Many people love to eat pumpkin seeds, but they often only do it in the fall when they’ve cleaned out one of the gourds and roast the pepitas inside. That said, you’ll likely be eating them a great deal more when you find out that they’re actually tiny little superfoods. Not only do they have several benefits for your overall health, but they can also be very friendly to your weight loss efforts, too.

Check Out These Top Reasons to Eat Pumpkin Seeds

Though there is a long list of reasons to eat pumpkin seeds, these are some of the ones that are most appealing to dieters who are working to lose weight.

They Promote Healthy Muscle Maintenance

Eating one ounce of pumpkin seeds provides your body with 7 grams of protein. This makes them a powerhouse food for helping you to keep up your healthy muscles and related body tissues. Since muscles are natural fat burners, the better you build and preserve them, the easier it will be for you to keep your weight under control.

They Assist With Blood Sugar Regulation

When you eat pumpkin seeds, you will obtain a strong combination of fiber, good fats and protein. Each of these, when combined, help to keep your blood sugar in balance. On top of the 7 grams of protein in one ounce of pumpkin seeds, you’ll also receive 13 grams of healthy fats and 1.7 grams of fiber. For such a small amount of food, this is a huge hit of blood sugar regulating nutrition.

They Are a Weight Loss Friendly Superfood

The fantastic combination of fat, protein and fiber is great for blood sugar regulation, which helps to keep cravings under control. As you know if you’re trying to lose weight, food cravings can work in direct opposition to your efforts toward reaching your goal. If you eat foods that keep your blood sugar under better control, you’ll avoid those cravings and make it easier to comfortably eat right.

They Support More Restful Sleep

When you eat pumpkin seeds, you’ll enjoy some tryptophan that they contain, too. This is a naturally occurring chemical that helps to promote deeper sleep. Many people who suffer from insomnia eat foods high in tryptophan or will even take supplements containing it in order to overcome their symptoms. Improving sleep helps you to avoid cravings and stay alert to make better weight loss decisions during the day.