Hey there viewers!
Isn’t pumpkin the best?
Pumpkin Pie is delicious and for carving pumpkins for Halloween is too much fun!
It is a popular symbol of the fall season but did you know that this popular thanksgiving
fruit is much more than something to carve or serve in a pie.
It has a wide range of powerful health benefits.
What’s more, it is a delicious, affordable, and versatile ingredient that can be eaten
in many ways from sweet spiced desserts to savory salads, coffee, cocktails, even casseroles.
Before we move forward, let me clarify to you that Pumpkin is a type of squash.
So technically, It’s neither a fruit nor a vegetable.
People often decide based on how they are cooking the pumpkin.
So, if you cook a pumpkin into a pie, you might say it is a fruit because of the sweet
taste.
And If it is part of a stew, cooked with meat and spices, you might call it a vegetable.
In today’s video we will be talking about the Health benefits of pumpkin that will surprise
you.
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Strengthens your Immunity: Pumpkins are loaded with Vitamin C which helps to strengthen your
immune system by encouraging white blood cell production in your body.
Pumpkin also contains beta-carotene which gets converted into vitamin A in your body.
Studies have shown that vitamin A helps strengthen your body’s immune system and fight infections.
It’s always a good idea to add more pumpkin to your diet during the fall season when cold
and flu are quite rampant.
You can make a pumpkin pie smoothie by combining 1/2 cup ice, 1/2 cup vanilla nonfat yogurt,
1 tsp. honey, 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice and 1/4 cup pumpkin puree and blend it all together.
It’s healthy and tasty!
Keeps Your Eyes Healthy: As we mentioned earlier, Pumpkins contain beta-carotene and carotenoids.
According to a study, they help reduce the risk of chronic eye diseases, including age-related
eye degeneration and cataracts.
Thanks to the rich presence of Vitamin C, pumpkin reduces the risk of macular degeneration,
which is one of the leading causes of adult blindness.
The Vitamin A protects the cornea and aids your eyes’ ability to see in low lighting.
A fun way you can eat pumpkin is in ice cream.
Simply add 1 cup canned or fresh pumpkin puree and 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice to your favorite
vanilla ice cream recipe.
Freeze according to your ice cream maker’s instructions and have some tasty pumpkin ice
cream!
Promotes Hair Growth: This big orange fruit is really good for your hair.
It’s a rich source of minerals like potassium and zinc.
Potassium helps in keeping hair healthy and improve re-growth.
Zinc helps maintain collagen which plays an important role in promoting healthy hair.
It also contains folate, an important B vitamin that stimulates hair growth by improving blood
circulation.
You can prepare a simple hair conditioner using pumpkin.
Just mix 2 cups of chopped and cooked pumpkin with 1 tsp coconut oil, 1 tsp honey and 1
tablespoon yoghurt.
Make a puree, then add coconut oil and honey to make a smooth mixture.
Apply it to damp shampooed hair, wear a plastic shower cap and leave for 15 minutes.
Rinse off thoroughly and style as usual!
Keeps your heart healthy: Eating pumpkins regularly can have a very positive effect
on your heart health.
It is very rich in Potassium which has a positive effect on your blood pressure leading to a
healthier heart.
A recent study suggested that consuming enough potassium may be almost as important as decreasing
salt intake for treating high blood pressure.
The antioxidants in pumpkin can also prevent the bad type of cholesterol from oxidizing
in your body, which lowers your risk of heart disease.
You can make an easy Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread by Adding 1/2 cup canned pumpkin, 2
Tbsp. sugar and 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice to 8 ounces of low-fat cream cheese.
You can use this spread on toast or on whatever you please!
Helps you sleep better: An interesting health benefit of pumpkin is that it helps you sleep
better.
Pumpkins are rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that contributes to making you feel sleepier.
Tryptophan is also responsible for helping your body make serotonin, a feel-good neurotransmitter
that helps you relax and unwind.
You can eat pumpkin using this fun pasta recipe.
In a large nonstick skillet, sauté several cloves of garlic and half an onion, diced.
Then add 2 cups pumpkin puree and stir to combine.
Finally Add minced fresh sage or rosemary and serve over whole-wheat penne pasta.
Your very own and healthy pumpkin pasta!
Helps Combat Diabetes: Pumpkin in its purest form is one of the lowest calorie fruits around.
And as you know, following a low calorie diet is the absolute key to keeping type 2 diabetes
in check, that makes pumpkin a wise choice.
Always look for canned pumpkin without added sugar and you can enjoy it all year long.
Pumpkin is also loaded with phenolic phytochemicals which have been shown to control blood sugar
levels, and in turn, lower the risk for diabetes.
The Fiber content in Pumpkin also helps maintain blood sugar levels which aids in weight loss
and helps manage diabetes.
Helps fill you up fast: It is recommended that your body should get between 25-35 grams
of fiber per day which is something most of you do not get enough of.
An easy way to boost up your fiber intake is through Pumpkin.
One cup of pumpkin contains about 7 grams of fiber.
This is good enough to make you feel full.
Fiber also helps with your digestion, lowers your cholesterol , and helps suppress your
appetite for a longer period of time.
This makes it a great food for weight loss because you can consume more of it than other
carb sources such as rice and potatoes but still take in fewer calories.
Good for your skin: Pumpkins have a wide range of properties which make it amazing for your
skin.
It contains fruit enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), which increase cell turnover
to brighten and smoothen your skin.
The Vitamin A and C in it helps soften and soothe your skin and boost collagen production.
This prevents signs of aging on your skin.
Pumpkin also contains zinc which helps control hormone levels and oil production.
This is beneficial if you have oily skin and acne problem.
So how do you use pumpkin on your face?
You can make a simple Pumpkin face mask by mixing 2 Tsp cooked pumpkin and 1 Tsp honey
and applying it all over your face avoiding the eye area.
Leave for about 10-15 minutes before rinsing to remove and reveal smooth, hydrated, glowing
skin!
Helps Prevent Cancer: Being packed with antioxidants, eating pumpkins regularly can help reduce
the risk of many types of cancer.
According to a study the wide range of carotenoids in pumpkins may play a role in cancer prevention.
Food sources of beta-carotene work far better than supplements, particularly when the food
sources contain the full range of carotenoids.
If you’re looking for another great food to help prevent cancer, pumpkin is the answer.
What is your favourite way to eat pumpkin?
Have you tried any of the recipes we’ve mentioned?
Let us know in the comments section below.