5 Impressive Benefits of Pumpkin

Pumpkin season is in full effect! Pumpkins are everywhere—and we’re not just talking about jack-o-lanterns and PSLs! This ultra popular fruit yields so many benefits that it’s considered one of the best superfoods of the season. As a nutrition mindset coach, I love to help people find delicious foods that they enjoy but that also provide optimum nutrients and fuel. Whether you roast pumpkin seeds, make pumpkin soup or find some other way to celebrate this tasty winter squash, the health benefits make it an ideal food to incorporate into your diet, especially when you’re trying to lose weight.

Here are five impressive benefits of nutrient-rich pumpkins.

1. Pumpkin Boosts Heart Health

Fall’s signature squash is loaded with fiber, antioxidants and vitamin c, which helps prevent and fight cardiovascular disease. Pumpkins contain high levels of potassium, which helps lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Pumpkin seeds also have a naturally high content of phytosterols, plant-based chemicals that have been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol, and ultimately, improve heart health.

2. Weight Loss & Management

Pumpkins are packed with dietary fiber and protein that curbs hunger pangs and keeps you feeling full while promoting healthy digestion. It has three grams of fiber per cup, yet only about 50 calories and very little fat, making it an ideal choice for Autumn meals. Pumpkin’s unique taste also makes it the perfect antidote for a sweet tooth.

3. Pumpkins are Anti-Aging

Pumpkins boast antioxidants such as carotenoids, which improves the body’s cell renewal process and helps fight off free radical damage that causes wrinkles. They are very rich in beta-carotene, which gives them their color while acting as an internal sunscreen that helps prevent sun damage.

4. Disease Prevention

The carotenoids in pumpkins also help fight inflammation, boost immunity and reduce the risk of many illnesses. According to the National Cancer Institute, beta-carotene has shown to play an important role in reducing the risk of several forms of cancer and other chronic diseases.

5. Pumpkin is a Mood Booster

Pumpkin seeds are rich in tryptophan, the famed amino acid also present in turkey that many believe makes us tired after Thanksgiving dinner. While research points to overeating as the cause of the post-Thanksgiving sleepiness, tryptophan has been proven to be essential to the production of serotonin, which is a key player when it comes to elevating our moods. When we boost our moods naturally, we may be less apt to overeat and indulge in comfort food.

To discover more tips for managing your diet, weight and belief systems that affect your health, consider working with a nutrition mindset coach like me.