
Pumpkin seeds shouldn’t be relegated to the back shelf for the other 11 months of the year when Halloween preparations aren’t underway. These healthy seeds deserve to be part of your weekly meals.
Not only are they full of minerals (they’re a great source of zinc), they’re also high in disease-fighting antioxidants. Let’s take a look at the six reasons why you should eat a handful of pumpkin seeds every day.
1. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of zinc.
Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized that pumpkin seeds are an excellent way to boost your intake of zinc.
Zinc is needed to support the function of hundreds of enzymes, to boost your immune system (particularly during cold and flu season), and to help maintain sexual function.
To get the most zinc out of your pumpkin seeds, try eating them with the shell on. This is because zinc tends to concentrate in the endosperm envelope.
This tiny layer separates the seed from the shell and it is very difficult to remove it intact if you are going to eat the seeds by themselves. The shells contain a little more fiber than the seeds, but the extra chewing should be worth it in terms of your health.