Pumpkin seed oil is a dark-green oil that shimmers red when held to the light. For centuries, south eastern Austrians, Croatians, Hungarians and Slovenians have used hulled and roasted seeds of the Styrian oil pumpkin to press into oil. Before this deconstruction, they are dark, flat seeds, unlike the pumpkin seeds we are familiar with on Halloween!
The oil is intense in flavor, with strong tones of "nuttiness". When browned, this oil is bitter in taste and has less nutritional value. When cooked or exposed to high level s of heat, many of the essential fatty acids this oil is naturally blessed with, are destroyed. Mix it with honey or olive oil and you have yourself a delicious salad dressing.
In Austria it is considered a delicacy, and you will find it added to many plates, even dribbled over vanilla ice cream. There is a pumpkin soup known as Styrian pumpkin soup which involves roasted onions, and pumpkin flesh. Roast these together for 1 minute and then add water to create the broth Pelzmann.com. Cook these together for 10 minutes then add salt, pepper, chili powder, curry powder (all to taste) 3 table spoons of vinegar and 5 table spoons of pumpkin seed oil. Mix well and serve!
Another salad dressing recipe is traditional in its roots and very easy to concoct. 60 milliliters of apple cider vinegar, 30 milliliters of pumpkin seed oil and a dash of salt later and you have a delicious dressing for salads, especially those with tender slices of meat.
In addition to its great culinary usage, pumpkin seed oil has been used to treat IBS, help control cholesterol levels, rid the intestinal tract of parasites and help with prostate health, especially when used in junction with saw palmetto. This is due to the fact that pumpkin seed oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoids, and Zinc. As a man ages, he loses testosterone. Estrogen levels remain the same, and due to the higher level of estrogen, the prostate can begin to swell. Pumpkin seed oil appears to inhibit this growth.
For men seeking to use this as a remedy, the suggested intake amount is 160 milligrams three times a day. There are many supplements available on the market today.