text: From moisturising skin to beating bacterial infections, coconut oil was the health food du jour in 2014. But there's a new superfood on the block, which is thought to enhance your mood, renew skin and even help with menopause symptoms. Reaping with beauty and health benefits, experts say it's time to replace coconut oil with pumpkin seed oil, which is being touted as the the new must-have - and, of course, health aficionado Gwyneth Paltrow is already a fan. Health gurus are touting pumpkin seed oil as the next big thing - and say it can help enhance your mood, renew skin and even reduce menopause symptoms (just ask Gwyneth Paltrow, who features it in many of her recipes in her book, It's All Good) Much like coconut oil, pumpkin seed oil is thought to help boost shiny locks. Pumpkin seeds are rich in vitamins A, K and E, as well as vital minerals and fatty acids, which can help strengthen hair and even help boost hair growth. When applied to the lengths of your locks, PowerHealth, who supply the health produce, say it  hydrates hair follicles giving shiny and lustrous strands. It also apparently has similar skin-boosting benefits. With high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids and natural antioxidants, pumpkin seed oil helps promote normal cell structure and retains moisture, which ensures skin is hydrated and youthful. Zinc and vitamin E from the pumpkin seed can also improve the skin’s healing process, helping to fight off acne, beat scarring and maintain skin renewal. Pumpkin seeds, left, are rich in vitamins A, K and E, as well as vital minerals and fatty acids, which can help, strengthen hair. The oil, right, can be drizzled onto food or applied directly to skin and hair to help boost your beauty and health . Studies have even found that pumpkin seeds are a mood-boosting food. Pumpkin seeds and chia seeds topped a top-ten list of mood-boosting foods compiled by dietitian Sarah Schenker and food psychologist Christy Fergusson. One of the richest sources of tryptophan, pumpkin seeds increase production of serotonin, a hormone that can help improve people’s mood and help us feel relaxed. With a high zinc content, which plays a central role in boosting the immune system and cell division, pumpkin seeds can increase brain power by enhancing memory and focus, claim nutritionists. The potent seeds are also thought to help beat menopausal symptoms. The little seeds are said to be rich in natural phytoestrogens, which can decrease blood pressure, headaches, hot flushes, joint pain and other menopausal symptoms. Pumpkin seeds, pictured, topped a top-ten list of mood-boosting foods compiled by dietitian Sarah Schenker and food psychologist Christy Fergusson . Nutritional therapist Angela Falaschi told The Telegraph: 'Hot ﬂushes are one of the most common and distressing symptoms of the menopause, with extreme highs and lows in temperature causing episodes of profuse sweating. 'I often recommend supplementing the diet with isoﬂavonoids (naturally occurring compounds) by incorporating chick peas, soya, lentils and pumpkin seeds into your meals.' Gwyneth Paltrow, who penned cookbook It's All Good, loves to use the nutrient-rich seeds in her healthy recipes. Lorna Driver-Davies, Nutritionist at NutriCentre, said: 'Pumpkin seed oil is high in the polyunsaturated fatty acid (a longer chain fatty acid) omega 6, which is beneficial for the skin and hormone support in women. I also recommend pumpkin seed oil to men due to the zinc content. 'But we must be careful to not use too much omega 6 oils in our diet as we need less of them than we do omega 3. A source of omega 3 would be oily fish. When using any nutritional oils, we should all be aware that balance is key and use a wide variety of sources; coconut, pumpkin and fish, for example.'
target: Experts say it's time to replace coconut oil with pumpkin seed oil .
  Rich in vitamins A, K and E, as well as vital minerals and fatty acids .
  Health aficionado Gwyneth Paltrow is already a fan .