Potential Health Benefits Of Pumpkin Seed Oil
Pumpkin seed oil is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. However, the same thing that makes pumpkin seed oil so potent can also create complications for people with certain medical conditions.
Research has found a number of potential health benefits to consuming pumpkin seed oil:
Prostate Health
Pumpkin seed oil may help improve benign prostate hyperplasia, which is an enlarged prostate. In a randomized trial, pumpkin seed oil eased symptoms of enlarged prostate and improved participants quality of life over a three-month period.
Topical pumpkin seed oil has also safely and non-invasively treated chronic nonbacterial prostatitis, a bacterial infection common in older men.
Hair Growth
For people trying to grow hair, pumpkin seed oil may be a helpful supplement. One study tested the success of pumpkin seed oil in men with mild to moderate hair loss. Those in the pumpkin seed oil group grew 30 % more hair than those in the placebo group.
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What Should I Look For While Buying Pumpkin Seed Oil
While pumpkin seed oil makes for a versatile ingredient for a variety of recipes, always make sure that the oil you source comes from a trusted supplier. Also, make sure not to use the oil for sauteing, deep-frying or searing. The oil has a rather low smoke point and cannot withstand high temperatures. Instead enjoy the mild and nutty flavors by drizzling a few drops or a generous amount over cooked food, snacks, desserts and more.
To source pumpkin seed oil hygienically extracted from shell-free nuts, click here.
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Pumpkin Seed Oil May Help With Urinary Issues
DOES IT WORK?Pumpkins and mens health
WHILE PUMPKINS dont receive much attention in Ireland, they can be found all over the place in the US at this time of the year. Having been carved up as Jack-o-lanterns for Halloween, they will soon appear as pumpkin pies for the traditional Thanksgiving dessert at the end of November.
If you have ever carved up a pumpkin, you will know they are loaded with seeds. Sometimes these are roasted to give a crunchy snack, but they have also been used medicinally.
Pumpkin seed oil can be extracted from the seeds and contains a number of fatty acids, vitamins and other ingredients. It is receiving much attention as a potential treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia . This condition becomes more common as men enter their 50s and get older. It arises when the prostate gland becomes swollen and can lead to difficulties urinating, especially at night, and can be very painful.
Urinary infections and other kidney problems may develop also, but it is not believed to lead to prostate cancer. Pharmaceutical treatments are available, but have side effects.
Herbal remedies such as saw palmetto and pygeum are sometimes recommended for BPH, and products combining pumpkin seed oil with these herbs are becoming more popular.
A large German study gave a pumpkin seed extract to more than 2,000 men with BPH. After three months, the mens urinary symptoms had improved significantly, as had their scores on a quality of life questionnaire.
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What Is Overactive Bladder
Having an overactive bladder is often the sign of some other medical problem, which could be anything from weak abdominal muscles to abnormal reflexes to an infection that is causing bladder irritation. Symptoms can range from having a sudden urge to urinate, bladder leakage, urinating more than eight times per day, a weak urine flow, or incontinence. Your doctor should conduct a physical and may run other tests to determine the source of your overactive bladder symptoms.
Having an overactive bladder can affect the quality of your life, lead to psychological stress, and prevent you from engaging in certain activities, which could affect your overall health. Using essential oils can not only calm the overactive bladder muscles that may be causing your problems but also treat some of the effects that living with an overactive bladder may cause.
Benign Prostate Enlargement Endangers Mens Health
Illustration showing an inflamed prostate gland. Here, the male urogenital tract is seen, with bladder at center. Ureters transport urine from kidneys to the bladder.
Women are not alone in suffering from age-related urinary complaints. About 60% of men over age 50 suffer from benign prostate enlargement.8
The most common complaint expressed in response to prostate gland overgrowth is frequent nightly awakenings to urinate. Todays doctors mistakenly view this as a quality of life issue and fail to treat it a life-threatening condition.
Persistent nighttime urinary urgency impairs ones ability to properly sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation significantly increases ones risk of common related diseases such as heart attack,9-10 cancer,11,12 depression,13 and various inflammatory syndromes.14,15
Japanese researchers have patented a water-soluble pumpkin seed extract that reduces prostate-induced urinary symptoms and has been clinically shown to help improve sleep.1
This novel extract may be considered when urinary symptoms are not being effectively corrected by existing botanical and/or pharmaceutical therapies.
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Pumpkin Seeds For Overactive Bladder
Overactive bladder is an extremely prevalent condition, affecting 33 million Americans. Overactive bladder is characterized by a strong, frequent urge to urinate, waking up during the night to urinate and urinating more than eight times each day.
Many individuals with overactive bladder tend to stay away from social gatherings and restrict their work schedule to ward off any unwanted accidents. If you are suffering from symptoms of overactive bladder, it is advisable to have it treated early before it starts to significantly impact your daily life.
Pumpkin Seeds And Bladder Health
Home Pumpkin Seeds and Bladder Health
Its that time of year to pick out your Halloween costume, add some spooky décor to your home and improve your pumpkin carving skills. Throughout all of the excitement, hopefully you remembered to save the pumpkin seeds and find a way to incorporate them into your diet! Not only can they be delicious but it turns out they may offer some great health benefits, too. Traditionally, pumpkin seeds have been used in Central Europe for various genitourinary conditions including benign prostatic hyperplasia and overactive bladder syndrome . More recently, research has confirmed these traditional applications.
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Demographic Characteristics And Physical And Biochemical Examination
All males enrolled in this study were not diagnosed as BPH in the hospital and did not receive the treatment of BPH. Moreover, the levels of serum prostate-specific antigen in all males were within normal range. Four subjects quit the entry on their own, and three subjects were excluded because of inadequate intake of the oil. The characteristics of the enrolled subjects are summarized in Table 2. Six and 12 weeks after the initial administration of the pumpkin seed oil, the average levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride were essentially unchanged . There was no significant difference in the laboratory data between pre- and post-administration of the pumpkin seed oil in various age and body weight groups .
What Does This Mean
This study provides evidence that the combination of pumpkin seed and soy germ extract can relieve overactive bladder symptoms naturally and improve quality of life. Whether used on their own or alongside other behavioral changes, such alternative solutions allow patients to avoid high costs and harmful side effects of conventional treatments. They also give them a chance to manage their symptoms intimately, especially if they feel uneasy about seeking professional help. Other herbs that may bring relief from overactive bladder symptoms are horsetail and saw palmetto.
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Dosage: How Much Pumpkin Seed Oil Should I Take
Always speak with a healthcare provider before taking a supplement to ensure that the ingredients and dosage are appropriate for your individual needs.
In research, study participants took the following dosages of pumpkin seed oil:
- 1,000 mg for cholesterol and blood pressure
- 400 mg for hair loss
- 2,000 mg for menopausal symptoms
Cause Of Overactive Bladder
Most people consider developing an overactive bladder to be part of the natural aging process however, this is not a normal part of aging. Without a doubt, the risk of bladder issues increases with age, mostly due to other illnesses, such as diabetes and prostate enlargement, but not all elderly people develop overactive bladder.
Women develop an overactive bladder when their pelvic floor muscles and bladder muscles start weakening dramatically. Hormonal changes that occur after menopause are believed to be the cause of these anatomical alterations in the bladder sphincter that result in an overactive bladder.
In men, decrease in the male growth hormone, testosterone, causes weakening of the bladder sphincter and pelvic floor muscles. Estrogen deficiency, on the other hand, stimulates shrinkage of the tissues, which can result in overactive bladder.
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Pumpkin Seeds And Bladder Leaks: Whats The Deal
Lets get down to the good stuff, shall we? Its estimated that at least 13 million adults deal with bladder incontinence issues. You know, the gotta-go-right-now or spontaneous spritz type thing that happens with the bladder. Fortunately, theres a variety of treatment options out there. However, some doctors may not mention other treatment options, like these, for example.
Pumpkin Seed Oil And Overactive Bladder
Pumpkin seed oil benefits reach beyond men with bladder problems.
Studies have also looked at the role of pumpkin seed oil in treating overactive bladder syndrome in both men and women.
OAB occurs in 30-40 percent of adults in the United States and causes very frequent bathrooms breaks as well as a sense of discomfort and urgency both day and night.
Many people with OAB also suffer from urinary incontinence and may have to rely on panty liners or Depends to keep dry. OAB is a huge bother and greatly affects a persons quality of life.
In a study spanning 12 weeks, men and women took 10 grams of pumpkin seed oil daily. Participants noticed a significant improvement in all areas of bladder health including how often they went to the bathroom and how often they had urine accidents. They noticed an improvement in their symptoms in as little as 6 weeks.
Another study using cystometrograms pressure studies of the bladder in rats, pumpkin seed oil increased the bladder capacity, the time between voiding and decreased urinary frequency.
Functional studies showed that the pumpkin seeds:
Another study showed that half of people using pumpkin seed extract noticed a such as burning while urinating, bladder pain and pressure.
Pumpkin seed supplementation also seems to be really useful in helping with nighttime urinary symptoms, which is vital to getting a good nights sleep.
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How Do Pumpkin Seeds For Bladder Control Work
Pumpkin seeds help with overactive bladder by inhibiting 2 enzymes, 5-alpha-reductase& aromatase. This then decreases dihydrotestosterone to slow down prostate growth and to increase testosterone. The increase in testosterone, in both men & women, helps strengthen the pelvic floor muscle to support bladder control. Pumpkin seed also helps relax the bladder wall muscles to increase the capacity to hold urine thus decreases urine frequency.
When To See A Doctor
When you notice symptoms of OAB too much such as an urgent and intense need to urinate, too often unintentional loss of urine, frequent urination, waking up more than one time a night for using the bathroom you should meet your doctor.
One should also see a doctor if one experiences severe OAB symptoms such as fever, pain, fatigue, and blood. Meet a doctor in case you see signs of OAB and these severe signs immediately without delay.
Overactive bladder is the result of many factors first try to know the root cause to cure OAB to the root.
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What Are Overactive Bladder Syndrome And Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
OAB is a common urinary disorder that occurs in more than 15% of men and women aged 40 or older. It consists of urgency and frequency of urination, significant enough to cause frequent waking during the night and, in some cases, incontinence. As one can imagine, OAB can severely disrupt the quality of life for those afflicted.
BPH is separate condition that occurs in 50% of men over 50 years old and 70% of men over 70 years of age. It involves the non-cancerous growth of the prostate, leading to very similar urinary symptoms as OAB such as urgency, frequency, and nighttime waking. BPH can be extremely disruptive to everyday life for elderly men.
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A Breakthrough In The Relief Of Overactive Bladder And Urinary Incontinence
Nearly half of women aged over 70 suffer from chronic urinary incontinence. A groundbreaking discovery using natural plant extracts offers relief by reducing incontinent episodes up to 79%. These same plant extracts may also benefit aged men.
Scientifically reviewed by Dr. Gary Gonzalez, MD, in May 2022. Written by: William Faloon.
A common and frustrating complaint we at Life Extension hear is how to stop urinary incontinence.
Our frustration has been that despite aggressive research, we could not identify a safe solution to this problem that plagues so many aging women .
Even more numerous are inquiries we receive from people seeking relief from frequent daytime and nighttime urinary urges.
In a breakthrough discovered by Japanese scientists, a natural plant extract combination has been shown to reduce incontinent episodes by up to 79%,1daytime urination by up to 39%,2 andnighttime urination by up to 60%.2
This article will discuss the research findings on maturing women who found significant relief after taking this novel supplement for only six to eight weeks.
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How To Use Pumpkin Seeds In Everyday Life
One of the easiest ways to integrate pumpkin seeds into your diet is by adding them into dishes you already make. Sprinkling them on a salad is a great place to start. Adding them into your baked dishes like muffins or loaves also works. Even simpler, roasting them in the oven and adding some light seasoning can make for a quick and easy snack. If you have any favourite go-to snacks or recipes that incorporate pumpkin seeds or pumpkin seed oil, feel free to leave a comment and let us know!
Why Good Fats Are Essential
Wondering how supplementing with a fat-filled capsule will help promote your health?
For this we need to take a closer look at the fats in pumpkin seed oil. A large percentage of the fats in pumpkin seed oil belong to a group called polyunsaturated fats, the kind of fats youll find in fatty fish, seeds, nuts, plant-based oils and seed oils.
Known as good fats, polyunsaturated fats are essential to the body for absorbing vitamins and providing critical nutrients for your body to function properly.
Two main types of polyunsaturated fats are the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6. These essential fats play a vital role in brain function, cell rejuvenation, anti-inflammatory activity and more.
But why are these fats especially important?
The body is able to produce all the fatty acids it needs, except for: linoleic acid , and alpha-linolenic acid .
Since your body cannot produce these essential fatty acids, you have to find ways of incorporating them in your diet.
One feature that makes pumpkin seed oil stand out is that it is made up of over 50% linoleic acid , and some amount of monounsaturated fats which help promote HDL, or good cholesterol levels.
When substituted for saturated fats, research has shown that both poly and monounsaturated fats can help to lower bad cholesterol and prevent heart disease, diabetes and even certain types of cancer.
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Causes Of Overactive Bladder
Several things cause this condition. At times, no specific reason also leads to this condition. However, below are the major causes.
1. Weak Pelvic Muscles
Pregnancy and delivery cause weak and stretched pelvic muscles leading to this condition. With such muscles, the bladder sags out and leads to leakages.
2. Nerve Damage
Occasionally signals are dispatched to the bladder and brain to clear at the incorrect time. Diseases and trauma cause this condition. Such conditions include pelvic or back surgery, herniated disc, radiation, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons disease, and stroke.
3. Medicines, Alcohol, And Caffeine
All these materials weaken the nerves thereby affecting the brains signal. This may cause an overflow of the bladder. Caffeine and diuretics may even cause the bladder to fill quickly and leak possibly. Caffeine and carbonated drinks shouldnt be given often to children as they are one of the causes of overactive bladder in children.
4. Infection
Infections such as a urinary tract infection can infuriate the bladder nerves and lead to a bladder squeeze without alert. Excess weight and estrogen deficiency after menopause may also cause this condition. The latter is one of the main causes of overactive bladder in women.
Other Wonders Of Pumpkin Seeds
Apart from being oh-so-yummy, they have a ton of other wonderful health benefits. The best part is that these seeds are super easy to add to your diet. You can enjoy them in so many ways: a handful mixed into your granola, sprinkled on your fave salad, or just them by themselves. Some of their other benefits include:
- Plenty of valuable nutrients like fiber, protein, magnesium, and iron, just to name a few.
- Carotenoids and Vitamin E are really good at helping reduce inflammation and protect cells from harmful free radicals. Youre in luck because pumpkin seeds are packed with these!
- Improved heart health due to the various antioxidants and fatty acids. Some animal studies have shown that pumpkin seed oil can reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which are the two main contributors to heart disease.
- Lowered blood sugar, which is especially beneficial if you struggle with diabetes. This may be related to pumpkin seeds high magnesium content.
- A good nights sleep: I dont know about you, but I could use a good nights sleep. Pumpkin seeds are full of tryptophan, which is an amino acid very well known to promote sleep.
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