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"  Photo: Getty Images Can a superfood hit a saturation point? Coconut oil might just have\u2014with Gwyneth Paltrow trumpeting its health benefits and the Huffington Post declaring the coconut oil trend &amp;quot;out of hand,&amp;quot; surely some perennial early adopters are already seeking out the next multifunctional natural product of the moment. We&amp;#039;ve heard talk of almond oil, but now pumpkin seed oil has stepped into the ring, and it looks like the likely replacement. Similar to coconut oil, pumpkin seed oil (PSO) offers up a trifecta of benefits for your hair, skin, and diet. But unlike its summery counterpart, beyond cooking, PSO is best used as an ingredient in a beauty product or as a supplement, rather than simply on its own. Related: What Happens When You Swap Your Entire Beauty Regime For Just Oil? &amp;quot;PSO is rich in nutrients and can be considered a superfood,&amp;quot; says Anna Urban, co-founder of Aviva All-Natural Hair Revitalizer, a supplement formulated with PSO. &amp;quot;Rich in essential vitamins, protein, dietary fiber, minerals, and good fats, pumpkin seeds have the power to be the next &amp;#039;it&amp;#039; ingredient.&amp;quot; Coconut oil contains vitamins E and K; PSO is rich in those and vitamins A and B (which is connected to hair growth), as well as zinc (which is vital for scalp health and hair strength). &amp;quot;Pumpkin seeds are loaded with all the nutrients that your hair could ever want, like protein, omega-6 fatty acids, zinc, and iron,&amp;quot; says Urban. Cosmetic dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum MD, FAAD also explains that PSO inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which has been shown to slow and stop hair growth. It also protects hair follicles and increases shine. Related: The Best Natural Beauty Secrets From Around the World When it comes to skin, the high amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids and natural antioxidants in PSO can help maintain normal cell structure and retain moisture, which keeps skin youthful and hydrated. &amp;quot;The high amounts of zinc and vitamin E also improve skin tone, help wounds heal more rapidly, fight acne, and help with skin renewal,&amp;quot; says Nussbaum. &amp;quot;Lastly, many of the minerals and vitamins have anti-aging effects as well.&amp;quot; In the kitchen, however, you probably shouldn&amp;#039;t replace your coconut or olive oil with PSO. While the dark and nutty-flavored oil can make for a delicious salad dressing or marinade and the toasted seeds serve as a delicious and healthy snack, the oil will lose its nutritional value if heated up. Also, its low smoke point makes it unsuitable for frying or saut\u00E9ing. So, maybe there&amp;#039;s room for both pumpkin seed oil and coconut oil in your beauty regimen this fall\u2014coconut oil for oil pulling and teeth cleaning, and pumpkin seed oil for hair and skincare benefits? Swanson Vitamins Pumpkin Seed Oil Supplements, $6.99; swansonvitamins.com "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.elle.com/beauty/health-fitness/news/a15447/pumpkin-seed-oil-new-coconut-oil/>