Why pumpkin seeds should be your next guilt-free grocery splurge

This is a short post -- a test post, actually -- and the plan is to give you a reason to try pumpkin seeds and/or pumpkin-seed butter.

Why should you add pumpkin seeds to your repertoire? Well, besides the fact that they're enchantingly green, and taste great toasted and sprinkled on salads or over oatmeal porridge, they have some unusual health benefits. For one thing, they're quite effective in helping with bladder control, a problem shared by many, if rarely discussed.:) Dr. Gifford-Jones recently wrote a fascinating article about the research on this topic.

Secondly, they pack a good wallop of tryptophan, an amino acid that's necessary for growth, helps to regulate your metabolism, and makes it more likely that you'll sleep soundly.

Thirdly, as I was perusing the nutritional label on a jar of pumpkin-seed butter, wondering whether I was willing to shell out (pun intended) more for this oddly enticing green goo, I realized that it was less fat-dense and more protein-dense than peanut or almond butter. Sold!

Since I love all nut butters and tend to eat more of them than is strictly a good idea, this was exactly what I needed. I'll expand on this concept in a later post and explain why the macronutrient (carbohydrate, protein, fat) composition of foods matters and how understanding this nutritional shorthand will keep you slim and healthy for life.

If you're still on the fence, check out Dr. Mercola's short list of health benefits for which you can thank the humble pumpkin seed.

Add pumpkin seeds and/or pumpkin-seed butter to your roster. You'll be glad you gave these leafless greens a chance.