Pumpkin seeds for the prostate: effect and application

Pumpkin seeds are an insider tip when it comes to prostate health care. But do the green seeds actually help when a man has problems with the prostate?

Folk medicine: Pumpkin seeds relieve symptoms of an enlarged prostate

From the age of fifty it affects about every second man, at eighty almost everyone: there are difficulties urinating and at the same time the urge to urinate. The cause is a benign enlarged prostate. Nibbling pumpkin seeds or taking pumpkin seed extracts is said to help.

• The tasty green kernels from the pumpkin fruit seem to have a lot to offer: in addition to a number of valuable minerals, it is believed that a substance called beta-sitosterol is crucial for positive effects on the prostate and bladder.
• Beta-sitosterol is an active ingredient that can block the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT in turn plays a major role in the unwanted growth of the prostate.
• Since there are not enough large and long-term studies on the effects of pumpkin seed extracts, their effectiveness is currently not recognized by conventional medicine.
• At least individual examinations show an improvement in the symptoms of men who previously had mild to moderate courses. For example, a study sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry from the University of Cologne.
• The problem with generally valid statements is that pumpkin seeds are not the same as pumpkin seeds. The pithy superfood differs depending on the variety and cultivation with regard to the active ingredient content. The same applies to food supplements in the form of powders and extracts.

Use of pumpkin seeds for mild to moderate complaints

According to urologists, taking pumpkin seed extracts or pumpkin seeds can neither remove the cause of the prostate enlargement nor reverse the enlargement.

• If you still want to try pumpkin seed extracts, use an agent that has a high active ingredient content.
• You can choose between pumpkin seed powder, oil or drops. In some agents, pumpkin seed is additionally supplemented with saw palmetto, nettle and other plant substances that are said to provide positive support for a bladder and prostate.
• A comparison of the pills and capsules with regard to the content of active ingredients is difficult, because food supplements only declare how much powder or extract is contained.
• If you do not want to use extracts, powders or oils, but the kernels in their natural state, it is best to choose unloaded pumpkin seeds in organic quality. Eat about 10 grams of this with the meal.
• Pumpkin seeds - whether roasted or untreated - are definitely a healthy addition to the kitchen. They can be used in a variety of ways - whether sprinkled over a yoghurt or curd cheese, as a topping over salad or soup or as an ingredient in braised pan dishes.

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