Pumpkins are in season in the fall and they are popping up in San Jose grocery stores, garden centers and other outlets. While you’re shopping for a pumpkin to enhance your Halloween decor that you plan to carve with your grandchildren, do your kidneys a favour and save the seeds for a snack. You’ll prevent kidney stones and improve your overall health if you follow these tips:

1. Try them raw – the greatest benefit comes from raw pumpkin seeds when they are ripe in the fall, so take advantage of this season and grab a snack!

2. Avoid the salt – the added sodium won’t do you any favors so avoid the salt when preparing your pumpkin seeds

3. Save the seeds from Halloween art – when carving your pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern for Halloween, save the seeds and rinse them thoroughly in cold water and then dry them out in the oven

4. Turn pumpkin seeds into a powder – if you don’t enjoy the taste of the pumpkin seeds, grind them in a blender or coffee grinder until they turn to a powder and mix them into water, juice or other drinks

5. Make sure you get the recommended dosage – 5 to 10 grams of pumpkin seeds will improve kidney function, so take a hand full for your mid-morning or afternoon snack as a way to benefit your health and curb your appetite!

Via:  Associated Content 

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