Roasted pumpkin seeds: useful properties, composition and calorie content

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Many nutritionists admit that pumpkin has a huge amount of useful properties. Its chemical composition is a real storehouse of various vitamins and minerals. However, benefits can be found not only in the pulp itself, but also in the seeds. So if you want to get a powerful dose of nutrients, then you should definitely try eating a small amount of roasted pumpkin seeds. They really can act as an ideal snack option when you need to quickly replenish strength and eat he althy food. This article will talk about the benefits of roasted pumpkin seeds, as well as their composition and calorie content.

Chemical composition

Before you start to find out what are the benefits and harms of roasted pumpkin seeds, you need to determine the composition of this product, which determines this or that action. As mentioned earlier, pumpkin seeds have a huge variety of vitamins and minerals. Especially among them, the following can be identified:

1. A whole range of B vitamins that the body needs to receive daily for normaloperation.
2. Vitamin PP, which helps to improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system. It is so abundant in seeds that one serving can satisfy the normal daily requirement for this vitamin by about 75 percent.
3. Also, phosphorus and potassium in this product helps to normalize the functioning of the heart muscle. Other minerals include zinc and iron. And if you eat only 50 g of roasted pumpkin seeds, you can provide the body with a daily intake of manganese.

As you can see, simple seeds contain a huge amount of nutrients that the body needs.

Nutritional value

And what is the calorie content of roasted pumpkin seeds? First of all, it is worth remembering that they are very fatty, since almost half of their weight is fat. So in total, out of 100 grams of the product, about 50 grams will fall precisely on fats. But there are practically no carbohydrates in them - only 5 grams fall on their mass. Proteins in them are about 35 grams. Everything else comes from dietary fiber, ash and water directly.

Therefore, as can be understood from the above information, fried pumpkin seeds are very high in calories - 100 grams of the product contains about 560 kcal. However, they are quite nutritious, so it is still impossible to eat a lot of them at a time.

He alth benefits

If we talk about the benefits of roasted pumpkin seeds, doctors recommend using them for people who suffer from hypertension. It has been found that regular consumption of them, even in small quantities, helps to lower blood pressure levels and even normalize it after a while. However, in order to achieve this effect, they really have to be eaten every day.

Besides this, pumpkin seeds are a truly excellent remedy for motion sickness. So if you have seasickness, then you should take a bag of seeds with you on the road and gradually eat them. In this case, nausea will not haunt you all the time.

Also, eating pumpkin seeds will be useful for patients with diabetes. They will help not only alleviate the existing symptoms of the disease, but also lower blood sugar levels. Other useful properties of this product include the prevention of osteoporosis, strengthening of bone tissue and improving the quality of the stool (especially useful for constipation).

Useful properties for women

As already found out, roasted pumpkin seeds are very good for he alth. Therefore, they are often recommended to pregnant women who suffer from severe toxicosis in the early stages of gestation. Drinking a small amount will help normalize the condition.

Besides, seeds have a good effect on the appearance of a woman. Hair after a while will become more shiny and silky, and wrinkles will not be a real problem for a long time. As it was noticed, if you regularly add pumpkin seeds to your food, then youth will last for a long time.

Bad sides

Despite the presence of such a huge number of positive aspects, this product also has its negative sides. The harm of roasted pumpkin seeds is quite real, so you need to use them quite carefully. Among the negative factors, the following must be mentioned:

1. When you eat pumpkin seeds, it is very important to consider their quantity. If you eat too much of them daily, it can lead to severe destruction of tooth enamel. To prevent a trip to the dentist, it is best to clean the seeds with your hands, not your teeth.
2. People who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract need to be very careful with this product. In some cases, seeds can provoke a sharp increase in acidity in the stomach or intestinal obstruction.
3. It is also worth considering the fact that roasted seeds contain a large amount of s alt, which settles in the body and ultimately leads to s alting. If such a problem appears, then first of all it will affect the joints, which will begin to lose their mobility.

All of the above information leads to the fact that if you want to start eating pumpkin seeds regularly, then you need to eat only a few pieces a day. So you definitely shouldn't get carried away with them.

Information for losing weight

Those people who choose products with an eye to the fact that they want to lose weight should definitely take into account the fact that pumpkin seeds have a very high level of fat, and therefore have an incredibly largecalories. So if there is a desire to lose weight, then you definitely do not need to consume more than 10 pieces per day. Despite the large amount of vitamins and minerals, seeds will negatively affect the figure.

Benefits of raw seeds

Despite the fact that roasted seeds have a lot of useful properties, doctors still recognize that they are best consumed raw. Let this product taste a little worse than fried, but due to the lack of heat treatment, all vitamins and minerals can be obtained in full.

Now let's talk about what you can get in full from raw pumpkin seeds. First of all, it is worth mentioning that they contain a small amount of toxin. It is completely safe for people, so they definitely won’t get poisoned, but it’s incredibly dangerous for various parasites that can settle in the body. So often in the presence of helminthiasis, seeds are really a great treatment.

It is also worth mentioning the large amount of phytosterols that are found in the seeds. With their help, you can significantly cleanse the vessels of bad cholesterol. And L-tryptophan will have a positive effect on mood, even helping to overcome feelings of depression and loss of energy. After a while, you will notice that the night's sleep has become stronger and calmer.

Some doctors recommend eating the seeds as a preventive measure against kidney stones.

Cooking

One can argue ad infinitum whether pumpkin seeds are he althy: roasted or raw. Each of them has its own set of pros and cons. It's best to focus on how to prepare them without losing many of their he alth benefits. To do this, it is best to adhere to the following recommendations:

1. To cook delicious and slightly savory pumpkin seeds in the oven, add about two teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce, half a teaspoon of s alt and a little dried garlic to a bowl of seeds.
2. The resulting mixture must be mixed very well, and then add about one and a half tablespoons of melted butter to it (if desired, it can be replaced with any vegetable).
3. Everything is mixed again, and then sent to a baking sheet. It is necessary to bake the seeds in an oven preheated to 140 degrees for an hour. At the same time, you need to periodically pull them out and mix them. They should eventually turn golden.

After cooking, the seeds will need to be cooled beforehand and then you can eat directly.

More information

The benefits of pumpkin seeds have been known for a long time. Back in the period when North America was inhabited by tribes, they were already actively used in treatment. Pumpkin seeds are now especially popular in Mexico, where they are one of the most popular snacks. Here, during cooking, they are fried with various spices and seasonings, creatingunique flavors.

However, it is worth knowing that in order for the body to receive all the benefits from the seeds, they must be chewed very carefully, because otherwise the digestive system simply will not digest the food. As a last resort, if there is no desire to gnaw seeds, then you can use pumpkin seed oil, which is freely sold in the store. Its regular addition to food will cure prostatitis, prostate adenoma and improve the elasticity of the prostate gland. So men should definitely take a closer look at this oil.

Conclusion

The answer to the question of whether roasted pumpkin seeds are he althy is definitely positive. And yet, it is better to use them fresh. However, even if you like them a lot, you don't need to eat a lot at once.

In general, seeds can really be called an incredibly useful product that contains the necessary vitamins and minerals that a person needs for normal life. In addition, they have a very peculiar taste, which is very well combined with various products.