Over a century ago, American farmers noted that when their
livestock munched on pumpkin seeds, they seemed to urinate more
often. They weren’t the first to notice the seeds’ effects. The
Iroquois had long used pumpkin seed as a diuretic, and the
Cherokee gave it to children to control bed-wetting, since it
seemed to help empty the bladder before falling asleep. More
recently, Europeans began using the bright green oil from
crushed pumpkin seeds for prostate health, and in Germany today,
the oil is an approved over-the-counter treatment for enlarged
prostate glands. In the U.S. too, the oil is one of the top
ingredients in herbal blends for prostate health, says Mark
Blumenthal, executive director of the American Botanical
Council, a nonprofit group based in Austin, Texas, and backed by
herbal supplement makers. Subtly sweet and nutty with a
malleable, chewy texture, the roasted seeds from inside your
Halloween pumpkin are one of the most nutritious and flavorful
seeds around. While pumpkin seeds are available