One of the best foods you may be missing: Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are tasty and among the very highest source of some hard to get minerals, especially magnesium and zinc. They are also rich in copper, vitamin E and other antioxidants.
The graph shows some key nutrients and how much of the day’s requirements are supplied by a single serving of pumpkin seeds. Wow! This graph is from the book: World’s Healthiest Foods which is one of my favorites.
In addition to the nutrients, pumpkin seeds have unique phytosterols that may benefit cholesterol levels and prostate function.
How to use:
The most nutritional forms are the whole seed with the outer shell present. The membrane just inside of this is the source of many of the minerals. That is removed when the shell is taken off. The shelled green seeds are still high in antioxidants and phytosterols.
Pumpkins are great foods and these nutritional profiles are nearly interchangeable with squash seeds. Take a pumpkin or a squash, remove the seeds and rinse. Take the rinsed seeds and shake in a bag with 1 tsp powdered sea salt.
Where do you get powdered sea salt you may ask? Take good sea salt and run it dry in your blender, 1-2 cups at a time for 1 minute. Ta Da!
Next spread the seeds on a baking sheet and bake in a 250 degree oven for 30 minutes. They’re amazing!
Stay tuned for a recipe on what to do with the rest of the pumpkin or squash.