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The holidays may have come and gone, but that doesn’t mean you should spend the rest of the year ignoring the pumpkin. Pumpkins are a great superfood loaded with antioxidants and many disease-fighting nutrients. These bright orange masterpieces are able to give people roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pies and more. Luckily, pumpkins are able to grow almost all year round, so get your dehydrator, blender or oven ready, because it’s time to reap the benefits of this powerful superfood.
Similar to the carrot, the bright orange color of the pumpkin is a great indication that it is filled with life-promoting nutrients. These are made available through the meat (the pulpy insides of the pumpkin) and the seeds, which are also edible.
The meat of the pumpkin is filled with health-supporting nutrients. It has a lot of antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E. In fact, just one cup of raw pumpkin can give you over 245 percent of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A. It is also a great source of B vitamins, including riboflavin, folate, B6, thiamin, niacin and pantothenic acid.
Pumpkins are also rich in minerals and other compounds such as potassium, manganese, copper, phosphorus, iron, magnesium and poly-phenolic compounds such as beta-carotene (which the body converts into vitamin A), beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin. Pumpkins are also a fine source of fiber, providing you with around three grams of fiber per one cup of pumpkin.
In addition to the meat, you can also consume the pumpkin seeds. They can be eaten raw, but their flavor comes out when they’re roasted. These tiny superfoods are also a great source of concentrated nutrition.
Pumpkin seeds are a great source of many vitamins, such as vitamins A and K and B vitamins like riboflavin, folate, thiamin, B6 and niacin. Much like their pulpier counterpart, they’re also a great source of compounds like manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, zinc and potassium. What sets them apart, however, is how they’re also rich in quality vegan protein. Just one ounce of pumpkin seeds can provide you with seven grams of protein, making pumpkin seeds a great snack for supporting well-rounded vegan and vegetarian diets.
Other than that, pumpkin seeds also contain beneficial amounts of selenium and a healthy dose of healthy fats and dietary fiber.
Thanks to all these nutrients, pumpkins are able to offer you a variety of health benefits such as:
Pumpkins are versatile superfoods that can be added to your diet easily. You can turn it into a desert like a custard or a pie, or gently roast or dehydrate the seeds in sea salt and other preferred spices. Another very popular way to consume pumpkin is in the form of a hot beverage. Fortunately, you can make your own homemade pumpkin spiced latte if you’re in the mood for it.
Pumpkins are a great addition to any meal thanks to their sweet flavor and the dozens of nutrients they provide that give you plenty of health benefits. So, even if it’s not the holidays, be sure to look into getting some pumpkins if you want something sweet to fill you up.
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