You may only be used to eating shelled pumpkin seeds bought in a store, but’s it’s perfectly fine to eat the whole seeds too. They make a delicious snack (especially after carving your Halloween pumpkin). Pumpkin seeds are also very nutritious and the seeds with the shells on contain additional fiber.

There are some things to be aware of before consuming pumpkin seeds. Individuals suffering from digestive conditions, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, also known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), should avoid or limit their intake of whole pumpkin seeds and even the shelled varieties. This is because the fiber-rich seeds may worsen intestinal inflammation and lead to stomach upset, diarrhea, pain, bloating and possibly other symptoms.

However, most people should be fine after eating raw or roasted pumpkin seeds – just don’t overdo it!