Catherine Stack, ND, CNM

Pumpkin seeds are in season and once you hear about all their health benefits, you may consider eating them year round. Native to North America, pumpkin seeds, known as pepitas in Central America, belong to the gourd family. If allowed to mature completely, each pumpkin contains approximately 500 seeds. Inside this seed is a green edible kernel. Packed with beneficial fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, pumpkin seeds come highly recommended by most nutritional gurus, including myself. Pumpkin seeds contain magnesium, manganese, tryptophan, phosphorus, copper, protein (almost 10 grams per 1/4 cup), zinc and iron. Benefits include protection against heart disease by increasing HDL (good cholesterol) and lowering LDL (bad cholesterol). This is most likely due to the high concentration of phytosterols. Phytosterols are plant compounds that inhibit cholesterol absorption. For those suffering from an overactive bladder, pumpkin seeds have shown some impressive date in their a

Just this week alone, I have recommended using turmeric capsules about four separate times. Because I do not carry this product at my office (this is about to change), I reluctantly had to recommend my patients find it at other local establishments or the internet. The medicinal use of turmeric dates back about 4,000 years for the treatment of infections, digestive problems and other ailments. It is a commonly used herb in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as it has impressive anti-inflammatory qualities. For those of you who are thinking that this sounds familiar but can't quite pinpoint what turmeric is - here is a refresher. You may be more familiar with how it is used in cooking. Turmeric is what gives Indian curry its flavor and brilliant yellow color. The active chemical in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant that can prevent free radical damage in the body. Curcumin lowers the levels of inflammatory enzymes and may prevent platelets from clumping to