Pumpkin against high blood pressure?

Instead of scaring people at Halloween and sending their blood pressure sky-high, the autumn staple pumpkin may according to recent findings actually help lower blood pressure.

Parts of the vegetable the seeds or the oil have long been known to be good for health. According to an American study, the flesh and the seeds might help lower blood pressure. In the study, young rats with high blood pressure were split into four groups and fed pumpkin flesh or pumpkin seeds for eight weeks. The comparison groups received the ACE inhibitor captopril or a control diet. At the end of the observation period, the MAP (mean arterial pressure) of the rats that had eaten pumpkin flesh or pumpkin seeds was significantly lower compared with the control group that only received the control diet.

Whether this result can be transferred to humans has not yet been studied.

However, pumpkin is also recommended as part of the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). The DASH diet is a specific eating plan to help lower high blood pressure. Pumpkin is used mainly because it is high in potassium. Potassium counteracts sodium that is, table salt, which raises blood pressure in many people. Potassium helps lower blood pressure. The balance between the two minerals should be right, but most people generally get too little potassium from their diet. Pumpkin can help restore that balance. Because it is low in calories, it supports a healthy diet and can also help with weight loss.

Overall, the blood-pressure-lowering effect found in the animal study cannot be directly applied to humans. Still, as a potassium-rich, low-calorie autumn vegetable, pumpkin can be a useful part of efforts to bring blood pressure into the normal range or keep it there.

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This article comes from BloodPressureDB – the leading app since 2011 that helps hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day. Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based information and is continuously updated (as of 01/2026).

Author Sabine Croci is a certified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care. Since 2015 she has led the editorial team at BloodPressureDB. With additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder, and training in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably reviewed information.

Pumpkin against high blood pressure?

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