weather, rising pollution or just genetics. Whatever be the reason, hair fall is very common among both men and women, with men having a higher risk of baldness. This can be managed with the help of pumpkin seed oil. Don’t be astonished, there is sufficient research evidence to support that.

Not only beneficial for hair fall but pumpkin seed oil has also been found to be effective in the management of alopecia as confirmed by both in-vivo animal studies and human studies. Androgen alopecia, which is the most common cause of hair loss in men and affects more than 70% of ageing men is manageable with the use of oil derived from pumpkin seeds. A research study indicated that when compared with placebo (drugs having no therapeutic effects), patients treated with pumpkin seed oil had a significant amount of hair growth. This conclusion was drawn upon the comparison of pretreatment and posttreatment photographs, self-assessment data and various tests.

(Read more: Hair loss treatment)

Thus, pumpkin seed oil has been deemed safe and effective for hair fall, which gives you a fair reason to use it.

Pumpkin seed oil is easily available, but, you can make it at home following a simple three-step procedure. Cut through a large pumpkin to obtain its seeds. Clean and dry the seeds and roast them on a stovetop until a change in colour is noted. Be careful to not burn the seeds. Lastly, use a mortar and a pestle to crush these seeds to obtain this oil.

To use it for hair fall, you need to dilute it (it is a strong agent) with the help of some green tea to form a solution. Now apply on washed hair and let it sit for 5 minutes before rinsing off with water.

(Read more: How to make your hair grow longer and faster)

Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of fibre, and fibres, as we all know, are important for the process of digestion. These seeds contain both soluble and insoluble fibres. They will help in ensuring proper digestion and will surely provide a relief from constipation. To include pumpkin seeds in your diet, you can safely eat a handful of these seeds with their shell as such or you can lightly toast them in an oven. You can add some oil and salt for a better taste.

(Read more: Fibre-rich foods)

Pumpkin seeds are rich sources of fibres, which means that they offer a good satiety index, that is, they make you feel full earlier. This will avoid overeating and unhealthy snacking. Instead of eating a pack of chips, you can enjoy a handful of toasted pumpkin seeds for your evening snack.

Although pumpkin seeds have fats, they are a healthy source of fat and have been time and again suggested to be included in the diet. Several healthy eating guides have mentioned the consumption of pumpkin seeds as an alternative to high-fat foods to battle weight issues. NHS has also recommended its inclusion in the diet.

(Read more: Diet chart for weight loss)

Are you also troubled by obesity and are not able to lose weight even after a lot of efforts, then start using myUpchar Ayurveda Medarodh Weight Control Tablet today and control your weight.

Diabetes is a chronic condition characterised by a dysfunction in the glucose metabolism causing blood sugar levels to elevate. Individuals living with diabetes often face complications and inefficiency with its management.

(Read more: How to check blood sugar levels at home)

Researchers have proved that pumpkin seeds have a significant hypoglycemic effect, which means that it helps to reduce blood glucose levels. This is caused due to the activities of the macromolecules present in pumpkin seeds, like nicotinic acid, trigonelline, etc. causing glycaemic control.

These findings imply that pumpkin seeds are good natural agents for achieving diabetes control in patients affected with diabetes mellitus.

(Read more: Diabetes diet)

Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of essential fatty acids, which is why they are essential for your heart health. They help in controlling blood cholesterol levels. This function of pumpkin seeds is more pronounced in women than in men and is more effective with the use of pumpkin seed oil. This is because of its specific actions on the hormone oestrogen.

As per a randomised control study, women receiving pumpkin seed oil had a higher concentration of high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol) and lower levels of diastolic blood pressure as compared to the group receiving wheat germ oil.

(Read more: Foods to reduce and control high cholesterol)

In-vivo animal studies have additionally demonstrated the role of pumpkin seed oil in the improvement of systolic blood pressure as well, caused due to dysregulation of estrogen levels.

Another set of animal studies have also demonstrated its role in the reduction of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol).

While the latter mechanisms are not completely understood, it is definite that pumpkin seeds help in the management of cholesterol levels and its consumption is recommended.

This may further help in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease due to its cardioprotective actions.

(Read more: Heart disease treatment)

Alzheimer’s disease is a common neurodegenerative (causing brain damage) disorder occurring as a result of advancing age. It is characterised by memory loss and diminished abilities in performing everyday activities, which reduces the quality of life of those affected. Deposition of amyloid-beta is the main contributor to the pathogenesis of this disease. It increases the production of reactive oxygen species leading to neuronal death.

Being a rich antioxidant, pumpkin seeds help in reducing the population of reactive oxygen species, thereby reversing the damage caused due to the brain. So, adding pumpkin seeds to your diet may be a healthy inclusion for your brain.

(Read more: How to increase brain power)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia or enlargement of the prostate gland is a common problem faced by many ageing men. This is manifested by frequent urination and such men also face difficulty in urination. Though benign (not associated with the risk of cancer), this condition increases the risk of kidney stones and bladder infections, so, it should be managed at the earliest.

Pumpkin seed oil helps in reducing the symptoms of this condition and also helps in improving the quality of life of those affected. The use of this oil has been safely recommended as a complementary or alternative medicine to conventional therapy for the condition.

(Read more: Homeopathic treatment for enlarged prostate)

Above we discussed how pumpkin seeds help in reducing blood cholesterol levels in women. Adding on to those benefits, pumpkin seeds when given to postmenopausal women helped in reducing headache, joint pain and hot flushes, which are common after menopause. So, it can be said that pumpkin seeds helped in improving their experience of menopause. Further, pumpkin seed oil was effective in reducing depression and catered to improve the happiness score of the participants.

So, menopausal women may have a new best friend from now!

(Read more: Menopause diet)