With October fast approaching the craze right now is everything Pumpkin! Pumpkin pie, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin tea, pumpkin custard…I think you get the point!! While carving pumpkins with my nephew I decided to keep the seeds and bake them. Something I haven’t done since I was a kid. I forgot how delicious they are…and such a great healthy snack!! So when you are doing your carving keep the seeds and follow this easy recipe for a very nutritious snack!
Why are pumpkin seeds so good for your health?
- Pumpkin seeds are actually the ONLY seed that is alkalinizing! This is a very good thing due to the Standard American diet being so acidic which plays a negative part on your body
- They are packed with magnesium (refer to my previous post on magnesium)
- They contain high levels of zinc which is important for immunity, skin health and so much more
- Great source of plant based omega 3’s
- Reduce LDL cholesterol levels
- Pumpkin seeds have anti-inflammatory compounds- great for arthritis!
- The tryptophan in pumpkin seeds promote a good nights sleep
- Contain anti-stress properties, pumpkin seeds contain glutamate which is needed to produce GABA (anti-stress and anxiety neurochemical)
- High antioxidant content, specifically vitamin E
- Excellent source of B-vitamins
- Contain high levels of essential minerals such as zinc, magnesium, manganese, selenium, calcium, iron and potassium
- Have anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties
- Cancer preventing
- Great source of protein
I could go on for days, there are so many amazing health benefits packed into such a small package. Now…. how do you make pumpkin seeds taste good??
Ingredients:
- Pumpkin seeds
- Coconut oil
- Sea salt
Directions:
- Start off by cleaning the seeds after you gut your pumpkin. Unfortunately this part is not very fun, but it will be worth it in the end!
- I like to boil my pumpkin seeds for about 8 minutes, this helps make them easier to digest
- Then drain the seeds, you can either spread them out on a baking sheet to dry or pat dry with a paper towel
- Once dry add approximately 1 tablespoon of melted coconut oil, spread oil around with your fingers so it covers all the seeds
- Sprinkle with sea salt
- Pre heat the oven to 325 and bake for approximately 25 minutes, checking them often to make sure they don’t burn.
- Let cool and enjoy!!
Enjoy this wonderful fall weather!
In good health,
~Jamie-Lynn