Healthy Halloween Recipe

Cinnamon-Sugar Pumpkin Seeds Recipe

This is great recipe for Halloween or anytime:

Spread two cups of fresh pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet and bake at 300 for approximately one hour. Transfer seeds to large bowl and add two tablespoons of butter and two tablespoons of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. Toss until well coated. Spread seeds on baking sheet and return to oven and bake for 20 minutes. Sweet and crunchy–yum! FYI: Studies have shown that cinnamon helps to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Health benefits of pumpkin seeds

• Pumpkin seeds are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and numerous health promoting antioxidants.
• They are high in protein and good fats. Nonetheless, the kernels are especially rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids that helps lower bad LDL cholesterol and increases good HDL cholesterol in the blood.
• Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of amino acid tryptophan and glutamate, which aid in sleep, reducing anxiety, nervous irritability, and other neurotic conditions.
• Pumpkin seeds are a very good source of anti-oxidant vitamin E.
• Pumpkin kernels are also an excellent source of B-complex group of vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) and folates.
• Pumpkin seeds contain very good levels of essential minerals like copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium. Just as in pine nuts, pumpkin seeds too are very rich in manganese (provide 4543 mg per 100 g, about 198% of daily-recommended intake). Manganese is an all-important co-factor for antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. It is therefore, consumption of pumpkin kernels helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals.

Research studies suggest that pumpkin seeds has DHEA (Di-hydro-epi-androstenedione) hormone blocking actions at the receptor levels. Exposure to high DHEA levels may lead to gonadal tumours. Thus, the seeds cuts the risk of prostate and ovarian cancers in human. In addition, experimental studies suggest that certain phytochemical compounds in pumpkin seed oil may have a role in prevention of diabetic nephropathy (diabetic kidney disease.

*More about pumpkin seeds can be found on http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/pumpkin-seeds.html

More Halloween recipes can be found in HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Hundreds of Perfect Party Recipes, Delightful Decorating Ideas & Awesome Activities