4 Wonderful Benefits of Eating Pumpkin Everything!
Pumpkin is one of the top ingredients to have in the fall and especially for Halloween treats and of course the ever-loved Pumpkin Spiced Latte. But did you know, not only is it delicious and seasonal, but it is also low-fat and provides many great health benefits? When I found out that pumpkin can help with these different health conditions my own family deals with, I knew I had to share them with you! Consider some of these benefits of enjoying pumpkin throughout the fall season.
Pumpkin is a Low-Fat Food
First of all, pumpkin is a very low-fat and low-calorie food that is easy to add to your daily diet regimen. Whether you are trying to eat less carbs, lower calories, or cut back on your fat, pumpkin is a great option. In fact, it is often used as a substitute in cakes and cupcake recipes because it contains excellent nutrition but less fat than some of the other ingredients in these sweet treats. In addition to being low in fat, pumpkin is also high in fiber, making your food easier to digest throughout the day.
It is Good For Your Blood Pressure
Pumpkin also happens to be a good vegetable if you suffer from high blood pressure. If you tend to have high blood pressure and are looking for a natural way to reduce it then find more ways to add pumpkin to your diet (besides that ubiquitious PSL!). In the pumpkin seeds is a type of oil that contains phytoestrogens. These have been shown to help with high blood pressure, also called hypertension. This can help both your diastolic and systolic blood pressure. As an added bonus, pumpkin helps with high cholesterol levels as well.
Eating Pumpkin Can Improve Your Vision
A unique benefit of eating pumpkin that many people don’t know about is that it can help improve your vision. Pumpkin is an excellent source of vitamin A, which is known to help which proper vision. It can also help to slow the progression of vision-related conditions, including degenerative eye diseases. Vitamin A also helps in many other ways, from giving you stronger bones, to offering healthy skin and hair. For enough vitamin A from pumpkin to improve your vision, you should aim for about a cup of pumpkin a day.
Pumpkin Can Help With Insomnia
Do you have insomnia or a fatigue condition? If so, give pumpkin a try! This yummy and seasonal vegetable also has an amino acid called tryptophan. This nutrient helps to reduce fatigue, especially during the holiday season when you tend to overeat, such as on Thanksgiving. Have some pumpkin seeds or a slice of pumpkin pie after your Thanksgiving meal, and you won’t be quite as tired.
Pumpkin can also help to boost your mood, which is a nice added benefit of eating it. I know for myself, eating pumpkin pie always lifts my mood ;).
Now that I have shared some of the health benefits, here are some of our favorite recipes featuring pumpkin.
Pumpkin Recipes For the Season
Pumpkin is one of the most popular ingredients to use during the fall season, both for its seasonal appeal and flavor, and for the fact that it is healthy and low-fat. For example, pumpkin can be used as a substitute for more fattening ingredients in baked food items, like cakes and cupcakes. It also has a variety of health benefits, including omega-3 fats, improving prostate health and gut health, including zinc and magnesium, and being great for post-menopause and liver health.
Starting with a couple of recipes you can find right here on this blog:
Pumpkin Pancakes
Making pumpkin pancakes is super easy with this recipe from AllRecipes.com. All you need to do is mix the ingredients in a bowl, including canned pumpkin, milk, egg, and oil. Some dry ingredients include baking soda, baking powder, flour, and sugar. You will also need pumpkin spices like cinnamon and ginger. The pancakes themselves are cooked similar to other pancakes.
Pumpkin French Toast
Another breakfast recipe using pumpkin is this French toast bake from MinimimalistBaker.com. Instead of making French toast the traditional way, you will add the ingredients into a pan and bake it for about 40 minutes. This makes it easier to put together and doesn’t require you to spend a lot of time in front of the stove. Some ingredients used include pumpkin butter and pumpkin pie space, nuts, brown sugar, bread, and eggs.
Pumpkin Cookies
If you want to make pumpkin treats for Halloween or the fall season, consider making some cookies. Pumpkin cookies are great because they are actually quite healthy and low in fat, while also being delicious. These cookies are provided by Amy’s Healthy Baking, and are made with pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, whole wheat flour, and instant oats.
Pumpkin Biscuits
Biscuits are great for many different meals and snacks, from a nice breakfast to being a side dish at lunch or dinner. With this recipe from AllRecipes.com, you can use pumpkin, flour, brown sugar, spices, and some other ingredients to make a quick batch of seasonal pumpkin spiced biscuits that are lower in fat than the standard buttery version.
Pumpkin Hummus
Believe it or not, you can make a healthy and yummy hummus by using pumpkin! Instead of canned pumpkin, it is recommended that you use fresh pumpkin for this recipe. You also will add ingredients like olive oil, cumin, garbanzo beans, maple syrup, and spices for the pumpkin-flavored hummus. You can also add some pumpkin seeds to the top for decoration and added flavor. This recipe is provided to you by DaringGourmet.com.
Pumpkin Soup
Why not try some hearty and warm pumpkin soup on a chilly fall evening? This Minimalist Baker recipe calls for fresh pumpkin slices, maple syrup, coconut milk, vegetable stock, and seasonings. The longest part of this soup making process is roasting the pumpkin, then the rest is quick and easy.
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- Storing the Harvest: Best Ways to Preserve Your Fruits and Veggies
- How To Dehydrate Apple Slices
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