The wafting aroma of pumpkin spice lattes can only mean one thing: autumn has returned. Chilly whirlwinds of rust-colored leaves dance to celebrate the coming of pumpkin season.
Pumpkins are popularly associated with pies, sugar-soaked sweet drinks, candies and all other birds of a diet-breaking feather; however, there’s more to this gourd than meets the sugar-craving eye.
Pumpkin Health Benefits
Despite its reputation as a power player in sugar-centric cuisine, pure pumpkin itself is far from junk food. Below are 8 significant health benefits from eating pumpkin that you just may find surprising.
1.) Preserve Eyesight
Huffington Post reported that just one cup of mashed pumpkins contains more than four times the recommended daily intake of Vitamin A, making it a fantastic dietary additive for eyesight preservation.
2.) Cancer Risk Reduction
Two of the most useful pumpkin components are beta-carotene and vitamin A. Together, according to the National Cancer Institute, beta-carotene and vitamin A can be a highly competent cancer-fighting team.
3.) Prostate Size Reduction
Just a single ounce of pumpkin seeds, eaten three times weekly, can present a substantial benefit to men with enlarged prostates. Clinical herbal advisor Douglas Schar states that the protective phytosterol content within pumpkin seeds gives them the power to potentially reduce prostate size.
4.) Weight Shedding Power
Using pumpkin’s weight-fighting power correctly can turn the autumn season into cutting season. A single cup of pumpkin has zero fat content, only 50 calories, and 50 grams of beneficial fiber.
5.) Anti-Arthritic Properties
Pumpkin is packed with a protovitamin A variation known as beta-cryptoxanthin, known for being a reliable anti-inflammatory agent.
6.) Menopausal Symptom Relief
Pumpkin seeds not only assist aging men, but also women experiencing menopause. The phytoestrogens in pumpkins seeds provide relief to a host of troubling symptoms that menopausal women commonly encounter. Joint pains, headaches, hot flashes, and other painful complications can be quelled with phytoestrogen’s intervention.
7.) A Kidney Stone Countermeasure
Pumpkin is a natural counter to kidney stones. Kidney stone formation can be significantly cut down by sticking to a daily diet of 5-10 grams of pumpkin seeds.
8.) Performance & Recovery Enhancement
After intense exercise, the body is depleted of the electrolytes that it needs to use its muscles properly; luckily, pumpkin has potassium in spades. With 564 milligrams of potassium, 142 more milligrams than banana, a single cup of pumpkin can be your body’s best friend after a serious gym session.
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Which health benefits of pumpkin are YOU most excited about?
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