The Pumpkin Is King!

November 9, 2015

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It's finally pumpkin season, and the reasons to celebrate are many!!
Pumpkin bread, pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin pie, pumpkin risotto, pumpkin beer -- the options are endless, and endlessly mouthwatering.

Not only is fall's signature squash versatile enough to fit into all the above and more, it also packs some powerful healthy perks -- like keeping heart health, vision and waistlines in check, as long as you take it easy on the pie!

8 Reasons To Pack The Season With Some Pumpkin!

1) Pumpkins Keep Eyesight Sharp

A cup of cooked, mashed pumpkin contains more than 200 percent of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A, which aids vision, particularly in dim light, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Pumpkins are also rich in carotenoids, the compounds that give the gourd their bright orange color, including beta-carotene, which the body converts into a form of vitamin A for additional peeper protection.

2) Pumpkins Aid Weight Loss

Pumpkin is an often-overlooked source of fiber, but with three grams per one-cup serving and only 49 calories, it can keep you feeling full for longer on fewer calories.
A fiber-rich diet seems to help people eat less, and thereby shed pounds. A 2009 study found that people who ate a whole apple before lunch (the fiber is in the skin)consumed fewer calories throughout the meal than people who ate applesauce or drank apple juice, WebMD reported.

3) Pumpkin Seeds Can Help Your Heart

Nuts and seeds, including those of pumpkins, are naturally rich in certain plant-based chemicals called phytosterols that have been shown in studies to reduce LDL or "bad" cholesterol.

4) Pumpkins May Reduce Cancer Risk

Like their orange comrades the sweet potato, the carrot and the butternut squash (to name a few), pumpkins boast the antioxidant beta-carotene, which may play a role in cancer prevention, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Food sources of beta-carotene seem to help more than a supplement, according to the NIH -- even more reason to scoop up some pumpkin today. And the plant sterols in pumpkin seeds have also been linked to fighting off certain cancers.

5) Pumpkins Protect The Skin

The same free-radical-neutralizing powers of the carotenoids in pumpkin that may keep cancer cells at bay can also help keep the skin wrinkle-free, Health magazine reported.

6) Pumpkin Seeds Can Boost Your Mood

Pumpkin seeds are rich in the amino acid tryptophan, the famed ingredient in turkey that many think brings on the need for that post-Thanksgiving feast snooze. While experts agree that it's likely the overeating rather than the tryptophan lulling you to sleep, the amino acid is important in production of serotonin, one of the major players when it comes to our mood, WebMD reports A handful of roasted pumpkin seeds may help your outlook stay bright.

7) Pumpkins Can Help After A Hard Workout

Ever heard of bananas being touted as nature's energy bar? Turns out, a cup of cooked pumpkin has more of the refueling nutrient potassium, with 564 milligrams a banana's 422. A little extra potassium helps restore the body's balance of electrolytes after a heavy workout and keeps muscles functioning at their best.

8) Pumpkins Can Boost Your Immune System

Well, maybe. Whether or not vitamin C can really ward off colds is still up for debate, but pumpkins are a solid source of the essential nutrient. One cup of cooked pumpkin contains more than 11 milligrams, or nearly 20 percent of the 60 milligrams the IOM recommends women need daily. (Men should aim for around 75 milligrams.)

Here is one of my favorite snack recipes. Super easy, and super delicious!

Savory Pumpkin Hummus

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons tahini
3 cloves garlic
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 (15 ounce) cans garbanzo beans, drained (you may need the liquid if you use a Vitamix)
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive
1 – 11/2 cups pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seed kernels, or more to taste
1 pinch paprika

Directions:

1. Pulse lemon juice, tahini, garlic, and salt together in a food processor or blender until smooth.

2. Add garbanzo beans and olive oil and pulse until smooth.

3. Add pumpkin, cumin, and cayenne pepper; process until well blended.

4. Transfer hummus to a container with a lid and refrigerate at least 2 hours for the best flavor.

5. Fold pumpkin seeds into hummus; garnish with paprika.

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