Culinarily, pumpkin seeds have an extremely mild, slightly nutty flavor that complements a variety of dishes. They are also a healthy whole food source of fat and when ground up they are a great thickener or as an addition to a powdered or granulated ingredient, albeit adding a greenish tinge.
Pumpkin seeds have beneficial effects on “cardiovascular risk factors🔎,” lowering LDL cholesterol as well as “lipid profile and body mass index🔎.” Pumpkin seeds “significantly reduced🔎” overactive bladder symptoms, and relieved enlarged prostate (BPH & nocturia) “symptoms with no side effects🔎,” by as much as “30.1%🔎.” And “evidence for a reduced postmenopausal breast cancer risk🔎” was significantly reduced.
There is also data showing that pumpkin seeds can fight “human papillary thyroid carcinoma cells,” prostate cancer cells, thyroid carcinoma cells, and even parasitic infections but they were all studies performed on human cells, not on full humans so the data is speculative but still promising.
Here’s the compelling science-backed health data that I’ve found so far. If I’ve made any mistakes, please let me know!
Published on:
Last Updated:
Properties:
relieves BPH/Prostate symptoms, reduced breast cancer risk, reduced nocturia, lower CVD risk, lower lipids, lower LDL cholesterol, lower BMI
Cautions:
potential allergen, mold from bad storage
Average Price USD: ~
$3.48cup (4.5oz)
$0.88 / oz
$1.75 / 100 grams
Availability:
7-11, Amazon, Costco, Krogers, Loblaws, Walmart, Whole Foods
✨ Key Healing Takeaways ✨
Bladder (Overactive)
In brief, clinical studies found that pumpkin seeds significantly reduced the degree of Overactive Bladder Symptoms over as little as a 12-week period.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
A single-blind randomized controlled trial demonstrated that pumpkin seed relieved BPH symptoms with no side effects, although it was less effective than tamsulosin. Both treatments significantly reduced symptoms, highlighting the potential of pumpkin seed oil as a safer and cheaper alternative. Another study also found that pumpkin seeds had a symptom reduction of 30.1% for BPH and helped with a notable decrease in nocturia.
Breast Cancer
A multicenter case-control study involving 2,884 postmenopausal women found that high consumption of phytoestrogen-rich foods, particularly pumpkin seeds, is associated with a significantly reduced breast cancer risk.
Metabolic Syndrome & Obesity
A clinical trial with 889 patients found significantly lower levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and a reduction in both lipid profile and body mass index (BMI) among individuals with cardiovascular diseases.
📚 NCDs – Citations & Sources
The Non-communicable diseases that [su_post post_type=”page”] fight or reverse.
Bladder (Overactive)
Pumpkin Seed Oil vs Overactive Bladder [2014, Jan]
A clinical study of: 45 subjects over 12 weeks.
Title: “Pumpkin Seed Oil Extracted From Cucurbita maxima Improves Urinary Disorder in Human Overactive Bladder”
- The study concluded: “Pumpkin seed oil from C. maxima significantly reduced the degree of Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) in the subjects.”
- “The results suggest that pumpkin seed oil extracts from both C. maxima and C. pepo are effective for urinary disorders such as OAB in humans.“
BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia / Enlarged Prostate Gland)
Pumpkin Seed Oil vs. Tamsulosin for BPH [2020, Oct]
A single-blind randomized controlled trial of: 73 patients aged ≥ 50 years, over a period of 3 months.
Title: “Pumpkin seed oil (Cucurbita pepo) versus tamsulosin for benign prostatic hyperplasia symptom relief: a single-blind randomized clinical trial”
- The study concluded: “Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) seed oil relieved BPH symptoms with no side effects, but was not as effective as tamsulosin.”
- “Both pumpkin seed oil and tamsulosin significantly reduced BPH symptoms; however, due the higher reduction in IPSS scores from baseline to 1 month and 3 months, tamsulosin was more effective. The advantage of pumpkin seed was its lower side effects of pumpkin seeds.“
- “None of the patients in the pumpkin group experienced drug side effects, while dizziness (5.9%), headache (2.9%), retrograde ejaculation (2.9%), and erythema with pruritus occurred in the tamsulosin group.”
Notes: for reference, Tamsulosin costs about $108/month, without insurance, and has the following potential side effects: sleepiness, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, weakness, back pain, diarrhea, runny or stuffy nose, pain or pressure in the face, sore throat, cough, fever, chills, or other signs of infection, blurred vision, difficulty ejaculating, painful erection of the penis that lasts for hours, rash, itching, hives; swelling of the eyes, face, tongue, lips, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs.
Pumpkin Seed Extract vs BPH [2019, Jun]
A clinical trial & single-arm pilot study of: 60 men over 9 months.
Title: “Effects of an Oil-Free Hydroethanolic Pumpkin Seed Extract on Symptom Frequency and Severity in Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Pilot Study in Humans”
- “Participants experienced a significant average symptom reduction of 30.1% in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), with improvements in quality of life and a notable decrease in nocturia.”
Cancer
Breast Cancer Risk [2012, May]
A Multicenter Study of: 2,884 postmenopausal women with breast cancer and 5,509 controls, evaluating the association between phytoestrogen-rich foods and breast cancer risk.
Title: “The Association Between Dietary Lignans, Phytoestrogen-Rich Foods, and Fiber Intake and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Risk: A German Case-Control Study”
- “High and low consumption of soybeans as well as of sunflower and pumpkin seeds were associated with significantly reduced breast cancer risk compared to no consumption. The observed associations were not differential by ER [estrogen receptor] status. No statistically significant associations were found for dietary intake of plant lignans, fiber, or the calculated enterolignans. Our results provide evidence for a reduced postmenopausal breast cancer risk associated with increased consumption of sunflower and pumpkin seeds and soybeans.“
Metabolic Syndrome & Obesity w/ CVD
Pumpkin Seeds Reduce BMI & Lipid Profile In CVD Patients [2021, Jun]
A clinical trial of: 889 patients (313 female and 576 male) .
Title: “The relationship between seeds consumption, lipid profile and body mass index among patients with cardiovascular diseases”
- “Based on beneficial effects of seeds on cardiovascular risk factors, it seems that seeds consumption can be considered as a useful therapeutic approach for reducing lipid profile and body mass index.“
- “Women who consumed seeds 1-2 times/month had significantly lower levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol compared to non-consumers, while no changes were observed in men’s lipid profiles.”
- “The lowest BMI in women was associated with flaxseed preference and in men with sunflower preference.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34114771
Note: “Respondents indicated pumpkin seeds as the most commonly consumed seeds (45.19% of women and 53.06% of men)…”
Ingredients List
A Plant Based Lifestyle Diet
Apple Cider Vinegar
Basil
Beets
Broccoli
Brown Rice
Button Mushrooms / White Mushrooms
Cabbage
Chia Seeds
Dates / Date Fruit
Flax Seeds
Garlic
Lentils
Oats
Onions
Raisins
Sesame & Tahini
Spinach
Sunflower Seeds
