Pumpkin Seed Powder

Pumpkin Seed Powder

Pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas (literally means “little seed of squash”) are an edible seed that are common in international cuisines and are often consumed as a healthful snack. They may be small, but they are jam-packed with valuable nutrients including healthy fats, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, protein, fiber, vitamin E, antioxidants, and beneficial plant compounds known as phytosterols. You can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of pumpkin seeds by eating it whole or taking it in the form of supplements.

Benefits of Pumpkin Seed

An overwhelming body of clinical research supports the diverse health benefits of pumpkin seed. Among them are the following:

Healthy Hair

Advancing age reduces scalp hair growth in men, which ultimately results in baldness. According to a 2014 study published in the Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, consuming pumpkin seed oil may help restore hair growth as well as self-confidence in men with hair baldness.[1] The study included 76 male patients with androgenetic alopecia (male-pattern baldness) who were given 400 mg of pumpkin seed oil per day or a placebo for 24 weeks. After the treatment period, the pumpkin seed oil-treated group had more hair after treatment (40% increase) than at baseline, compared to the placebo group.

Relief from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Most older men experience enlargement of the prostate, medically known as BPH, which ultimately results in urinary problems, severe pains, and bladder infections. In one study assessing the effects of pumpkin seed oil in Korean men with BPH, researchers found that a dose of 320 mg/day was enough to reduce prostate symptoms as well as improve overall quality of life of the study participants.[2]

Cancer Prevention

Pumpkin seeds may also reduce or inhibit the growth and reproduction of prostate cancer cells and other types of cancers, according to one study.[3] According to the researchers, the specific mechanism by which pumpkin seed extract exert its anti-cancer properties is through inhibition of cell adhesion, cell migration and cell invasion of cancer cells.  This makes pumpkin seed a useful natural treatment for many different types of cancer.

Improved Mental Well-Being

Pumpkin seed can help boost mental health in more than one way – the Cucurbita maxima compound of pumpkin seed oil sharpens memory, while its tryptophan content helps treat depression and anxiety-related disorders, according to studies.[4-5]

Relief from Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder is a condition characterized by a sudden urge to urinate. In severe cases, affected individuals may experience involuntary passage of urine. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine found that supplementation of pumpkin seed oil extracts can effectively treat overactive bladder.[6] The study involved forty-five subjects who were given 10 g of the extract daily for 12 weeks. After 6 and 12 weeks, the urinary function of the study participants was evaluated using Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) in which an improvement in overall symptoms was observed.

Better Sleep Quality

Pumpkin seeds contain an amino acid known as tryptophan. There is increasing evidence that consuming tryptophan can help improve sleep pattern and quality. For instance, one study suggests that taking 2 g of tryptophan can improve the sleeping pattern of people with severe chronic insomnia after four weeks.[7] In another study, researchers reported that tryptophan in doses of 1 g or more increases subjective sleepiness in patients with insomnia.[8]

Improved Blood Sugar Levels

Consuming pumpkin seed can be beneficial for diabetics, who may struggle to control their blood sugar levels. Studies show that supplementing the diet with pumpkin juice or seed powder can reduce the blood sugar levels of people with type 2 diabetes without any adverse side effects.[9] In addition, the decent amount of magnesium in pumpkin seeds may help lower risk of diabetes. According to one observational study involving over 127,000 subjects, a diet rich in magnesium was associated with a 33% lower risk of type 2 diabetes in men.[10]

Improved Blood Pressure

A 2012 study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food suggests that consuming pumpkin seed oil (40 or 100 mg/kg) can help reduce blood pressure levels in just 6 weeks.[11] According to the researchers, the specific mechanism by which pumpkin seed exerts its anti-hypertensive effect is by increasing the levels of nitric oxide (NO), a chemical that widens blood vessels.

Improved Sexual Function

Pumpkin seed is considered as one of the potent Asian herbal aphrodisiacs.[12] Because it’s known to increase nitric oxide levels, it can also have a beneficial effect on erection by improving blood flow within the penis. Furthermore, pumpkin seed contains an amino acid known as myosin, which is essential for muscular contractions and penile erection.[13]

References:

1. Cho YH, Lee SY, Jeong DW, et al. Effect of Pumpkin Seed Oil on Hair Growth in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM. 2014;2014:549721. doi:10.1155/2014/549721.
2. Hong H, Kim C-S, Maeng S. Effects of pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto oil in Korean men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. Nutrition Research and Practice. 2009;3(4):323-327. doi:10.4162/nrp.2009.3.4.323.
3. Jiang J, Eliaz I, Sliva D. Suppression of growth and invasive behavior of human prostate cancer cells by ProstaCaid™: mechanism of activity. International journal of oncology. 2011; 38(6):1675-82.
4. Jawaid T, Shakya AK, Siddiqui HH, Kamal M. Evaluation of Cucurbita maxima extract against scopolamine-induced amnesia in rats: implication of tumour necrosis factor alpha. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences. 2015; 69(9-10):407-17.
5. Hudson C, Hudson S, MacKenzie J. Protein-source tryptophan as an efficacious treatment for social anxiety disorder: a pilot study. Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology. 2007; 85(9):928-32.\
6. Nishimura M, Ohkawara T, Sato H, Takeda H, Nishihira J. Pumpkin Seed Oil Extracted From Cucurbita maxima Improves Urinary Disorder in Human Overactive Bladder. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine. 2014; 4(1):72-4.
7. Demisch K, Bauer J, Georgi K. Treatment of severe chronic insomnia with L-tryptophan and varying sleeping times. Pharmacopsychiatry. 1987; 20(6):245-8.
8. Hartmann E. Effects of L-tryptophan on sleepiness and on sleep. Journal of psychiatric research. 1984; 17(2):107-13.
9. Caili F, Huan S, Quanhong L. A review on pharmacological activities and utilization technologies of pumpkin. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands). 2006; 61(2):73-80.
10. Lopez-Ridaura R, Willett WC, Rimm EB. Magnesium intake and risk of type 2 diabetes in men and women. Diabetes care. 2004; 27(1):134-40.
11. El-Mosallamy AE, Sleem AA, Abdel-Salam OM, Shaffie N, Kenawy SA. Antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects of pumpkin seed oil. Journal of medicinal food. 2012; 15(2):180-9.
12. Ho CC, Singam P, Hong GE, Zainuddin ZM. Male sexual dysfunction in Asia. Asian Journal of Andrology. 2011;13(4):537-542. doi:10.1038/aja.2010.135.
13. Lim PHC. Asian herbals and aphrodisiacs used for managing ED. Translational Andrology and Urology. 2017;6(2):167-175. doi:10.21037/tau.2017.04.04.