Pumpkin mania!

Photo courtesy of Food Explorer RD

I have been craving the chocolate chip pumpkin cake I made back in my undergrad, Intro to Foods lab. Even though the weather is not your typical autumn weather, pumpkin anything is everywhere! Today, I’ve made 2 different pumpkin treats. But, before I post the recipe, let’s talk about the health benefits.

What’s so good about pumpkin, besides tasting delicious and its vibrant orange color? Pumpkin is full of important nutrients for maintaining health. Below is a list of healthy nutrients in pumpkin and its health benefits.

Remember, if you don’t have the time or energy to puree your own pumpkin from scratch, consider buying canned 100% pure pumpkin to take advantage of this healthy ingredient. You can use it in seed form or to make desserts, bread, soups, etc.

Nutrients	Health Benefits
Vitamin A	Essential for good vision and cell growth
Carotenoids/Beta carotene	May inhibit cancer cell growth, work as antioxidants, and improve immune response
Fiber	See blog, Dietary Fiber 101 (October 23, 2015)
Vitamin E	Antioxidant, boost immune system, helps widen blood vessels and keep blood from clotting within them, important for metabolic processes
Vitamin C	Antioxidant, good for your skin, bones, and connective tissue, promotes healing and helps the body absorb iron
Magnesium	regulates muscles and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure and making protein, bone, and DNA
Potassium	Helps nerves and muscles communicate, plays role in moving nutrients into cells and waste products out of cells, helps with regulating blood pressure
Iron	Growth and development, important for making hemoglobin and myoglobin (helps provide oxygen to the body), makes some hormones, and connective tissue
Copper	Works with iron to help body form red blood cells; essential for keeping blood vessels, nerves, immune system, and bones healthy; aids in iron absorption
Manganese	Used for prevention and treatment of manganese deficiency; essential for maintaining bone and blood health

Sources:

Pumpkin. http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2602/2#ixzz3qqpSIDQm. Accessed November 7, 2015.

Medline Plus. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus. Accessed November 7, 2015.

National Institute of Health’s Dietary Supplements Fact Sheet. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-all/. Accessed November 7, 2015.

The blog content and information provided by Food Explorer RD is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor recommended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your own physician or other qualified health care professional regarding any medical questions or conditions.