Pumpkin seed oil is a popular food export from Europe, made from roasted and pressed Styrian pumpkins. It is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and used in dressings and recipes for its nutty flavor. It is also believed to have health benefits, including reducing hardening of the arteries and regulating cholesterol levels.
Pumpkin seed oil is an edible substance made from roasted and pressed pumpkin seeds. First made in the Austrian state of Styria in the 17th century, pumpkin seed oil can be found in many regional dishes and has become a major food export in Europe. In addition to lending dishes a distinctive nutty flavor, it is also rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, making it a desirable alternative to other oils.
The oil is extracted from the Styrian pumpkin, whose scientific name is Cucurbita pepo var. Styria This species of pumpkin is distinguished by its yellow-green or orange-yellow rind. Its seeds have a thin membrane instead of a shell and are easy to remove from the flesh of the pumpkin. Pumpkins are native to the region of Styria, Austria, and northern Slovenia, and are also found in Croatia, Macedonia, and Hungary. In recent years, Styrian squash breeding programs have started beyond Europe, especially in North America and New Zealand.
Styrian pumpkins are harvested every fall. The seeds are roasted for a short time, then pressed to produce pumpkin seed oil. The oil itself is typically thick and green, although when stored in large quantities or kept in the light it can take on a reddish tinge. Once bottled, the oil is sold in specialty food stores and sometimes supermarkets.
The oil is often used for salad and vegetable dressings and is sometimes added to recipes where its nutty flavor can enhance the flavor of certain meats. European diners have even been known to pour it over ice cream or yogurt. It is not recommended as a cooking oil because even low heat can destroy some of the oil’s beneficial fatty acids. The seeds themselves are edible and are sold as snacks.
Pumpkin seed oil is rich in zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Zinc can help maintain bone density, particularly in older men. The abundance of zinc in pumpkin seed oil may also contribute to prostate health in men and reduce bladder irritation in women.
There is an old European tradition of using pumpkin seed oil as a remedy for a number of ailments. The oil has long been used in Germany to help rid the body of tapeworms. For years, many believed that the oil could treat everything from kidney stones to impotence. There is little evidence to support the effectiveness of many of these home remedies, although research suggests that pumpkin seed oil may help reduce hardening of the arteries and regulate cholesterol levels.
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