Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Updated : January 4, 2016 7:45 AM IST
One of the main causes of heart disease is unhealthy dietary habits, which mostly includes snacking on junk or processed foods. Eating foods high in salt and packed with fats undoubtedly puts you at risk of heart disease in the long run. So here's a healthy snack idea -- pumpkin seeds. Including pumpkin seeds in your daily diet not only lowers your chances of suffering a heart disease, but also controls your blood pressure. Here are 10 more reasons to gorge on pumpkin seeds.
How does it help?
Reduces the risk of stroke: Magnesium in pumpkin seeds not only regulates blood supply to the heart but also relaxes the blood vessels, thereby preventing you from stroke [1]. These seeds also produce nitric acid that stabilises heart rate and regulates pathological changes in people suffering from heart disease. Also read about 10 simple tips to prevent heart disease.
Prevents the risk of heart attack: Did you know deficiency of magnesium can cause irregular heart rhythms, which if left untreated might lead to a heart attack? Hence, eating pumpkin seeds helps in preventing a heart attack.
Maintains cholesterol levels: Phytosterols present in pumpkin seeds prevent the absorption of cholesterol from food. It not only lowers LDL and total cholesterol, but also helps maintain a healthy level. Also, studies have shown that these seeds work wonders in improving HDL cholesterol in post-menopausal women and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease [2].
To reap the heart-healthy benefits of pumpkin seeds, don t forget to include it in your diet. You can either add it to gravies or sprinkle the powder on salad or desserts. Here are 5 natural foods to prevent heart disease.
References
Image Source: Shutterstock
