Pumpkin seeds are small but each of those small seeds is a nutritional powerhouse. Just by consuming a small amount of pumpkin seeds, you will be able to get a good amount of zinc, magnesium, and healthy fats. They offer numerous benefits and are extremely useful for your cardiovascular health. But what benefits can pumpkin seeds bring for men?
Pumpkin Seeds Benefits for Men
You need to understand that just like women you have your own special dietary needs and health problems. Most of these health concerns are associated with age; however, including pumpkin seeds in your diet can protect you from age-related health issues that older men usually experience. Here are some of the reasons why you may want to include pumpkin seeds in your diet.
1. It Prevents Fertility Issues in Men
Your zinc levels will come down with age, and this decline can result in several reproductive health issues, including prostate enlargement and impotency. You need zinc to avoid experiencing fertility and performance issues, mainly because zinc plays a role in preventing the buildup of an androgen called DHT that affects male sexual health and hair growth. Higher DHT levels directly affect testosterone levels in the body, which in turn will have an impact on fertility, balding, and sexual health. Pumpkin seeds are beneficial because they are rich in zinc.
2. It Prevents Osteoporosis
One of the pumpkin seeds benefits for men is osteoporosis prevention. Osteoporosis usually affects postmenopausal women, but studies show that men are not immune to it. In fact, one out of every 8 men over the age of 50 suffers from an osteoporotic fracture. The disease directly affects the bone density levels, but pumpkin seeds, which contain lots of zinc, help improve your bone density and stave off osteoporosis.
3. It Improves Prostate Health
Pumpkin seeds may improve your prostate health mainly because they provide you with carotenoids that help prevent the activation of prostate cell multiplication. They are especially beneficial against Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH), which actually is enlargement of the prostate gland. It is not clear how pumpkin seeds help in this regard, but there is evidence that regular intake of these seeds may maintain prostate health and prevent cancer as well.
4. It Improves Male Sex Drive
It is a good idea to include pumpkin seeds in your diet because doing so will improve your sex drive. You get loads of niacin, calcium, potassium, and phosphorous from each serving of pumpkin seeds, and these minerals help improve libido. Phosphorous is extremely important for energy production and better sex drive, whereas niacin has blood-dilating effect and improves tactile sensations. You also get myosin from pumpkin seeds – this motor protein improves muscle contractions and prevents male performance issues.
It is worth mentioning that a number of pumpkin seeds benefits for men come from the presence of magnesium. This mineral is present in your liver, kidneys, and bones, and is extremely important for your cardiovascular health. It is essential for proper brain and nerve function. At the same time, magnesium helps regular sex hormones and prevents performance issues.
Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds for All
It is true that pumpkin seeds are extremely beneficial for men, but that does not mean only men should include them in their diet. Pumpkin seeds have benefits for all.
1. It Lowers Risk of Cancer
Including pumpkin seeds in your diet helps lower your risk of cancer because these seeds provide your body with antioxidants that prevent oxidative damage to cells. Regular intake may also help eliminate free radicals from the body. Pumpkin seed extracts may also prove beneficial because they contain phenolic compounds that help get rid of free radicals. Since antioxidants also help lower inflammation in the body, pumpkin seeds are also beneficial against inflamed or enlarged prostate.
2. It Prevents Kidney Stones
Pumpkin seeds help detoxify your body. They act as diuretics and offer relief from the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. They also improve circulation and boost the functions of your kidneys and liver. This helps remove uric acid and other toxins from your body and lowers your risk of developing kidney stones and other problems like arthritis and gout.
3. It Improves Body Metabolism
Besides all the pumpkin seeds benefits for men, they contain a good amount of protein. Without enough protein in your diet, your body metabolism will suffer in a big way and you will become unhealthy, lethargic, weak, and generally exhausted. It is important to include enough protein in your diet because it is required in thousands of metabolic and enzymatic processes every day. You get about 12g of protein from a cup of pumpkin seeds, and this equals 25% of your recommended daily intake of protein.
4. It Prevents Insomnia
If you find it difficult to sleep at night with your mind racing all the time, you may be dealing with anxiety. Stress and anxiety can affect your overall health in more ways than you can imagine. You will have a hard time sleeping when you are under stress, and sleep deprivation can lead to all sorts of health problems. A simple solution is to include pumpkin seeds in your diet that contain tryptophan and magnesium, which calm you down and stimulate sleep.
5. It Improves Cardiovascular Health
Yet another reason to include pumpkin seeds in your diet is that they are extremely beneficial for your heart health. Pumpkin seeds contain phytosterols, which help lower bad cholesterol levels in the body and lower your risk of developing blood clots and atherosclerosis. By lowering your cholesterol levels, pumpkin seeds also lower your risk of strokes and heart attack. They can also lower blood pressure because they contain copper, which stimulates the production of red blood cells.