The benefits and harms of pumpkin seeds “Do pumpkin seeds make you fat?”

Composition and calorie content of pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds have many beneficial properties. The product has a rich vitamin and mineral composition:

• B vitamins – thiamine, pantothenic acid, B9, choline, pyridoxine, riboflavin;
• ascorbic acid;
• vitamins E, K;
• record amounts of manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper;
• silicon;
• molybdenum;
• potassium;
• iodine;
• zinc;
• chlorine;
• cobalt;
• chromium;
• selenium;
• calcium;
• iron;
• fluorine;
• sodium.

The composition of the raw materials is also represented by replaceable and essential amino acids, fatty acids - saturated, mono- and polyunsaturated.

When dieting, the calorie content of pumpkin seeds is important. 100 g of product – 559 kcal. It is necessary to take into account other indicators of nutritional value:

• 49 g fat;
• 30 g proteins;
• about 5 g carbohydrates;
• 5 g water;
• 6 g dietary fiber.

Is it possible to eat pumpkin seeds while losing weight?

Pumpkin seeds are good for weight loss. They are well absorbed by the body and cleanse the gastrointestinal tract. Eating seeds can reduce cholesterol levels in the blood and improve the absorption of various beneficial elements.

The seeds regulate weight naturally, thanks to the normalization of hormonal levels. Pumpkin seeds are high in protein, which allows you to maintain muscle mass - an important point when losing weight.

The advantage of the product is that it stimulates the production of endorphins and serotonin. They are called happiness hormones for improving mood, which is often lacking during a diet.

Is it possible to gain weight from pumpkin seeds?

People who consume them in large quantities get better from pumpkin seeds. The reason lies not only in their high calorie content, but also in their high fat content.

General tips for use

Among the important recommendations of traditional and official medicine on the use of pumpkin seeds:

• love raw seeds, which are 2 times healthier than fried ones;
• do not salt them;
• remove spoiled seeds (rot, moldy, etc.);
• do not peel them with your teeth. Buy either peeled kernels, or do it yourself, but with your hands;
• the approximate consumption rate is 50 seeds per day, it is possible to eat more if the problem of extra pounds is not relevant to you;
• add seeds to your food. This will make the food more complete.

How to lose weight on pumpkin seeds

To lose weight, pumpkin seeds should be consumed in moderation. It is recommended to limit their quantity to 1-2 tbsp. l. in a day. It is imperative to consider the total calorie content of the diet, the content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Such calculations are the key to successful weight loss.

The product is sold raw - it is in this form that it is most useful. To improve the taste, raw materials can be dried in the oven or microwave. Frying is allowed, but only in a dry way - in a hot frying pan without oil. Heat treatment should be minimal, as it causes the beneficial properties of the product to be lost.

Eating pumpkin seeds at night when losing weight is not recommended, since the evening meal should be low-calorie, and any food should be avoided several hours before bedtime. It is much healthier to consume them on an empty stomach. Food eaten in the morning provides a supply of energy for the whole day, during which the calories received in the morning will be spent. It is effective to consume pumpkin seeds an hour before breakfast, after crushing them. You can drink it with warm water, it is useful to add lemon juice to it.

You can eat a few pumpkin seeds in the evening to dull the feeling of hunger - they fill you up well.

Advice! When using pumpkin seeds for weight loss, there is one trick - you need to buy raw materials unpeeled. Thanks to the time spent cleaning the seeds, it seems that more of them were eaten.

Some interesting facts

If you just can’t give up seeds, and at the same time want to lose extra pounds, this information will be of interest to you:

• After heat treatment, all types of seeds lose their properties. They become simply a useless product from which you can gain weight;
• All those who like to eat seeds sooner or later face the problem of destruction of enamel and the formation of holes in their teeth. In addition, dark spots and rather unpleasant breath may appear;
• Each seed kernel is enveloped in a special oil film, which negatively affects the vocal cords. Treasure your voice - seeds are contraindicated for you;
• In terms of calorie content, a glass of seeds can be replaced with 150 grams of fried meat. Think about whether it makes sense to exchange delicious, nutritious food for sunflower seeds.

Knowing all the pitfalls of the product, only you have the choice to eat it or not.

Pumpkin seed diet

To lose weight, pumpkin seeds can not only be included in your diet, but taken as its basis. There are several variations of the diet. One of them is carried out according to the following algorithm:

• breakfast - oatmeal with water, no added sugar;
• lunch – sunflower seeds;
• dinner – pumpkin seeds.

This diet can be followed for 3 days. Be sure to follow the drinking regime - increase the amount of liquid. Additionally, it is recommended to take vitamins, since such a diet does not fully provide them. It is useful to repeat this three-day diet periodically - it cleanses the gastrointestinal tract well.

When losing weight, it is effective to arrange fasting days. They help reduce weight and cleanse the gastrointestinal tract. A mono-diet of pumpkin seeds is useful as a relief. You can eat 0.2-0.3 kg of product per day. Apart from this, only still water and unsweetened tea are allowed - preferably green or herbal. The seeds should be consumed in small portions, chewed thoroughly and washed down with liquid. Any other products are prohibited. This scheme can only be followed for 1-2 days.

There is another option for a mono-diet. You can resort to it as an express method and only with a break of several months. To lose weight, follow the following rules:

• the first days the diet contains only pumpkin seeds;
• It is mandatory to adhere to the drinking regime - 2.5 liters per day, unless otherwise recommended by a doctor or nutritionist;
• introduce one vegetable every day;
• from the second week, supplement the diet with fruits and berries;
• from the 10th day meat is allowed.

Like other mono-diets, this option means the need for additional vitamin intake.

Pumpkin seeds are a plant product, making them great for vegetarians. The advantage of the raw material is its fairly high protein content, which is necessary in the absence of meat. A vegetarian diet can be used for weight loss, as fasting or cleansing days, or as a way of life.

Pumpkin seeds for weight loss, according to reviews, not only promote weight loss, but are also a good variety in the diet. Thanks to the vitamin and mineral composition, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, the condition of the skin and hair improves.

About effective means and methods for losing weight at home

The effective process of losing weight is a complex path with many stages. This requires maximum perseverance, patience, hard work and self-confidence. Although there are a huge number of fashionable diets and exercise routines, a weight loss regimen will always include a certain number of unchanged components.

Key points in striving for a slim figure:

• proper nutrition (balanced diet);
• regular exercise (workouts in the gym should be combined with outdoor activities);
• active lifestyle (spending weekends outdoors, participating in outdoor games);
• correct sleep mode;
• correct psychological and hormonal background (meditation and hobbies will help relieve stress, but regular check-ups with doctors will relieve serious health problems and prevent the development of possible problems in the body).

By following a number of rules, you can lose weight within a few months:

• It is necessary to adjust the diet by eliminating harmful foods, processed foods, preservatives, fast food and sweet carbonated drinks, which, among other things, also wash away beneficial microelements from the bones. Here it is important to take a consistent approach and not prohibit yourself from all foods at once, remove the most harmful foods first and do this gradually, allowing the body to get used to healthier and more natural foods.
• It is recommended to take time to detox and cleanse the body. This process will not give minus 10 kg on the scale, but will have a beneficial effect on well-being and prepare the body for a new, healthy lifestyle and other eating habits.
• It is worth reducing the amount of sugar consumed.
• You need to consume more coarse fiber, which perfectly helps the gastrointestinal tract during digestion.

Important! It is worth preparing dishes for tomorrow in the evening of the current day. And in the morning, just take boxes with prepared healthy food in the right quantity. And we must not forget about small healthy snacks that will save you from a sudden breakdown and overeating at the end of the day.

Proper nutrition (balanced diet)

It is worth paying attention to the variety of the menu, because monotonous and low-calorie dishes tend to get boring and boring very quickly. Therefore, you need to develop a menu in advance, you can even schedule it a week in advance.

It’s also worth putting your thoughts in order and finding your own incentive, motivation that will move you forward and won’t let you give up. It can be either a desired beautiful dress, which is not yet the right size, or something larger and more serious.

Another important aspect in this difficult matter - losing excess weight - is the wrong approach. You cannot sharply forbid yourself absolutely all your favorite food, because gastronomic habits and addictions cannot be changed in a couple of days, and the kilograms you have eaten cannot be removed within 3 days of an extreme hunger strike. Such changes will ultimately lead to a sharp weight gain, all the lost kilograms will return again and “take” with them a couple more new ones. After all, it is impossible to sit on a strict diet all your life; one way or another, at one fine moment a person will simply snap, and the consequences will be disappointing. Moreover, such sudden changes in weight and diet have an extremely negative impact on the health of the body. A competent approach, a training plan drawn up in advance together with a trainer, and a menu developed together with a professional nutritionist will help stabilize your condition and achieve a normal weight.

What products can be combined with

Pumpkin seeds are compatible with a variety of foods. They can be added to kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese - this additive is useful and gives a special taste.

Pumpkin seeds are combined with various salads. It is important to remember to use this supplement in moderation and to ensure that other ingredients are appropriate for your diet.

Pumpkin seeds go well with various herbs and spices:

• rosemary;
• caraway;
• oregano;
• parsley;
• cayenne or red (ground) pepper;
• thyme;
• coriander.

It is not recommended to combine pumpkin seeds with vegetables and cereals containing a lot of starch. This applies to legumes, potatoes, corn, pumpkin. There is also a lot of starch in rice, wheat, and oats.

Restrictions and contraindications

Pumpkin seeds should be limited in quantity, as they are quite high in calories. When using them, the following consequences are possible:

• damage to tooth enamel;
• exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases;
• if the product is abused, the risk of salt deposition in the joints increases, which in the future can lead to arthritis.

Pumpkin seeds are contraindicated in case of individual intolerance, although the raw material has a low degree of allergenicity.

Important! It is necessary to control the quality of consumed raw materials. If the product was stored incorrectly or treated with harmful substances, it becomes rancid, which means there is a risk of poisoning. The choice of any product must be approached responsibly.

Side effects

In some cases, there is a negative reaction of the body to pumpkin seeds in the form of:

• stomach pain;
• allergies;
• a sharp decrease in pressure;
• enhancing the effect of diabetes medications;
• enhancing the properties of diuretics.

Painful sensations in the stomach area often occur due to consumption of the product in large quantities. The seeds are a natural diuretic and when taking medications with diuretic properties at the same time, urine is released in large quantities, which can cause electrolyte imbalance. With allergies, the appearance of:

• eczema and urticaria;
• asthma;
• swelling of the mouth;
• cough;
• conjunctivitis;
• sore throat.

Symptoms of food allergies.

Before consuming the product, if you have diabetes, it is recommended to visit your doctor. Lowering blood pressure with pumpkin can have a negative or positive effect on a person's well-being.