Why You Should Be Eating A Handful Of Pumpkin Seeds Everyday

Can pumpkin seeds help you stay healthy? Maybe — they're a good source of zinc, at least. Zinc deficiency is believed to have a negative effect your immune system, so make sure you're getting enough. One ounce of pumpkin seeds has more than 2 mg of zinc, which is about 20 to 25 percent of your daily recommended intake, depending on gender.

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Pumpkin seeds are loaded with vitamins and minerals, including vitamins B, E, and K, magnesium, and iron.

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Nuts and seeds (pumpkin seeds included) are a great source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are important for heart health and regulating cholesterol.

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Pumpkin seeds also contain tryptophan (which your body converts into serotonin and then into melatonin, aka "the sleep hormone"). Eating pumpkin seeds a few hours before bed could help you get a restful night's sleep.

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Most importantly, they're delicious. Whether you sprinkle raw pumpkin seeds on your salad or roast your pumpkin seeds in the oven with salt and cinnamon, they're a tasty and satisfying snack.

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Kristie Collado is The Daily Meal's Cook Editor. Follow her on Twitter @KColladoCook.