The Benefits of Pumpkin
It’s Fall! That means it’s time for almost everything to be pumpkin-flavored. Sure, lattes and muffins aren’t the healthiest things in the world, but when you put pumpkin in other dishes, it can do wonders to benefit your health! Here are a few benefits of pumpkin, taken from Huffingtonpost.com:
Eyesight
According to The Huffington Post, “A cup of cooked, mashed pumpkin contains more than 200 percent of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A, which aids vision”.
Pumpkins also have carotenoids which make them bright orange, and beta-carotene, which the body converts into a form of vitamin A for additional eyesight protection.
Fiber
Not many people realize this, but pumpkins are a great source of fiber. They have three grams per one-cup serving at only 49 calories! That means pumpkin can keep you feeling full for longer on fewer calories!
Pumpkin seeds are good for your heart health
Huffington Post says, “Nuts and seeds, including those of pumpkins, are naturally rich in certain plant-based chemicals called phytosterols that have been shown in studies to reduce LDL or “bad” cholesterol.”
May help prevent cancer
Like sweet potatoes, carrots and butternut squash, antioxidant beta-carotene is in pumpkins. This may play a role in cancer prevention, according to the National Cancer Institute.
They’re good for your skin
The same free-radical-neutralizing powers of the carotenoids in pumpkin that may keep cancer cells at bay can also help keep the skin wrinkle-free, according to Health magazine.
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