Pumpkin seeds are packed full of rich nutrient minerals read more at here www.spinonews.com/index.php/item/816-pumpkin-seeds-are-packed-full-of-rich-nutrient-minerals

Did you know that pumpkin seeds contain many essential minerals? Considered a dietary powerhouse, seeds of this nutrient-rich fruit possess fiber, vitamin K, copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium – all of which boost everyday health.

Consuming sample amounts of pumpkin seeds is believed to improve heart health, sleep and sperm count, as well as lower blood sugar levels and even prevent cancer.

Diets rich in pumpkin seeds have been linked to a decreased risk in stomach, lung, bring, prostate and colon cancers. Research shows that eating the seeds may reduce the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

Other studies show pumpkin seeds may effectively reduce the growth of prostate cancer cells. This believed due to the fact that the seeds contain protective compounds called phytosterols, which are known for their ability to help shrink the prostate.

In fact, eating pumpkin seeds to protect the prostate is an age-old tradition. Young men in many European countries often practice this preventative technique to reduce the risk of an enlarged prostate, a condition that affects more than 50 percent of American men over the age of 50.

An enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) constricts the urethra, resulting in discomfort and problems urinating. However, chemicals found in pumpkin seeds are thought to prevent testosterone from transforming into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is associated with an enlarged prostate.

Research observing the effect pumpkin seed consumption has on BPH in more than 1,400 men discovered that after one year, the men who ate the seeds experienced reduced symptoms and an overall better quality of life.

Other substances found in pumpkin seeds are also proven to treat diabetes. In US the condition affects more than 9 percent of Americans, with an estimated 1.4 million new cases arising in each year.

Animal studies suggest that pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed extract and pumpkin seed oil may improve insulin regulation in diabetics, as well as prevent some unwanted consequences of diabetes on kidney function.