Benefits Of Squash Seeds

close up of squash seeds

Image Credit: sodapix sodapix/F1online/Getty Images If you always throw away the seeds you find in squash, you are missing out on a number of potential nutritional benefits. Squash seeds are high in calories and rich in a number of nutrients, including unsaturated fat. You may wish to season squash seeds to mask the bland flavor, so take into account the nutritional content of toppings when assessing your diet.

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Calories
   
basket of pumpkin seeds

Image Credit: Gyuszko/iStock/Getty Images A 1-ounce serving of roasted squash seeds – about 85 seeds – provides 126 calories, which comprises more than 6 percent of the daily suggested intake of 2,000 calories. The caloric density of squash seeds is beneficial if you are trying to gain weight, as you need to consume more calories than you expend daily to gain weight. This can be difficult if you choose high-volume, low-calorie foods, so calorie-dense foods like squash seeds are a good choice in this case.

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Dietary Fat
   
small bowl of pumpkin seeds

Image Credit: Elena Elisseeva/Hemera/Getty Images Squash seeds are high in fat, as each 1-ounce serving contains 5.5 grams of fat. However, this fat is unsaturated, which, while calorie dense, can be beneficial. The National Institutes of Health explains that increasing your intake of unsaturated fat and protein at the expense of carbohydrates may aid in decreasing your risk of heart disease.

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Carbohydrate Content
   
close up of squash seeds

Image Credit: Design Pics/Ray Laskowitz/Design Pics/Getty Images Squash seeds contain carbohydrates with 15 grams in a 1-ounce serving. Although carbohydrates do provide your body with energy, restricting your carbohydrate intake may aid in weight loss. A review of research studies published in the February 2006 issue of the “Archives of Internal Medicine” found that low-carbohydrate diets produced quicker weight loss than diets higher in carbohydrates.

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Protein Content
   
sliced small pumpkin with seeds in center

Image Credit: phototake/iStock/Getty Images Squash seeds are rich in protein, providing 5.2 grams in each 1-ounce serving. Your body uses protein to aid in the growth and development of your body’s tissues, so MedlinePlus suggests consuming 50 to 65 grams of protein daily. One serving of squash seeds contains 10 percent of that amount.

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  references
  
      USDA National Nutrient Database: Seeds, Pumpkin and Squash, Whole, Roasted, Without Salt
    
      National Institutes of Health News: Replacing Some Carbohydrates with Protein and Unsaturated Fat May Enhance Heart Health Benefits
    
      Archives of Internal Medicine: Effects of Low-Carbohydrate vs Low-Fat Diets on Weight Loss and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
    
      MedlinePlus: Dietary Proteins
       




  references
  
      USDA National Nutrient Database: Seeds, Pumpkin and Squash, Whole, Roasted, Without Salt
    
      National Institutes of Health News: Replacing Some Carbohydrates with Protein and Unsaturated Fat May Enhance Heart Health Benefits
    
      Archives of Internal Medicine: Effects of Low-Carbohydrate vs Low-Fat Diets on Weight Loss and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
    
      MedlinePlus: Dietary Proteins
    




close up of squash seeds

Image Credit: sodapix sodapix/F1online/Getty Images

basket of pumpkin seeds

Image Credit: Gyuszko/iStock/Getty Images

small bowl of pumpkin seeds

Image Credit: Elena Elisseeva/Hemera/Getty Images

close up of squash seeds

Image Credit: Design Pics/Ray Laskowitz/Design Pics/Getty Images

sliced small pumpkin with seeds in center

Image Credit: phototake/iStock/Getty Images

      USDA National Nutrient Database: Seeds, Pumpkin and Squash, Whole, Roasted, Without Salt
    
      National Institutes of Health News: Replacing Some Carbohydrates with Protein and Unsaturated Fat May Enhance Heart Health Benefits
    
      Archives of Internal Medicine: Effects of Low-Carbohydrate vs Low-Fat Diets on Weight Loss and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
    
      MedlinePlus: Dietary Proteins