10 Reasons why you & your pet's need pumpkin seed oil!

 The unique fatty acid content in cold pressed raw organic pumpkin seed oil is definitely something not to overlook, and here are 10 reasons why;

 1. Hair and coat growth:
​Due to its rich free fatty acid content, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, PSO has been tested for male pattern alopecia with positive results, with both topical and oral applications. So, what does this mean for your pets? It shows that PSO would make a great natural option to administer to pets post operation, encouraging healthy hair follicle growth, or an incredible option for post mange treatment and/or any other kind of ectoparasite treatment to encourage healthy hair re-growth. PSO also makes for a shinier coat!
 
 2. Bladder & Prostate health:
Probably what PSO is best known for, and that is bladder and prostate health. Various studies have shown that PSO is useful for conditions such as OAB (overactive bladder), and any urinary dysfunction, making it a great option for senior pets, or even younger animals with bladder difficulties such as incontinence, chronic UTI’s, and bladder irritations, also makes a great post birth treatment. Numerous studies show that pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil have beneficial effects on prostate glands, and can even be a preventative for such conditions as Prostatic Neoplasia.
 
 3. Cardiovascular benefits:
Thanks to its high phytosterol content, PSO is a great heart healthy option for you and your pets that also balances blood pressure, which is vital for heart health, in fact, PSO has the same effects in the body as the blood pressure medication amlodipine, reversing elevated levels of BP. This oil could be a great option for particular breeds that are unfortunately prone to cardiovascular disease, which are: Boxers, Dobermans, Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, Portuguese Water Dogs, Cocker Spaniels, Scottish Deerhounds, St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, Afghans and Old English Sheepdogs.
The phytosterols in PSO can lower the bad cholesterol in the body (LDL) and increase the good (HDL).

 4. High in antioxidants:
PSO is a great source of antioxidants such as vitamins A, K and E that fight free radical damage in the body. It is rich in carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin and four fatty acids which are; palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acid.

 5. Gastrointestinal health:
The soothing effects of PSO has shown to significantly improve and soothe GI inflammation and help to aid an unhealthy digestive tract. Therefore, overall digestion and nutrient absorption also gets improved.

 6. Balances hormones:
PSO has a unique phytoestrogen complex that has been shown to balance hormones, and improve hormonal symptoms.

 7. Ocular health:
PSO is a source of antioxidants such as zeaxanthin, lutein and of course vitamin A, which is super beneficial for eye health, specifically the macula. These antioxidants are carotenoids, meaning they have special abilities to protect the eyes from harmful elements, such as the UV rays from the sun and oxidation.

 8. Arthritis:
In a study published by in the journal of Pharmacology Research, when rats where induced with arthritis, which shockingly increased levels of inflammation, those supplemented with PSO had just as a positive effect with inflammation relief as the group who was given NSAID’s, however, they did not experience any liver injuries, versus the ones that where on the medication.

 9. Organ & brain health:
When mice where exposed to hazardous and toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde (FA), which affected brain and organ health, these were the findings, “The FA-induced elevation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain, liver, and kidneys was suppressed by pre-treatment with PSO extract. The extract also attenuated the FA-induced reduction of endogenous antioxidant pools. In vitro phytochemical analyses showed that PSO extract possesses free radical scavenging and total antioxidant activities due to the presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Thus, PSO extract has significant protective effects against FA-induced organ toxicities by scavenging oxidative stress and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.” (Mollika, Shihab, Alam, Ranjan, Imman, Rafiqul. 2020. Pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita maxima) protect against formaldehyde- induced major organ damages)

 10. Bone protection:
​It is no secret that vitamin K is essential for bone health. PSO seed oil is rich in vitamin K, which regulates bone re absorption, takes part in a process called carboxylation of many bone related proteins, and regulates transcription of genetic osteoblast (cells that form new bone) markers. Also, helps prevent fractures and any kind of bone damage. PSO is also rich in minerals such as potassium, magnesium and calcium that is crucial for bone health.
 
 
 
So far there have been no adverse recordings of giving too much PSO, other than perhaps loose stools. Make sure to purchase your organic pumpkin seed oil from a reputable source and company, my personal favorite is Styrian pumpkin seed oil. It is a dark oil with a rather thick viscosity, and a little goes a long way to reach its therapeutic benefits- oh, and it's delicious!