Is there any truth to the story that pumpkin seed powder can help you sleep?
As someone who has battled insomnia for decades, I wanted to find out. Can something as simple as pumpkin seeds, help us get the rest we need?
Do Pumpkin Seeds Make You Sleepy?
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Apparently, these seeds do have a number of potential wide-ranging health benefits. Better rest may be one of them. There’s even a little bit of research showing gourd seeds may help us sleep. So it’s no surprise that pumpkin seed powder has become a popular dietary supplement.
Pumpkin seeds are rich in an animo acid called tryptophan. This is used by our bodies to produce serotonin, which is then converted into melatonin, also known as “the sleep hormone.” (Turkey is also a tryptophan-rich food. This is one of the reasons we may feel like taking a nap after eating a turkey dinner.)
Melatonin is the hormone that regulates the circadian rhythm. This governs the sleep/wake cycle. My sleep problems first developed when I worked the night shift. It took a really long time for this rhythm to return to normal.
Pumpkin Seeds and Melatonin
During a period of my life, when my insomnia was a real struggle, I tried melatonin supplements. They did help, temporarily. But like so many natural sleep remedies, they stopped working. (Later, I’ll explain why all of my insomnia remedies eventually stop working.) So I stopped taking them.
Actually, from what I can discern, it may not be a good idea to take melatonin long term anyway. That’s because it can have side effects.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, which has an open-minded approach to alternative therapies, noted that side effects of melatonin pills can include digestive problems, dizziness, headache, irritability and fertility problems.
So, right now, I’d much rather find ways to boost my melatonin naturally, instead of taking a single laboratory-made isolate.
Do Pumpkin Seeds Help You Sleep?
Whenever I can, I like to cite medical studies. Although I am personally comfortable with using a natural remedy if it has history behind it, I realize many of my readers like studies. So I try to find them. One paper published in Nutritional Neuroscience found that gourd seeds combined with a carbohydrate (such as a piece of fruit) ” proved effective in significantly reducing time awake during the night.”
So, if you’ve been hearing that pumpkin seeds can help you sleep, this study is the likely source. The authors noted that eating gourd seeds (with a carbohydrate) had the same effects as tryptophan supplements.
Pumpkin Seed Powder To Help Sleep
Anyone who reads this site regularly will soon realize that I’m a big advocate of using natural remedies. Although I’m not a doctor, and I can’t give medical advice, and I can’t promise that any particular product or food will help anyone else, I do like to share my story of how I’m able to sleep better, thanks to herbs, homeopathy and essential oils.
I can’t use any sleep remedy too many days in a row. If I do, it stops working. So I rotate my herbs and essential oils. I only take homeopathic remedies if I need them, based on my symptoms. I’m seeing much better results doing this. Switching things around has helped so much. I now fall asleep without too much trouble. When I wake up at night, I usually fall right back to sleep again. I also eat a clean diet filled with real foods, which contain the nutrients needed for a healthy sleep cycle.
Here are some of the other posts I’ve written about insomnia.
What Home Remedies Can Help Me Sleep?
Also, because so many of my readers are looking for natural sleep tips, I created an easy-to-follow online course called Natural Sleep Solutions. It’s designed to help you find the particular sleep remedies that work well for you. You can find out more about this very affordable course by clicking on the image below.
Natural Sleep Solutions CourseSign Up Here
Where To Buy Pumpkin Seed Powder
If you’d like to try pumpkin seeds for sleep, it’s one of those things that can’t hurt and might help. Organic pumpkin seeds are available in your local grocery store, or you can find them online. Pumpkin seeds are also rich in zinc, a mineral that’s needed for a healthy immune system. Also, pumpkin seeds contain certain essential fatty acids we may not get enough of in our diets.
If you’re looking for maximum convenience, you can also order pumpkin seed powder. This can be folded into fruit smoothies, and will make a delicious drink right before bedtime. The fruit will supply the carbohydrates.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use herbal remedies unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.
