The earliest record of pumpkin seed oil dates back to February 18, 1697 from a farming estate in Styria. This natural oil has been used and produced in the southern part of Styria since the 18th century. Today, this oil is largely exported from the Austrian and Slovenian parts of Styria, but has other international producers, using white seeds with shells to produce cheaper oil. It is, globally, marketed.

Pumpkin seed oil is made by pressing roasted, hulled pumpkin seeds, from the Cucurbita Pepo, (Styrian oil pumpkin). This Styrian pumpkin is quite unique, as it has a greenish-yellowish skin, and its flesh is yellowish-orange in color. The unusual seeds in the pumpkin do not have a shell, which allows for easier processing of the oil.

This natural oil has a variety of uses from culinary, medicinal and to making homemade soap, lotions, creams and more!

For culinary purposes, it is used in salad dressings, soups, dessert, (such as vanilla ice cream), cooking oil and more. This natural oil has a distinct nutty taste and, when it is browned, it has a bitter taste.

Medicinally, some studies have reported it improves symptoms of enlarged prostate, good for treating irritable bowel syndrome, lower the risk of certain types of kidney stones, prevent arteriosclerosis and regulate cholesterol levels.

Pumpkin seeds contain amino acids, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, tryptophan, lysine, zinc and are rich with the benefits of vitamin E, C and A. It has antioxidants benefits and offers plenty of natural beta-carotene.

The oil has a yellowish gold to a deep greenish tint, with hints of dark red within. Its layer of thickness distinguishes a color variation. Its thin layer is more greenish in color, while its thick layer is red in color. Its shelf life is six to eight months, when stored in a cool, dark and dry location.

How does pumpkin seed oil offer homemade skin care benefits? It is quickly absorbed into skin providing soothing relief from dryness or cracks. It helps to reduce fine facial lines and wrinkles, diminishing the signs of aging.

It is wonderful to use in making homemade soap, lotions, creams, and scrubs. Just a little bit of this soap making oil goes a long way, so be sure to use it sparingly. On average, unrefined pumpkin seed oil will run about $ 50.00 per gallon at wholesale price. There are many different soap-making oils, and using pumpkin seed oil is a healthful choice.

There are different ways to learn how to make soap. You can take in-person classes or learn, at home, with an audio visual resource, such as a DVD. Either way can provide you with an abundance of soap making information. Learn with easy soap making instructions, find soap recipes, learn by doing with trial and error, find resources and more! There are different soap making methods, such as hot process soap making, cold process soap making and re-batching. Use the method you are most comfortable with or just use them all! You can find all the soap making information you will ever need! Use a soap making kit, containing oils, molds and other materials to help you get started making soap. So, get started, you can make YOUR very own homemade soap and enjoy the, healthful, benefits of pumpkin seed oil, today!

Rising unemployment rates in the recent past have made hunting for a job a guerilla search. The good news is that while most sectors in our economy have suffered cutbacks in employment, many of them are now back in business and are ready to hire. Here’s what you should be doing.

Still in college or heading there? You have the opportunity to make the smart career choices now that can hone your skills for the job opportunities that are in greater demand today.

Already employed? Now is the time to consider upgrading your credentials with a course that could augment your skills and qualify you for promotions or a new career.

Careers that Show Excellent Growth Prospects

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, certain sectors of our economy are showing more optimistic signs of growth.* To enhance your job marketability, below are a few career options you should consider pursuing in 2011.

Healthcare. Its not for everyone, but if you’re looking for the likelihood of job security, this could be the place for your skills. During the recession, the healthcare industry was one of the few industries that actually hired more people. Plus, employment rates have been rising in almost every field of specialization. Career options are open in nursing, healthcare management, medical assisting, and accounting in hospitals and long-term facilities.

Energy Sector. As gas costs continue to rise, focus today has turned to saving energy and discovering alternative fuel sources. Opportunities lay ahead in marine, wind, and solar energies, carbon management, and more.

Business Administration. Business will always require administrators and managers, and opportunities are growing. Sales and customer service representatives are also in demand. Plus, with business gone global, more multinational companies are looking for people who are willing to travel or relocate to different parts of the world.

Information Technology (IT). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, IT is one of the fastest-growing job markets.** There is a huge demand for a top-level, higher-end IT workforce, which includes talented systems designers and software developers. Internet publishers have good job prospects as well. The IT industry is dynamic, and a bright future could lie ahead for those who can keep up with the pace of information technology.

Good News for Fresh Grads
The job market for fresh grads is growing. Entry-level job postings for candidates with less than one year of experience have increased by 13 percent from the previous year at the end of 2010.***

Courses can prepare you both practically and academically to face real-life challenges in todays job market. There are a wide range of degree programs to consider in order to pursue a career in any of these growing fields, including health sciences degrees nursing administration degrees, information technology degrees and more.

*United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Statistics.” dol.gov/dol/topic/statistics/index.htm
**”Fourth Quarter 2010 Career Trend Analysis Report” Beyond.com, Inc. beyond.com/Media/BeyondcomCareerTrendAnalysisReport-4QT10.pdf
***Koc, Edwin and Mimi Collins. “Job Outlook 2011: College Hiring Outlook Positive in All Regions.” NACE. naceweb.org/Press/Releases/Job_Outlook_2011__College_Hiring_Outlook_Positive_in_All_Regions.aspx