Pumpkin Seed Oil is good for your health
by: Darrell Miller
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Word Count: 1165
Pumpkin seed oil, as the name suggests, is obtained from pumpkin seeds,
which can also be eaten roasted in the same way that people eat
sunflower seeds. When roasted, they are coated in a sauce such as
Worcester sauce and then heated in low oven for a long period of time.
The secret of roasting them to maintain their nutritional value is to
keep the temperature low and the cooking time high. The seeds are
regarded as a ‘superfood’ that is rich in vitamins A and E, the
essential fatty acids known as Omega 3 and Omega 6, zinc, iron,
magnesium and potassium. The seed is known as a pepita in North and
South America. The oil is reddish green and many people find it
delicious. It is best when used raw, and can be drunk in the form of
smoothies or shakes, or used as a salad dressing. Some also enjoy
drinking it raw, and using it as a spread instead of butter or
margarine. The benefits it provides to the human body are a healthy
brain function, increased energy and it has a special use in
maintaining a healthy prostate gland. The vitamin E content is high,
especially gamma-tocopherol, and it has a high antioxidant effect with
consequent anti-inflammatory properties. Its effect on arthritis, and
inflammatory disease, has been investigated and the inclusion of
pumpkin seeds in the diet has been found to reduce the inflammatory
symptoms of the condition with a consequent reduction in pain. In fact,
in a comparison test with indomethacin, a common arthritis treatment,
pumpkin seeds compared very well and in fact had a more positive effect
on the damage to the fats in the joint linings than did indomethacin,
which tends to increase the concentration of lipid peroxides rather
than reduce them. Its effect on the prostate gland is partially due to
its high zinc content that is present in a higher concentration in the
prostate than in any other gland in the body, and also to its effect on
the hormones that cause the gland to grow and swell to the extent that
it constricts or completely blocks the urethra, the tube connecting the
bladder to the outside of the body. This is caused by an enzyme that
converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT causes the
over-proliferation of the prostate cells. The reason for the effect of
pumpkin seed oil on DHT is still under discussion, but some believe
that it is connected with the zinc content and others with the high
level of delta-7-sterine in the seed. The sterine appears to neutralize
the effect of the DHt on the growth of prostate cells. In addition to
prostate enlargement, Osteoporosis is another problem associated with
aging in men. It has been estimated that men over 50 have a 12.5%
chance of suffering a fracture due to brittle bones, and it is though
that this is connected with a deficiency of zinc. In fact a clear
correlation has been established between osteoporosis in older men and
low levels of zinc and the diet and in the blood. Pumpkins seeds, as
already mentioned, are rich in zinc, and the benefits of their use as a
supplement to avoid an enlarged prostate is reinforced by their effect
in protecting against osteoporosis. Pumpkin seeds contain a high
concentration of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. These are
specifically useful in protecting the cardiovascular system and prevent
atherosclerosis. They also contain plant sterols known as phytosterols
that are believed to help reduce the blood concentration of
cholesterol. This types of sterols are the basis of the ‘cholesterol
busting’ drinks that are sold in supermarkets. They also help to
strengthen the immune system and are believe to help reduce the risk of
contracting some types of cancer. Pumpkin seed oil is a rich source of
alpha-linolenic acid, an important unsaturated fatty acid that some
studies have indicated can be used to prevent metastaes (the spread of
the disease) development in patients with breast cancer. The most
prized type of oil is that from Syrian oil, from the province of
Steiermark in Austria. Such pumpkins are also grown in parts of North
America, and the best oil is said to come from the first pressing, the
so-called ‘virgin’ oil. If used in cooking, the temperature must be
kept low, since many of the nutrients are destroyed much over 100
Celsius. A little known use for pumpkin seed oil is in eradicating
intestinal parasites. Many people are embarrassed at requesting
professional help for worms, and pumpkin seeds are the ideal home
remedy. The act almost immediately, and two or three hours after taking
them, or the oil, then you should take a laxative. You should the
parasites being removed with the bowel motions. The worms are not
actually killed, but are paralyzed, and cannot prevent themselves being
removed with the bowel movement. If a laxative is not taken, however,
they will recover and there will be no effect. As with any remedy for a
health condition, therefore, it is necessary to understand how the
seeds or oil work to help to remove the horrible parasites from your
body. They are very common, and any self-help or natural remedy that
actually works will undoubtedly be very popular, but if it is not
understood that these creatures must be expelled from your body while
paralyzed, then pumpkin seeds or oil will not work. Those that failed
to understand the process would then complain that the treatment does
not work. In fact, it does work, and if the worms are expelled when
they are unable to remain in your intestines then they will be removed.
You must “read the instructions on the bottle” for the contents to
work.
Pumpkin seed oil is a very potent mixture of chemicals that can cure or
control a large number of conditions, and it is essential that you
understand why you are using them. They can be used as a supplement to
your diet, though it is easy to wonder why you should take this
antioxidant rather than another. Find out what pumpkin seed oil can do
for you, and if it applies to you then use it. There are stronger
antioxidants, and better foods to take in an attempt to protect from
certain conditions. However, there are certain circumstances when
pumpkin seeds will do the job better than most other supplements, and
if you can fit them into your regular diet then they will not only do
you ‘no harm’, as they say, but will do you a great deal of good. Look
for organic pumpkin seeds or pumpkin seed oil at your local health food
store.
About the Author
More information on pumpkin seeds and their
health benefits can be found at http://vitanetonline.com/ where one can
find organic pumpkins seeds and oil available for purchase.
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