The name "pumpkin" originated from the Greek word "pepon," which
means "large melon."
Pumpkin seeds are more than 30 percent protein.
Pumpkin seeds contain active compounds of essential fatty acids,
amino acids and vitamins.
Sources: University of South Carolina Spartanburg, Journal of Tongji
Medical University, University of Oklahoma

Centuries before the pilgrims arrived in North America, Native
Americans were using pumpkin seeds not just as food, but also for
medicinal purposes. Colonial settlers quickly followed suit, relying
on pumpkin seeds to help a variety of ailments, from kidney problems
to "female ills." These days, pumpkins generally are relegated to
harvest festivals, Halloween, and holiday pie-making, and the seeds
are often tossed away. But as the early Americans came to realize,
the power of the pumpkin lies in the seeds it contains.

Pumpkin is a member of the Cucurbita family (which also includes
squash and cucumbers). Researchers at Harvard Medical School found
that the seeds of cucurbita plants are particularly nutrient-dense --
they're an excellent natural source of zinc, iron, potassium,
phosphorus and magnesium; vitamins A, E and the B-complex; omega-3
and omega-6, also known as essential fatty acids; and the beneficial
polyunsaturated fatty acid, linolenic acid.

The nutrients in pumpkin seeds can guard and improve your health in a
number of ways. According to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition,
pumpkin seeds are more than half (by weight) fat. But more than 80
percent of that fat is "good fat" -- the polyunsaturated kind that
helps support the cardiovascular system by maintaining a healthy
cholesterol level. Vitamin E also has a positive effect on heart and
circulatory system.

The high concentration of zinc in pumpkin seeds helps maintain a
healthy bladder and urinary system. Germany's Commission E -- a
scientific committee that collects data on herbal medicine and
evaluates its safety and efficacy -- has approved using pumpkin seeds
for bladder problems. Especially important for older men, the
American Medical Association reports that the zinc and vitamin E in
pumpkin seeds may help maintain a healthy prostate, and reduce
symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia.

But perhaps the most time-tested use for pumpkin seeds is to
eliminate intestinal parasites. Long a folk remedy -- from 1863 to
1936, the United States Pharmacopoeia listed pumpkin seeds as the
preferred medicine for parasitic infection -- this use has a medical
basis. Pumpkin seeds are the only seeds of the Cucurbita family to
contain the amino acid cucurbitin, an active ingredient that is
believed to paralyze intestinal parasites and expel them from the
body. This same ingredient also is good for controlling intestinal
bacteria, which can cause rectal itching. And even if this particular
problem is something you'd rather not think about, be aware that
medical researchers have acknowledged that parasites are a
contributing factor to a variety of diseases and conditions,
including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, arthritis and
rheumatoid symptoms, chronic fatigue syndrome and Epstein-Barr virus.

Pumpkin seeds can be eaten raw or roasted. A handful three times a
day is a good "dose." But if you'd rather not snack, pumpkin seed
oil -- found as an extract or as an ingredient in nutritional
supplements -- offers the same benefits.