Here’s a question for you: Why did the Headless Horseman chase Ichabod Crane with that pumpkin? (Aside from the fact that it made for a good fake head on that dark night in Sleepy Hollow.)
Maybe he knew that his gourd of choice was full of all sorts of health benefits!
Pumpkins are one of America’s favorite fall foods. But there’s more to this fruit than meets the eye. And you don’t have to wait until October to enjoy pumpkin and its many benefits. From the pulp to the seeds, there’s something for everyone inside that beautiful orange squash.
In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about pumpkin seed oil. And why you need to start using it now!
The Health Benefits
Here’s the thing, pumpkin seeds and their oil are incredibly healthy for you!
Pumpkin seed oil is one of those “good” fats that are the basis of healthy diets. Nuts and seeds are some of the healthiest foods on the planet. Nut oils and seed oils, like walnut oil and pumpkin seed oil, are the concentrated version of these superfoods.
The pegan diet, touted as the healthiest diet in the world, uses nuts and seeds as a pillar of its nutrition. Eating good fats is one of the basic principles of the pegan diet.
Pumpkin seed oil specifically, is full of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are known to promote a healthier heart. Adding this oil to your diet is also known to lower cholesterol, another perk for your heart.
Pumpkin oil is a super concentrated source of magnesium. Magnesium is important for bone health. And it regulates blood sugar and controls blood pressure. Most of us don’t get enough magnesium in our diets, which is why pumpkin seed oil is a great addition to a healthy regimen.
It’s loaded with vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that’s great for reducing inflammation in your body. It’s also a necessary ingredient for making your hair and skin beautiful too. More on that later in this article.
Keeping inflammation under control is so important to your health. It’s responsible for nasty stuff like acne, arthritis, and even certain cancers. Adding supplements packed with antioxidants to your daily routine keeps inflammation at bay.
Men, if you eat pumpkin seed oil, your prostate will thank you. Including pumpkin seeds in your diet can help control an enlarged prostate. Plus, they help calm down an overactive bladder.
Ever heard of tryptophan? It’s one of the amino acids used by your body to create melatonin and serotonin. Both are essential for a good night’s sleep. Pumpkin seeds are a natural source of this protein and, when included in your diet, can lead to better sleep.
Pumpkin Seed Oil for Skin & Hair
There are a ton of great ways to use pumpkin seed oil to enhance your beauty regimen.
As we mentioned earlier in the article, it’s super rich in antioxidants like vitamin E. Which means it has anti-aging properties that other oils lack. This powerful nutrient helps your body strengthen and repair damaged cells.
You can use this oil on your skin as a moisturizer. It’s a great carrier oil for other essential oils that might be too harsh to put directly on the skin. And you can add it to bath water to keep your skin moisturized.
Use it in your diet to improve your skin from the inside out. With its ability to keep inflammation down, it’s great if you have skin issues like acne, eczema, or psoriasis that are caused by inflammation. The Vitamin E in the oil helps your body repair the damaged cells that these diseases cause.
Many people use pumpkin seed oil to improve skin tone. If your skin is dull or gray, create a face mask using this oil to help brighten up your skin. Applying it to your skin also helps improve the appearance of scars and dark spots..
Vitamin E is also great for strengthening your hair and nails, allowing you to grow them longer without breakage. Use pumpkin seed oil for hair that’s shiny and strong. Add a teaspoon to your normal shampoo and use it regularly to see lasting results.
And speaking of hair, studies show that consuming pumpkin seed oil can help with hair growth. Balding men who consumed the oil every day were more likely to regrow lost hair than those who didn’t.
Tips for Cooking
You may think of pumpkin seeds as those big, flat, white seeds that come out of the pumpkin when you’re hollowing out the jack-o-lantern. But actually, the seeds inside those white casings are dark green. And that makes pumpkin oil a beautiful green color.
Like many nut oils, it’s sensitive to heat and has a low smoking point. So it’s not a very good oil for frying or sauteeing. You’ll want to use this oil as a finishing oil, rather than something you cook with. Drizzle it onto meats and veggies after they’re cooked to add more dimension to the flavor.
Because it has a fresh, pumpkin flavor, it’s great for holiday meals. Add it to cooked squash or roasted veggies at your Thanksgiving table. And use it as the base for delicious pumpkin flavored vinaigrettes for your holiday salads.
Add it to your scrambled eggs right after you take them out of the pan for a fresh kick. Jazz up your bread and cheese platter by adding pumpkin seed oil as a dipping oil.
Also, it’s a great oil to use on sweet dishes. Use a few sprinkles as a topping over french toast or fried bananas. Some people even love to drizzle it over a bowl of vanilla ice cream.
Curious where to buy pumpkin seed oil? Search for the top pumpkin seed oil on Amazon. You’ll be amazed at the variety of pumpkin oil on the market.
But beware that you often get what you pay for. The best bottles of pumpkin seed oil will cost you a little more than olive oil. But it’s worth it for the extra flavor!
Always check the pumpkin seed oil dosage on the bottle when buying supplements. Stick to 1,000-milligram capsules or less.
Add Some Pumpkin Seed Oil to Your Life!
There are no negative pumpkin seed oil side effects. It’s chock full of antioxidants, including vitamin E and magnesium.
Vitamin E makes your skin and hair strong and beautiful. And magnesium is essential for heart health.
So what are you waiting for?! Start using it as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Looking for some great ways to incorporate pumpkin seed oil into your pegan diet? Check out our favorite pegan diet recipes! You can add this oil to any of these recipes for a new, fresh take on flavor.
