alongside sugar skulls, tamales and alcohol, you might also find candied pumpkin seeds on altars during Día de los Muertos “day of the dead”, a mexican holiday honouring deceased friends and family members
The oldest pumpkin seed found dates back as far as 7,000 bc. not sure how that would taste.
magnesium boost
Fatigue, aches and pains, mood problems, and muscle twitches are common symptoms of hypomagnesemia, the fancy term for magnesium deficiency. We definitely recommend seeing a doctor if you have those symptoms but if you’re just looking for a good source of magnesium, look no further than pumpkin seeds.
guys, take note
A lot of men think they don’t need help - until they do. Prostate health is one of those things that many don’t feel comfortable talking about. Pumpkin seeds, while not a silver bullet, is a food source that helps with prostate health. We won’t put up all the details here since we’re not WebMD, but why not add some to your diet? Especially when they’re pretty tasty.
hate counting sheep?
Zinc, magnesium and tryptophan - these three components are associated with promoting good sleep, and they’re all found in pumpkin seeds too. The presence of zinc also assists the brain in converting tryptophan into serotonin, the chemical in our brains often associated with happiness.
Large melon
The word pumpkin was introduced to the English language sometime during the 1640s. It was derived from the Greek word ‘pepon’ which means large melon. The world record for the largest pumpkin is held by a grower from Belgium. The record breaking melon weighed in at 2,323.7 pounds (1,190kg) - roughly the same weight as a small car.
a fall staple
While we don’t experience the four seasons in Singapore, the pumpkin is the quintessential symbol of autumn in the US, which is when the harvest comes in. Pumpkins were very important to many Native American cultures, as they relied on them heavily as a food source. While they are still valued as a food crop, today they are more widely used for their ornamental value - think carved Jack-o’-Lanterns during Halloween.