1.  Do raw pumpkin seeds need to be heated before eating?
2.  Can they safely be added to a compliant chili, either before cooking or after cooking, and eaten without no ill affects?
3.   Do you have other ideas on how to eat them?

I remember them being in a shell as a kid in a little box and each piece was coated with salt, and would chew, swallow kernal and spit out shells.  That's all I know about pumkin seeds

and what do they do for us, please remind me!   Thanks

I  eat them raw on salads....no salt...

when I buy pumpkins at Halloween, I sometimes scrape out the seeds and roast them with some salt as a treat, but as a rule, I eat the store bought ones raw..  

I'm trying to figure out if it's okay to eat them raw.

Quoted from geminisue

I'm trying to figure out if it's okay to eat them raw.

Yes...but don't overdue it.  Like anything...moderation.

Great in salads, smoothies, with a fruit, with a veggie...as a nutbutter-on bananas, rice cakes, carrots...whatever you want.

Debra

Hi - I actually have a small handful of these as part of my breakfast every morning.

Here is a tip for any Seed or nuts - Soak them in water over night before eating, its supposed to "activate" them and make them much easier to digest.

Here is my Breakfast:

Juice of 1 lemon in luke warm water.

followed by my own cereal of...

Almond, Wallnuts, Pumpkin seeds (all soaked over night), Goji Berries, 1 drief fig, 1 sliced banana, soaked in Soy Milk.

washed down with a cup of Tulsi-Green Tea

I usually have some raw ones daily as part of a nut/dried fruit mix. Can be added to pretty well anything mixed.

Quoted from sandeep

Here is a tip for any Seed or nuts - Soak them in water over night before eating, its supposed to "activate" them and make them much easier to digest.

I've never had them soaked. I would imagine that they are somewhat dried at purchase and that soaking would re-introduce some water. Most people would consider nuts to be a 'no preparation' type of food.

they contain a high degree of zinc......great for prostate!

Quoted from shoulderblade

...I've never had them soaked. I would imagine that they are somewhat dried at purchase and that soaking would re-introduce some water...

They are great and easy to sprout - very little messing with.
By soaking overnight they are more digestible and give you much of the same benefit as actually sprouting.

Like Beans - Nuts in an ideal world would be soaked before consumption.

From several Nurtrition Databases, Pumpkin Seeds are among the highest of vegetable form of Zinc available. Though Poppy Seeds and Cocoa are up there as well.

I eat organic raw pumpkin seeds once I soak them for several hours or overnight.

I eat them plain, unsalted and add a small handful to my breakfast porridge.

Alia

I thank each of you for all your ideas and comments, I learned so much reading this information and will be using it wisely.  If anyone wants to add please feel free to!