Pumpkins / Pumpkin Seeds :
With Halloween fast approaching, it's good to know that pumpkins can be useful in more ways than simply being turned into Jack-O'-Lanterns. Rather than wasting the pumpkin pulp, why not turn it into a healthy and delicious treat - like pumpkin soup! However, be warned, the pumpkins used for lanterns can be stringy. Therefore, why not buy the smaller, firmer, sweeter version for your dinner whilst you enjoy the holiday at the same time.
You might be surprised to learn that pumpkin is very good at warding off a whole host of health problems. Often mistaken for a vegetable, pumpkin forms part of the gourd family and is both a type of a squash and a fruit.
It is great as a roasted accompaniment, in stews or steamed. Whichever way you choose to eat it, it is a food low in calories, high in fibre and nutrients, including vitamin C, E and potassium, and is also rich in naturally occurring plant chemicals - carotenoids.
Carotenoids are chemicals are responsible for giving red, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables their vibrant colours. In addition, and more significantly, they are also widely thought to protect against cancer, lower the risk of heart disease and reduce the incidence of atherosclerosis ('furring' of the arteries).
Pumpkin is a good source of 3 carotenoids:
- i)alphacarotene;
- ii)betacarotene; and
- iii)beta-cryptoxanthin.
All three are strong antioxidants and so help to protect against free radical damage that can lead to disease. For example, smokers (or people who are exposed to high levels of second-hand smoke) may benefit from a higher than average in-take of these. More specifically, the antioxidant properties of betacarotene may also help to protect against skin damage caused by UV rays.
Pumpkin Seeds
And make sure you don't forget about pumpkin seeds! Nothing need go to waste. Rather than throwing them away, why not roast them in olive oil for a snack? Pumpkin seeds are available all year round, however, they are the freshest around Halloween time when pumpkins are in season. They are associated with the promotion of prostate health (aided by their high levels of zinc), protection for mens' bones (again, largely due to their being a good source of zinc), anti-inflammatory benefits in Arthritis. In addition to all of the above, pumpkin seeds are also a good source of more traditional nutrients, such as: magnesium, manganese, iron, protein and some oils.
So, enjoy your Halloween, satisfied by the fact that you have managed to entertain the kids at the same time as boosting the family's health!
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