Pumpkin Seed Oil: Correct Dosage, Timing and Side Effects

Pumpkin oil when to takeThere are 2 ways to take pumpkin seed oil. In capsules, which are more convenient and portable. Or by the teaspoon from the bottle, which is usually better value and more enjoyable if you like the taste. Remember to keep it in the fridge if you go for this option.

Pumpkin seed oil is best taken just after a meal, rather than on an empty stomach, to improve absorption of both its nutrients and those present in other foods as well.

After breakfast and after dinner would be the ideal time to take pumpkin seed oil. It has a unique and delicious flavor that most people really enjoy.

Pumpkin Seed Oil Optimal Dosage

Pumpkin oil research studies suggest a dosage of at least 1,000 mg twice a day would be the minimum needed for therapeutic benefit.

This isn’t actually that much though. Personally, I take this great tasting cold-pressed, USDA organic and unrefined oil by the teaspoon, which is approximately 4,000 mg, twice a day.

For benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment, or to reduce hair loss, the oil can be taken after every main meal of the day. A teaspoon each time, or 4 pumpkin seed oil capsules, is the recommended dosage for this purpose.

If you prefer to use capsules then it’s better to get them in bulk to take regularly. These recommended ones on Amazon have 240 softgels, 3,000 mg per serving of pumpkin seed oil nutrients, and added saw palmetto. They are also cold-pressed so the oil is extracted without the use of chemical solvents.

It’s more beneficial to spread out the amount you’re taking throughout the day, rather than having it all in one dose. So a capsule with every meal will provide even more benefits than taking them all at once.

Is Styrian or Cold-Pressed Pumpkin Seed Oil Best?

Styrian pumpkin seed oil is considered quite a delicacy. The flavor is rich and nutty and far more intense than regular bland salad oils.

It should not be used as a frying oil, but can be added to the end of cooking to dishes like soups and sauces for a wonderful flavor and extra nutrition.

Styrian pumpkin seed oil is particularly good drizzled over salads, perhaps with a little fresh lemon juice, to make an great tasting salad dressing.

Use Raw Pumpkin Seed Oil for the Most Nutrition

Unfortunately most traditional Austrian Styrian oils roast the pumpkin seeds before extracting their oil. This heat can damage the important fatty acids, vitamin E and other nutrients in the seeds.

For this reason, raw and cold-pressed pumpkin seed oil is always recommended for people using it primarily as a nutritional supplement.Kuerbiskernoel

While raw pumpkin seed oil does not usually have such an intense flavor as the roasted oil, it still tastes great as a salad dressing and when added to recipes after cooking.

If it is being used as a supplement though, for prostate problems, hair loss, or just for its beneficial effect on your health, it would be best to take it more regularly, ideally on a daily basis.

Side Effects of Pumpkin Seed Oil and Where to Find It

Consult a healthcare professional if you are being treated for prostate problems. Pumpkin seed oil has very few reported side effects though.

On rare occasions, people supplementing with it have reported intestinal upsets with a large amounts on an empty stomach. Taking it after food should prevent any negative effects on your digestive system.

Large doses of this oil may interfere with certain prescriptions, so once again check with your physician first. As a general rule it’s best to take supplements well away from important prescriptions.

Pumpkin seed oil is becoming much more popular outside of Europe. It’s now possible to get it in the USA in a much greater variety of brands and at a better price than ever before.

Searching for a good pumpkin seed oil, I was looking for one that was cold-pressed, unrefined and not too much so I could take it regularly. After trying a few different brands I came across this rich tasting organic oil that I really like.

Many people prefer the convenience of capsules and this big 240 softgel bottle on Amazon by Naturebell is a good option. It’s made in the USA, third-party tested and has 3,000 mg per serving of cold pressed pumpkin seed oil combined with saw palmetto.

Thank you for reading my guide to pumpkin seed oil dosage, timing and side effects. I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who has been using this natural remedy regularly, particularly how much you take and what effect it has had on your health.

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Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 37 comments
Martha

Okay, interesting article — but what you haven’t informed us of is this: If we do opt to take the oil by the teaspoon, how many teaspoons are the equivalent of 1,000 milligrams?

Reply
    Jim Dillan

    Hi Martha and thanks for bringing that to my attention. I felt the end of this page could use some improvement so I’ve rewritten it. Hope that helps to make the dosage information clearer.

    Reply
    kevin

    he says that in the article. 1 teaspoon is equal to 4000 milligrams so 1/4 of a teaspoon would equal 1000 milligrams

    Reply
    Aleksandra Veble

    A teaspoon, which is approximately 4000 milligrams, and minimum you need 1000mg a day, But twice 4000mg is fine too.
    I leave in Slovenia next to Styria, Austria, and pumpkin oil we consume as salad dressings from childhood on. In m y family no hairs loss, what a blessing in generations.
    Aleksandra

    Reply
Lorraine

Do you know how many calories are in a tablespoon and what the carbohydrate count is, if any? I bought my bottle in Austria and the label is in German. Thanks.

Reply
    Jim Dillan

    Hi Lorraine and thanks for your question. 14 grams (around a tablespoon) of pumpkin seed oil has about 120 calories, but the majority of these calories are healthy fatty acids. We need these kind of fats in our diet and the health nutrient content of foods like pumpkin seed oil should generally always come before considerations about calories.

    After a lot of research on the matter I’m convinced calorie content alone is a very poor indicator of the weight loss or weight gain potential of a food.

    There are also no carbs in pumpkin seed oil.

    Reply
Shawn

Hello,
I just purchased La Tourangelle Toasted Pumpkin Seed Oil from amazon, is that safe to take daily as you mentioned? I tried a table spoon and it almost made me throw up. This is my first time using pumpkin seed oil, i am using it to help me with my hair loss. Do you have any recommendations of which pumpkin seed oil one should purchase for hair loss?

Reply
    Katy

    I think the author suggested starting with a teaspoon so maybe a tablespoon was just a lot to start with. The capsules don’t taste like anything and would work for you if it’s a sate issue.

    Reply
S R Janssen

Every body and every metabolism differs, but I have experienced unexpected health benefits from eating one meal a day that alternates between high carbs with oil, and protein days using primarily plant proteins cooked with home made chicken stock, with eggs. Pumpkin oil is very tasty on sweet potatoes and plain potatoes. Using several tablespoons of oil such as pumpkin oil, coconut oil, walnut oil seems have really helped reduce my cravings for sugar. In spite of the high calorie count of the oils, I have lost two dress sizes although I had no intention of losing weight. I certainly wouldn’t recommend this way of eating for anyone else, but it certainly agrees with me in terms of high energy, and control of craving. I don’t feel hungry at all.

Reply
Amelie

Hi, I bought some roasting pumpkin seed oil today and i would like to use it on my hair and face as a makeup removal,
Should i change it for the raw pumpkin seed oil?
Thank you
Amélie.

Reply
    Jim Dillan

    Hi Amelie,

    Generally the raw pumpkin seed oil is better for external application.

    All the best,

    Jim

    Reply
Jim Dillan

Hi Judy,

Any added vitamin E in pumpkin seed oil capsules is usually negligible. You’re right that regular high dose synthetic alpha-tocopherol isn’t good for the body in the same way as true vitamin E from foods.

All the best,

Jim

Reply
Jim Dillan

Hi Derek and thank you for sharing your positive results with pumpkin seed oil for hair loss.

I’d think it would be primarily the fat based compounds like Beta-Sitosterol and Delta-7-Sterine that are helping with the pumpkin seed oil. Extracted oils don’t usually retain large amounts of minerals. To get more zinc I’d recommend also eating raw pumpkin seeds as well https://superfoodprofiles.com/raw-pumpkin-seeds-nutrition

All the best,

Jim

Reply
Dr.calder

How much zinc is contained in one Gramme pumpkin seed oil(1000mg)

Reply
Eliot

I have a question about the hair growth use of pumpkin seed oil.
Can it be used to, lets say, promote hair growth on chest?
Thank you.

Reply
    Jim Dillan

    Hi Eliot,

    I’ve never heard of it being used for this purpose. The mechanism of growth with head hair is by counteracting DHT which diminishes hair follicles over time. I haven’t read anything on DHT affecting chest hair growth though. In fact, more DHT often seems to promote body hair while reducing hair on the head.

    All the best,

    Jim

    Reply
Joe Doyle

I just started taking pumpkin seed oil. I am taking one tablespoon in the morning and one tablespoon in the evening. Do you think this is too much?

Reply
    Jim Dillan

    Hi Joe.

    This should be a good amount for quick effects. I take a similar amount myself.

    All the best,

    Jim

    Reply
Aimee

Great article Jim! I purchased pumpkin seed oil a week ago and have been sleeping with it on my skin every night. Out of everything I’ve ever tried this is definitely the best results I’ve ever seen. I’m curious to see how it will improve my hair if I sleep with it on overnight . Hopefully it isn’t to much since I’m adding avocado oil along with coconut oil

Reply
    Jim Dillan

    Hi Aimee,

    Glad to hear the pumpkin seed oil is working so well on your skin.

    Applying it to your hair is usually best for men with thinning hair as it works against DHT accumulation in the follicle, something that’s not usually a problem for women. It does contain beneficial natural fatty acids but if you do decide to try it I’d alternate it with avocado oil rather than combining it.

    All the best,

    Jim

    Reply
Jim Dillan

Hi Dudley,

Pumpkin seed oil has next to no protein as an oil. The seeds have some but not on the same level as red meat. Urea levels should not be affected by either pumpkin seed oil or seeds.

All the best,

Jim

Reply
Bob

Hi – your article doesn’t say anything about whether pumpkin oil has had any noticeable beneficial effects on you personally. Could you let us know how much you have taken and how long for? And what, if any, effect you noticed? It would be very interesting to know. Thanks!

Reply
    Jim Dillan

    Hi Bob,

    Good question.

    I personally don’t have any symptoms of BPH which is where people notice the most immediate benefit with pumpkin seed oil. I did however feel my hair was thinning a little a few years back before I started taking pumpkin seed oil and eating pumpkin seeds regularly. Recently it is looking thicker than it did 2 years ago. Of course writing about superfoods I use a lot of healthy products so it’s difficult to pinpoint but I do believe pumpkin seed oil has helped me maintain my hair.

    All the best,

    Jim

    Reply
Paul Slodow

How long till you start feeling the pumpkin seed oil effects on BPH symptoms

Reply
    Jim Dillan

    Hi Paul,

    It varies, with some people saying within a few nights while others only notice that their symptoms are better after several weeks.

    All the best,

    Jim

    Reply
Sharron

I have heard that pumpkin seed oil is good for oily skin on face , I have suffered very dry flaky skin and very oily skin at the same time for many years. I have open pores and oily skin but with no acne. Can taking pso help and how much would I need to take a day to get a result?

Reply
rashed

Hi,
It is a year and half that I (a man of 74) am taking pumpkin seed oil as I have BPH. I however, read on an Australian box of the oil capsules that after two weeks, its taking should be stopped. Do you think it is a correct advice?
It was my understanding that one can continue it throughout his life. Please guide me.
Thank you.

Reply
    Jim Dillan

    Hi Rashed,

    2 weeks seems a very short cycle. I see no reason for this. If you like you could take one week off every month or two but generally pumpkin seed oil isn’t considered a treatment that needs to be cycled.

    All the best,

    Jim

    Reply
Jim

I am 68 and had problems with low urine flow and high urination frequency. I took 2 tbs 3X daily for three weeks. This resulted in stronger urine flow and decreased urination frequency (from getting up 4X at night to once a night). Since then (for the last two weeks), I have been taking 1 tbs 3X daily for maintenance. I also have decreased urgency and frequency during the day.

Reply
    Jim Dillan

    Hi Jim and good to hear about you positive results with pumpkin seed oil.

    All the best,

    Jim

    Reply
    martin

    That sounds like me at the moment.

    Reply
    martin

    I am 65
    I am taking meds at the moment for overactive bladder. But even taking that i am getting up to urinate between 6-10 times a night. If I could go only 4 times a might, that would be a blessing for me.
    Actually lately ie the last few nights it has been nearer the ten. I would say low volumes of urine each time. Perhaps a moderate volume at times.
    I read on reddit about positive results with Pumpkin seed oil.
    I bought some in liquid form from a health shop two days ago, But I didn’t mention what I wanted it for.
    So far I have only been taking two teaspoons a day. But from today i will increase that to four.
    It’s organic.
    Meantime I am goimg to try stopping using the meds, over the long bank holiday weekend as two of it’s side effects are “decrease in urine volume” and “frequent urge to urinate”

    Reply
    Jim Dillan

    Hi Martin and thanks for your message.

    Like you, I’ve seen many people on reddit and other forums say they’ve had positive results with Pumpkin seed oil for frequent urination.

    I think increasing your dosage like that is a good idea and I hope it works well for you.

    Best regards,

    Jim

    Reply
    Marc

    I was put on Flomax by Urologist with disaster results. Up several times per night and sleepless. I was advised by a Physician friend to throw the flomax away and start taking 2000 mg of pumpkin seed oil a day. After two months only get up once a night and sometimes not at all. Also psa has dropped almost four points into safe area. Urination is no problem at all.

    Reply
Jack

Would this routine be acceptable?
AM: 1 tablespoon PSO with yogurt rice chicken oatmeal or eggs(any recommendations on brands+link to buy pls n ty) and would the PSO interfere if taken with yogurt due to probiotics?

PM: with chicken rice or other forms of carbs (potatoes/spaghetti etc) AND saw palmetto 450 mg (these 2 okay to take together?)

I’m 27 years old male and suffer lots of hair loss; regarding comment above is 4000 mg safe to start with? (2 tbsp)

Thank you!

Reply

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