Everything Pumpkin!

Pumpkins are not only fun to use in autumn displays and to carve for Halloween, they are also very good for you to eat. They belong to the winter squash family and are full of vitamins, potassium, and antioxidants.

The Nutritious Pumpkin

As a low-calorie-dense food, pumpkin has very few calories, basically no fat, has a TON of Vitamin A (280% of the recommended daily allowance), is low in sodium, and is a good source of fiber. How can you go wrong?! Besides all of those good things, pumpkins are also known to be one of the best sources of beta carotene. Some data shows that beta carotene might help to slow mental decline, which is good news too![1] And I don’t know about you, but I can use all the help I can get. 😉

Another key ingredient in pumpkins are antioxidants; including lutein and zeaxanthin, which are very important for good vision. Studies show that those two important antioxidants can play a role in reducing the risk of eye diseases such as macular degeneration.[2] My grandma suffered with macular degeneration, so I’m working hard to eat all the important nutrients to help keep that awful disease away.

The Entire Plant is Edible!

Did you know the flesh of the squash, the flowers, the seeds, and the leaves are all edible! I have never tried to eat the flowers or leaves before, but next year (assuming our pumpkin plants do better in the garden than they did this year), I’m going to try it. Stay tuned! 🍃

I Love Pumpkin Seeds!

One of the things I really enjoy this time of year are pumpkin seeds (sometimes called pepitas)! I think I might be addicted to them. Do you think they have PSA (pumpkin seeds anonymous)? Seriously though, those tasty little treats are also chock-full of nutrients.[3] They are considered an excellent source of calcium, potassium, and magnesium (good for bone health). Plus, pepitas are a healthy fat and are full of antioxidants, which can help with inflammation and arthritis. Check out my daughter’s recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds below!