Ingredients:
- 250 g pumpkin seeds — best pre-soaked overnight
- 50 ml olive oil
- 60 ml water
- 1 clove of garlic
- ¼ tsp of turmeric powder
- 2 tbsp of miso paste
- 2 tbsp of lemon juice
- ½ tsp unrefined sea salt
Directions:
- Cover the pumpkin seeds with filtered water, add a little unrefined sea salt or Himalayan salt to re-mineralise the water and leave to soak overnight. You can soak for up to 3 days but make sure to change the soak water daily. When you are ready to use your seeds drain and rinse with fresh water.
- Place the pumpkin seeds and other ingredients in a food processor and blitz until smooth.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The taste improves with time as the flavours infuse.
Spread on seed crackers. You could just as easily use a combination of seeds, experiment and enjoy the results.
Pumpkin seeds: nutritonal benefits
Pumpkin seeds are a good source of vitamin K with some riboflavin and also contain the minerals iron, magnesium, manganese, copper and phosphorus as well as zinc. They are a good source of protein and antioxidants. Pumpkin seeds help to regulate blood sugar metabolism, kill intestinal parasites and promote healthy skin. Due to their high zinc content they are highly recommended for maintaining prostate health.
Pumpkin seeds for prostate health
According to James Duke, pumpkin seeds were the traditional treatment for prostate enlargement in Bulgaria, Turkey and the Ukraine. These tasty little seeds contain chemicals called cucurbitacins that help to prevent the transformation of testosterone into dihydrostestodterone, which is linked with prostate enlargement. They are high in certain amino acids—alanine, glycine and glutamic acid, which have been shown to relieve symptoms of prostate enlargement.¹
(1) Duke J. The Green Pharmacy. Emmaus Pennsylvania. Rodale Press. 1997. P. 370.