"Many of us have fond memories of roasting these delicious nuggets after carving the Jack o’ lantern, but most of us never realized just how good (and good for us) they were. But surprisingly, pumpkin seeds have been valued for their dietary and medicinal properties for thousands of years. In fact, pumpkin seeds have been traced back as far as 7000 BC, according to archeologists excavating a tomb in central Mexico. Among other civilizations, the Aztecs and Mayans were believed to revere pumpkin seeds as an important and powerful source of food and nutrition. As it turns out they were on to something – In a comparison to other nuts and seeds, Pumpkin Seeds are one of the most nutritious plant-based foods. A quarter cup serving alone includes an immune-boosting 17% of an adult’s daily allowance of zinc and a powerful red blood cell-supporting 15% of the iron needed. This little seed also has a whopping 8.5 grams of complete plant-based protein in just 1 ounce. Ounce for ounce