Pumpkin Seeds: Nutrition with Crunch!

Happy Halloween to all you trick-or-treaters out there!

If you’re responsible for handing out goodies to the ghosts, monsters, pirates, and princesses who come to your door, I’ve got the perfect trick for you so you don’t dip into the treats yourself: snack on pumpkin seeds instead!

Halloween is the perfect time to scoop these big, slimy seeds from the heart of a jack-o-lantern. But they’re a tasty snack any time of year. And you can use them to dodge some common health threats, too, like:

Say “BOO” to B.O. Pumpkin seeds provide a good, concentrated supply of the mineral zinc, a deficiency of which can lead to body odor.

Don’t be a zombie. Make pumpkin seeds part of your mid-day snack — their protein will keep you energized.

Cramps haunting you? Pumpkin seeds are loaded with fatty acids that lower levels of body chemicals responsible for muscle aches and menstrual cramps.

Dr. Frankenstein should have known about this…The minerals in pumpkin seeds, especially zinc, will help your body heal when you have a cut or other injury and especially after surgery.

Here’s the easy how-to for tasty pumpkin seeds that’ll make you forget all about that fun-size Snickers bar:

STEP 1. Rinse the seeds and separate them from the stringy flesh.

STEP 2. Add the seeds to a big pot of saltwater (2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of salt for every ½-cup of pumpkin seeds). Boil for 10 minutes.

STEP 3. Remove from heat and drain.

STEP 4. Spread the seeds in one layer on a baking sheet, and brush them with olive oil.

STEP 5. If you want a little extra flavor, season the seeds with your choice of flavors: garlic salt, cayenne pepper, Cajun spices, or whatever you like.

STEP 6. Preheat your oven to 350°F and bake the seeds for 45 minutes or so. Shake the pan every 10 minutes to keep them from burning.

Enjoy!

In Honor of Father’s Day—a Word about Prostate Health

There’s so much information about prostate health and the dangers that an enlarging prostate can pose to men that it’s hard to know what to do. And now most medical professionals are telling men that the PSA test (that was once recommended annually to check for elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen — a possible indicator of prostate cancer) is unnecessary.

Medical statistics estimate that one out of every three men over the age of 60 has some kind of prostate problem. And according to natural-health practitioners, one of the most effective ways to help relieve an enlarged prostate is to eat ½ cup of shelled, unsalted pumpkin seeds every day. One reason may be that the prostate gland contains 10 times more zinc than most other organs in your body, and pumpkin seeds are packed with that mineral.

Pumpkin seed remedies for such a problem have been around for centuries. An old Russian folk remedy calls on pumpkin seed “tea” to relieve inflammation of the bladder and prostate. To make it, simmer ½ cup of whole (not shelled) pumpkin seeds in 1 quart of water for 20 minutes. Let it cool to room temperature, and pour it into a wide-mouthed jar with a tight-fitting lid. Do not strain out the seeds; just let them settle to the bottom of the jar. Stir thoroughly before using the potion. Drink 6 to 8 ounces three times a day, or as needed to relieve pain.

Note: This is not a substitute for professional medical care. If you suspect that you have either bladder or prostate problems, see your doctor immediately.

Happy Father’s Day!