Properties: Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are the edible seeds of pumpkins. Their shape is oval and flat. They are surrounded by a white, hard shell that must be removed before consumption. They have a greenish color.
Origin: Pumpkin seeds
Originally, the pumpkin is said to have originated from America. Pumpkin seeds are used, among others, from the Styrian pumpkin, which is cultivated in the state of Styria in Austria. Additional seeds come from other European countries such as Hungary, Slovenia, Russia, and Asia.
Uses: Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds can be eaten on their own. However, they also work well as an ingredient in cereals and for baking bread and buns. Roasted pumpkin seeds can be used in soups or salads.
Storage: Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds should be stored dry, cool, and always well sealed. To avoid mold or rancidity, the seeds should be protected from moisture, light, and oxygen.
Health: Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are not only perfect for snacking but are also good for you. They contain important nutrients, are rich in magnesium and antioxidants. Thus, they protect our body preventively against cancer, strengthen the heart, and even lower blood sugar levels. A regular consumption of pumpkin seeds can counteract prostate enlargement in men and compensate for a possible zinc deficiency.
Season
Pumpkin seeds are available throughout the year in dried form. Pumpkins themselves are harvested from September to November and are available partially until January.
Taste: creamy and nutty
Origin and General Information
Pumpkin seeds are the seeds of the pumpkin, an ancient cultivated plant known to humans for over 7,000 years. Outside the American double continent before its discovery, it did not occur but has since spread in all warmer regions of the world. Especially since the 16th century, cultivation by humans contributed significantly to its rapid spread.
The Five Pumpkin Species
Of over 800 pumpkin species that exist worldwide, only five are cultivated. The giant, garden, and muskmelon pumpkins are most commonly found in gardens. The fruits of the pumpkins can weigh more than 200 kilograms on a scale. Thus, pumpkins have the largest fruits among all plants. Regardless of size, each pumpkin fruit contains approximately 150 seeds.
Botanically speaking, the pumpkin is not actually a fruit but a berry. The characteristic feature lies in the embedded pumpkin seeds within the fruit flesh. Due to its extremely hard shell, pumpkins are commonly known as "armored berries."
Maturity Time and Harvesting of Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkins require approximately 60-150 days for maturity. The harvesting time is between August and October, with pumpkins often harvested beyond their optimal ripeness to make the fruit flesh easier to separate. Processing the fruits and separating the seeds are then either done automatically or manually. The extracted seeds are freed from residual fruit flesh, washed, and subsequently dried. Finally, the shells are removed and dried a second time before being supplied to trade.
Purchase and Storage of Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds can be purchased both shelled and unshelled. Additionally, they may be natural, roasted, or salted. Even coated with chocolate, they are offered as a sweet snack. Regardless of the form in which pumpkin seeds are consumed, one should always pay attention to the best before date and not exceed it. Unprocessed pumpkin seeds can last up to a year under cool and dry storage conditions.
Use in Cooking
Pumpkin seeds serve as a versatile food supplement in many ways. For example, in the form of pumpkin seed oil, which is extracted from the oil pumpkin and particularly suitable for cold kitchens. The pumpkin seeds enrich muesli, salads, soups, and other raw dishes as well as baked goods. Special mention should be made here of pumpkin seed bread. Through baking, the aromas of the seeds intensify and their taste imparts to the dough.
Pumpkin Seeds as Medicinal Products
Thus, pumpkin seeds are as valuable as a medicinal product. The special advantage of pumpkin seeds over other healthy foods is their good taste. They can be used as an evening snack that does not hit the figure like the universally popular chips. In baking, they have long been known as a very tasty ingredient for healthy whole grain or pure pumpkin seed breads. They also suit perfectly as a crunchy addition to salads or morning muesli.
Effect of Pumpkin Seeds in the Body
Pumpkin seeds contain many vitamins and are thus very healthy for the human body. They help with bladder problems and prostate issues, are good for the heart-circulatory system, and have anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, pumpkin seeds are rich in unsaturated fatty acids that play a crucial role in metabolism and the entire heart-circulatory system. A deficiency of these fatty acids is responsible for many modern civilization diseases such as allergies, rheumatism, gout, and chronic ailments. The consumption of nuts and seeds rich in high-quality plant oils can have curative and preventive effects.
Precious Pumpkin Seed Oil
Pure pumpkin seed oil is considered a particularly valuable and healthy cooking oil that gives any salad a nutty flavor note. The oil from the seeds makes up about 50%. The contained unsaturated fatty acids are stearic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid. This last unsaturated fatty acid cannot be produced by the human body itself.
An additional important component is the antioxidant vitamin E. Similarly, vitamins C, A, D, B1, B2, and B6 are found in pumpkin seeds. The beta-carotin, which, along with other carotenoids, provides the green color of pumpkin seed oil, helps prevent skin damage from sun exposure. With a daily consumption of a handful of pumpkin seeds, the need for mineral substances and trace elements such as magnesium, iron, zinc, and selenium is covered.
Pumpkin Seeds Contain Phyosterols
The phyosterols in pumpkin seeds can be found in many plant oils. These plant sterols have a cholesterol-lowering effect, but most effectively when consumed simultaneously with cholesterol. This means that pumpkin seeds should also often be eaten during regular meals. Supporting this process is the contained lignan, which has the ability to lower total cholesterol and at the same time increase the positive HDL. Thus, arteriosclerosis caused by cholesterol can be counteracted. Phyosterols affect the production of harmful blood lipids and thereby reduce the risk of heart-circulatory diseases. It is believed that phyosterols have a similar structure to the body's own testosterone, which could explain their special effectiveness in prostate therapy.
Also falling into this effect area are the phytoestrogens of pumpkin seeds, which can exert hormone-like effects and contribute to improved health for men and women alike. For women, the positive effect of these estrogens is particularly noticeable during menopause. In older men, they inhibit substances that cause prostate enlargement. Generally, pumpkins have been used since centuries for all urinary tract diseases.