I’m a little late for the party, but pumpkin season is still on! Pumpkins are like the mascot for Fall, and aside from being pretty fun (but messy) to carve, they’re also a seasonal food packed with nutrition.

Here are five awesome health benefits you may not have known about when it comes to pumpkins!

#1) They’re Good for Your Eyes

What’s bright and orange and loves your eyes? Move over, carrots, looks like you’ve got company! Pumpkins get their vibrant color from beta-carotene, which our body converts into Vitamin A. Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient for eye help, as it helps the retina absorb and process light. Pumpkins are also a good source of Vitamin C, Zinc, and antioxidants, including lutein and zeaxanthin, all of which help to prevent cataracts and macular degeneration.

#2) Your Skin LOVES Them!

One of the best foods you can eat for healthy skin is pumpkin! Their carotenoid content helps to protect your skin from the damaging (and wrinkle-inducing) effects of UV rays and environmental pollutants. They also contain Vitamin K and E, Niacin and Folate, which are all involved in skin cell turnover and renewal, a process that starts to slow down as we age. When applied topically, their natural fruit enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) help to exfoliate the skin, which is great for preventing wrinkles and treating acne. They’re great no matter how old (or how young) you are!(By the way, I can show you how to do your own pumpkin enzyme facial peel at home!)

#3) Nature’s Broomstick

Prepare yourself, because I’m going there: pumpkins are great for healthy bowels. If you find yourself dealing with ‘clogged pipes’ so to speak, pumpkins are a healthy source of fiber that will help to move things along. On the flipside, if you find things are moving too quickly, they can also slow things down. They are a versatile food for digestion, and are often employed for the treatment of either constipation or diarrhea in pets. A can of cooked pumpkin delivers about 7 grams of fiber- not too bad!

#4) Fighting Seeds

Aside from being a tasty snack, pumpkin seeds and either their extracts or oil, are said to have anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties. All of these effects come from their proteins and phytonutrients like lignans (pinoresinol, medioresinol, and lariciresinol). Pumpkin seeds are also used in alternative medicine for the treatment of parasites, although it is very important to speak with a doctor first before gobbling handfuls of seeds!

#5) A Bone Friendly Food

When talking about healthy bones, we usually refer to Vitamin D and calcium. Yet, we forget about three other micronutrients that are important for optimal bone health: magnesium, phosphorous, and zinc. Pumpkin seeds contain all three of these, making them a wonderful addition to bone-friendly diet! Just ¼ of a cup of pumpkin seeds gives you 47.7% of the DV for magnesium, 39.7% of the DV for phosphorous, and 16.8% of the DV for Zinc. Awesome!

Eat Up!

If you’re ready to load up on this Fall superfood but don’t know where to start, don’t fret!
Check out these recipes on my site-

• Pumpkin Spice Latte (That won’t ruin your fitness goals, with no sugar added!)

– Roasted Pumpkin Soup (FM)

– Pasta With Chicken & Pumpkin Cream Sauce (WEM)

– Low Carb Pumpkin Pie Cookies (FM)

Sources:

http://visionsource.com/blog/love-pumpkin-your-eyes-do-too/ 

https://www.dermalinstitute.com/us/news/2012/10/the-benefits-of-pumpkin-ingredients-on-the-skin/

https://www.1800petmeds.com/education/pumpkin-for-your-pets-digestive-health.htm

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=82

http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/intestinal-parasites

http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2012/10/The-True-Potency-Of-The-Pumpkin-Seed/Page-01