Nowadays, even in Italy, the pumpkin is increasingly associated with the Halloween celebration.

But this vegetable from the family of Cucurbitacee it's not just for making a Jack-o’-lantern.

Pumpkin is probably the largest vegetable known and can be used not only in cooking, but also in cosmetics, as a container, as a carriage for princesses... and even in medicine.

La zucca, e in particolare i suoi semi, è un alimento ricco di proprietà benefiche che possono contribuire alla salute della prostate.

Pumpkin has many health benefits

La zucca possiede delle ottime proprietà e benefici nei confronti dell’insorgenza di diverse patologie. E’ ricca di beta-carotene, un potente antiossidante, che il corpo converte in vitamina A e che dona alle verdure e alla frutta il caratteristico colore arancione.

In addition to the consumption of pulp, several studies have highlighted that the consumption of seeds has a greater impact on health. The pumpkin seeds contain phytoestrogens, a plant compound that mimics estrogen, which has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women (fo n te).

The Benefits of Pumpkin for Prostate Health

But there is some good news for men too. Pumpkin seed extracts have proven to have a place in the treatment of'benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Pumpkin seeds contain fatty acids, various micronutrients and sterols, of which mainly delta-7-sterols. Delta-7-sterols are molecules that inhibit the function of an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase, the target of common therapies against prostate hypertrophy.

Pumpkin seeds are a source of mineral salts, including manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and above all zinc, the latter present in a quantity equal to 10 mg per 100 g.

Various studies have demonstrated a reduction in the growth of prostate cancer when zinc levels are normal. Zinc helps neutralize free radicals and keep the immune system healthy.

A study involving 465 patients observed that administration of pumpkin seed extract demonstrated statistically significant improvements in BPH symptoms compared to placebo, as measured by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) (source).

Calculate your IPSS with the validated calculator: click HERE.

This evidence was confirmed in a second partially double-blind study conducted on 1431 patients where pumpkin seed extract and pumpkin seeds were compared with placebo.

The improvement in symptoms was accompanied by a clinically significant improvement in the quality of life, mainly due to the reduction of nocturia and sense of irritation of the urinary tract (source).