What are Pepitas seeds?
Pepitas are small seeds obtained from certain types of pumpkins. Often interchangeably used with the term pumpkin seeds, they are quite different in appearance.
Pepitas seeds are incredibly rich in essential nutrients and have the added benefit of a savoury taste. Popular in Mexican dishes, these versatile seeds possess a thick edible shell and are generally roasted before consuming as healthy snacks. They can add a little crunch and flavor to a soup or stews, and can be used in several recipes, and other baked goods such as cookies and muffins.
Benefits of Pepitas seeds
Pepitas make a healthy and energizing snack since they are laden with healthy fats, proteins, and antioxidants. They also contain essential vitamins and minerals, making them suitable to promote prostate and bladder health. The seeds also help to deal with anxiety and induce sleep.
Let’s look at some of the potential benefits of pepitas seeds which make them the best addition to your regular diet.
Reduce anxiety and induce sleep
The magnesium and zinc present in pepitas seeds help reduce depression and anxiety, alleviate mood, calm our mind, and enhance sleep.
They are also rich tryptophan, which is an amino acid that can be converted into serotonin and a sleep hormone known as melatonin. Thus, if pepitas seeds are consumed two hours before bedtime, they can greatly enhance your night’s sleep.
Support cardiovascular health
Being rich in magnesium, pepitas seeds are known to regulate blood pressure levels and lower bad cholesterol. The antioxidants-rich pepitas protect our heart from various diseases. Therefore, consuming them regularly may prove beneficial for your overall heart health in the long run.
Reduce Menopausal Symptoms
Pepitas seeds are also a great source of natural phytoestrogens, and consuming these in food is known to reduce hot flashes, joint pain, and other symptoms of menopause in women, as phytoestrogens are capable of producing estrogenic effects.
Research has shown that postmenopausal women who consumed pepitas seeds daily for 12 weeks regularly, showed signs of reduced blood pressure and relief to some extent from their dreadful menopausal symptoms. Their regular consumption also helps to deal with vaginal dryness as well.
Boost immunity
Pepitas seeds help to boost our immune system since they are a rich source of antioxidants, zinc, and vitamin E.
Vitamin E and antioxidants help prevent free radicals from damaging the healthy cells in our body, helping to boost our body’s immunity, hence shielding our body from various infectious diseases.
The zinc present in them protects our body from inflammation and other allergies, thus preventing keeping infections at bay and increasing our overall immunity.
Improve fertility in men
Regular consumption of pepitas seeds is known to support prostate health and enhance fertility in men. The zinc present in them boosts testosterone levels, thus increasing the quality and quantity of sperms, hence making them more fertile.
Conclusion
The tiny pepitas seeds are a powerhouse of nutrition, and make an excellent choice to be included into your diet as much as possible. Depending on the recipe, pepitas may even substitute ordinary pumpkin seeds since they have a better taste, particularly if used as a garnish to a dish.
They are extremely versatile and can also be added to your smoothies, fruits, salads, yoghurt, soups, cereals, and many other recipes.
The seeds have shown tremendous benefits for those who consume pepitas on a regular basis. So, if you are still unsure whether you want to incorporate them in your diet, you are missing out on plenty of nutrition. Therefore, start consuming them from today.