CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Halloween pumpkins are packed with good nutrition. New research explains how they can help a person’s health.

Pumpkin itself is good but so are the seeds.

A Cleveland Clinic registered dietician explained why they’re nutritious.

“They are going to have extra protein. They are going to have potassium. They are going to have those extra vitamins just like the flesh itself, and what a great way to get extra fiber. How fun – put it in hot cereals, just have it as a snack itself,” Beth Czerwony said.

The seeds have an oil in them now associated with several benefits, according to a recent analysis of several studies published in the journal “Clinical Phytoscience”. https://clinphytoscience.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40816-022-00345-0

These include reducing an overactive bladder, providing enlarged prostate relief and even boosting immunity due to nutrients in them, such as iron and magnesium.

Cleaning and baking pumpkin seeds for about 15 minutes at about 350 degrees, tossed with a little oil and seasoning, creates a crunch that competes with many other snacks. They can be frozen to keep them fresh all year.