People knew the health benefits of pumpkin seed oil for centuries. As early as the 1700's it was royally declared a medication rather than simply a culinary delight but with the advent of modern medicine, it took a back seat to patentable medications created in the laboratory.

While the original use for pumpkin seed oil was to enhance the libido and treat prostate problems, today science shows it has many benefits. However, a study from the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices shows that there are components in pumpkin seed oil that do help prostate, as well as bladder, problems.

Pumpkin seed oil, however, has many other benefits. You'll hear many people praise flax seed oil and hemp oil for the ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fatty acids. Pumpkin seed oil also contains these same fatty acids. The fatty acids help the body at the cellular levels. They are important for the production of hormones, have an affect on your blood pressure and heart rate, boost the immune system and fight inflammation, among other things they do for the body.

Pumpkin seed oil is high in antioxidants. It contains ample supplies of vitamin A, C and E. The antioxidants protect cells from damage done by free radicals. This damage causes cells to die and with enough cells deaths you have aging and illness.

You'll also find selenium in pumpkin seed oil. Besides being an antioxidant that prevents damage to the cells, selenium also helps to regulate the thyroid and plays a role in boosting the immune system.

Pumpkin seed oil also contains several phytosterols. According to the FDA statement, ""Foods containing at least 0.4 gram per serving of plant sterols, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 0.8 gram, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease."

There are other vitamins and nutrients in pumpkin seed oil besides the antioxidant vitamins. It contains vitamin B1, B2, B6 and vitamin D. It also has significant amounts of magnesium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, zinc and other trace minerals. The B vitamins help maintain the nervous system, produce red blood cells and help create antibodies. Vitamin D is important in helping the body use calcium to mineralize the bones and teeth. The calcium and magnesium also provide important nutrients to maintain healthy bones and teeth.

Magnesium is also good for many other bodily functions. It is necessary for over 300 biochemical processes in the body. Magnesium plays a part in maintaining the heart rhythm, the immune system, muscle maintenance and nerve functioning. It also plays a role in preventing diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension.

While you could get many of these same benefits from eating pumpkin seeds, because of their size and access to the meat of the seed, it's far faster to use the pumpkin seed oil as an addition to your diet. Pumpkin seed oil adds a nutty quality to any salad dressing and makes a great marinade. You can add it to dips, toss it with pastas and add parmesan cheese or simply add it to health food shakes and drinks. You'll be getting the health benefits of pumpkin seed oil and enhancing the flavors of the food at the same time.