High magnesium content in pumpkin seeds helps maintain nerve function and muscle health
While it is common knowledge that your morning routine sets the tone for the entire day, it is important you make it healthy. According to experts, what you eat or drink after you wake up affects not just your general well-being but also your weight and energy levels. And so, here come the pumpkin seeds – a powerhouse of protein and other nutrients.
Loaded with nutrition, pumpkin seeds are super delicious and crunchy, with high magnesium content that can help maintain nerve function and muscle health. Also rich in z which enhances immunity and skin health, pumpkin seeds have plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, which help strengthen your heart and brain.
And so, it is important to eat a handful of these seeds—whether raw, roasted, or added to breakfast dishes—as a wholesome addition to your daily morning diet.
Why should you eat pumpkin seeds in the morning?
Gives you energy
The high protein content in pumpkin seeds, along with magnesium and fibre helps maintain steady energy levels throughout the day as they stabilise blood sugar levels, which prevents energy crashes.
Aids digestion and gut health
The high fibre content in pumpkin seeds helps aid and regulate digestion and support gut health, promoting regular bowel movements that support a healthy gut microbiome.
Fibre not only adds bulk to the stool, making it easier to pass through the digestive system and preventing constipation, but also acts as a food source for beneficial gut bacteria, which helps relieve constipation and promote regular bowel movements.
Enhances brain function
Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc, a mineral needed for enhancing memory and thinking skills. They are also a useful source of stress-busting magnesium, B vitamins, and tryptophan, the precursor to the good mood chemical serotonin. According to experts, zinc plays a crucial role in nerve signaling, reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
Strengthens immunity levels
Pumpkin seeds contribute greatly to strengthening immunity levels due to their rich content of zinc and vitamin E, both crucial for immune function and protecting against infections.
Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, protects your body from damage caused by free radicals and supports a healthy immune response. Doctors say, in addition to boosting immunity, pumpkin seeds also offer various other health benefits, which include improved heart health, prostate health, and better sleep.
Support weight loss and management
Pumpkin seeds support weight management due to their high fibre and protein content, which promotes satiety, curbs overeating, and aids in lowering hunger and cravings.
The minimum fibre recommendations for adults to support overall health and weight maintenance are 19–38 grams per day. A half-cup serving of pumpkin seeds with their shells removed provides 5 grams of fibre, while a half serving with shells provides 1.5 grams.
How to add pumpkin seeds to your diet?
You can enjoy pumpkin seeds both with and without their shells. According to experts, those without shells are often known as pepitas and can be identified by their smaller, green appearance. Pumpkin seeds can be enjoyed in a number of ways for breakfast, like:
- Raw or in a homemade trail mix
- Sprinkled onto salads or waffles
- Baked into muffins or on top of bread
- Mixed into yogurt and oatmeal
- Blended into smoothies
- On top of avocado toast
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