Don’t be tricked – this popular Halloween gourd is actually one of the most nutritious fruits out there. (Yes, it’s a FRUIT!)
Their orange hue is derived from beta-carotene, a provitamin that is converted to vitamin A in the body. Beta-carotene is essential for eye health, it’s immune-boosting properties, and has also been linked to preventing coronary heart disease (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10554676).
The best part? You can enjoy the benefits of pumpkin all year long, as canned pumpkin has 7 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein (even more than a fresh pumpkin!), provides over 50% of the daily value of vitamin K, and yet only has 80 calories and 1 gram of fat.
However, the seeds are packed with so much protein, magnesium, potassium, phytosterols (which can reduce cholesterol and even help prevent some types of cancers), and zinc that studies suggest pumpkin seeds provide a number of health benefits. (Some of these benefits include blocking the enlargement of the prostate gland, lowering the risk of bladder stones, and even helping to prevent depression!)
So let’s get cooking – what’s your favorite pumpkin dish?
Resolve to include a superfood in your eating plan at least once every couple of days!