Pumpkin Power
‘Tis the season to argue about whether pumpkin spice-flavored foods like lattes are delicious or gross. People seem to either love them or hate them with nobody on the fence about it. But there’s one thing that can’t be denied: Pumpkin (the fruit itself, not the flavoring) is packed with health benefits and is an ultimate, high-nutrient, low-calorie food.
Pumpkin is very high in vitamins A and C, which have a long laundry list of benefits including immune system boost. Pumpkin is also high in immunity-strengthening vitamin E, iron, and folate.
Pumpkin is high in fiber and in lutein, and in a whole host of other nutrients that have been proven to keep your skin and eyesight healthy. And the seeds are also packed with most of these good things plus protein.
Just remember, as with most foods, pumpkin is best for you when fresh. Frozen is a close second, and canned a distant third. Sugary foods and drinks that are simply pumpkin-flavored are really not good for you, so don’t lump those in with pumpkin.
Fresh pumpkin can be cut into small chunks and oven roasted by itself or with other fall veggies, or stir fried in a tasty curry or other dish. It can be quickly pureed in a blender and made into a soup that will warm you up on cold fall days and be healthier than something from a can. This year, that old jack-o-lantern (if not too old) could have a second life in your saucepan or Instant Pot.
Here endeth the lesson on pumpkin power.
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