After being elbow deep in pumpkin guts from carving your jack-o'-lantern, why not reward yourself with the aromas and taste of freshly roasted pumpkin seeds?
After being elbow deep in pumpkin guts from carving your jack-o'-lantern, why not reward yourself with the aromas and taste of freshly roasted pumpkin seeds?
Pumpkin seeds are packed with nutrition, particularly magnesium, which is involved in biochemical reactions that help keep bones strong. A magnesium-rich diet may also help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, a collection of risk factors leading to heart disease, stroke and diabetes, according to findings from a National Institutes of Health-supported study called CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults).
The Agricultural Research Service's Community Nutrition Research Group says that only about one third of Americans meets the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for magnesium. Just 1/4 cup of roasted pumpkin seeds contains 95 percent of the RDA. Pumpkin seeds also provide lots of B vitamins, protein and are a valuable source of plant-based iron.
Most of the fatty acids in pumpkin seeds are monounsaturated, and the polyunsaturated fats are omega6 fatty acids. A quarter cup of pumpkin seeds has almost 300 calories, making this a healthy snack or a crunchy topping for yogurt or salads not just at Halloween, but year round.
