Pumpkin seed

 

The relatives of contemporary pumpkins were already known and were being used as food and for medicinal purposes by the Native Americans even before the discovery of America.

Pumpkin seeds contain 9 to 17 vitally important minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus) and microelements (iron, copper, manganese, selenium, zinc). They are essential for the normal activity of our own organisms and they help with the fluid metabolism, cellular respiration and with the function of nerves and muscles. Pumpkin seeds have always been used as a remedy for intestinal parasites as well as with problems with the prostate.

Interestingly, for centuries the pumpkin seed has been used in folk medicine to boost male sexual potency. Contemporary medical research confirms the benefits pumpkin seeds have on the prostate. Substances in pumpkin seeds limit hormonal damage of the prostate cells which results in a lower risk of prostate cancer.

Medical professionals advise men over 30 to eat healthy and diverse food, which provides the body with plenty of nutrients, minerals and vitamins. Elements like zinc and selenium are especially beneficial as the body needs them only in small amounts (a sexually active man needs 50mg - 100mg of zinc per day, as the body loses it through semen ejaculation, however, zinc deficiency may increase the risk of prostate infection).