Pumpkin seeds, Purity : 100%

‘Pepita’, is a Spanish culinary term for the edible kernels of the pumpkin fruit. Early Native American farmers consumed pumpkin seeds and used them for medicinal purposes too. It is said that Columbus carried pumpkin seeds back with him to Europe. While there, they were used to feed farm animals as the seeds were not considered edible at the time. Today however, pumpkin seeds are tiny nutritional powerhouses.
 

Top reasons to eat pumpkin seeds
 

• They help in developing the body’s immune system.
   

• A good portion of pumpkin seeds aid cell growth and division.
   

• Pumpkin seeds can positively affect your mood according to independent researchers.
   

• Enrich your senses of taste and smell.
   

• Boost eye and skin health.
   

• Help insulin regulation.
   

• Pumpkin seeds provide benefits for heart and liver health, particularly when mixed with flax seeds because they are rich in healthy fats, antioxidants and fibers.
   

• Eating pumpkin seeds a few hours before bed, along with some carbohydrates (a small piece of fruit) can promote a good night’s sleep. This is because it provides your body with the tryptophan needed for your melatonin and serotonin levels.
   

Nutritional composition

The versatile pumpkin fruit has flowers, seeds and flesh that are edible and nutrient rich. Pumpkin seeds are high in calories (about 559 calories per 100 g.) In addition, they are packed with fiber and numerous antioxidants. Furthermore, the seeds have many health-benefiting vitamins and minerals like copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc, as well as essential amino-acids such as tryptophan and glutamate. Its nutritional composition includes:
 

Magnesium: Magnesium is a valuable mineral that is required for energy production. It also contributes to the structural development of bones and aids blood pressure regulation.
 

Manganese: While manganese is not usually first thought of as a dietary mineral, it is nevertheless an important mineral that aids in skin integrity and blood sugar control.
 

Phosphorus: Phosphorus is a mineral that makes up 1% of a person's total body weight. The main function of phosphorus is in the formation of bones and teeth.