One of our autumn favorites is pumpkin! It tastes delicious, but it also has some pretty impressive health benefits.
Great for Weight Loss
Nutritionists suggest adding pumpkins to your diet if you want to lose weight. A single serving of pumpkin contains about 26 calories and no saturated fats or cholesterol. Pumpkin is rich in dietary fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. Research has found that adding pumpkin to your diet can help control cholesterol and is effective for weight reduction programs.
Chock-Full of Vitamin A
A single serving of pumpkin has nearly 250% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A. Vitamin A is a powerful natural antioxidant. The body needs vitamin A to help maintain the integrity of skin and mucosa. Vitamin A is also an essential vitamin for good eyesight. Research is currently being done, and early results have shown that vitamin A may also help to protect the body against lung and oral cavity cancers.
Anti-inflammatory
Studies have shown that adding pumpkins to your diet can help improve the symptoms of arthritis. In a recent study, researchers found pumpkin seed oil to be nearly equally effective compared to a pharmaceutical drug in reducing symptoms of arthritis without the associated side effects.
High in Magnesium
A single serving of pumpkin seeds contains nearly 50% of the recommended daily value of magnesium. Magnesium is an essential mineral in supporting human health. Magnesium helps create energy in the body and synthesize RNA and DNA. Magnesium also helps maintain the bones and nervous system; it is good for heart health and improves bowel functions.
Pumpkin Seed Power
Pumpkin seeds contain a high amount of dietary fiber and monounsaturated fatty acids. Both of these are good for heart health. Pumpkin seeds contain protein, minerals, and vitamins. A single serving contains nearly 8 grams of protein and has almost 30% of the daily recommended allowance of iron. Pumpkin seeds also contain selenium, zinc, and niacin. Pumpkin seeds have no cholesterol but are an excellent source of tryptophan’s amino acid.
