Pumpkins are the go-to autumn food, but their history is quite fun and extensive. For example, signs of pumpkin seeds found in Mexico, after studies, were found to go back to 7000 or 5500 B.C. Not only the history of the pumpkin fascinating but so are pumpkin health benefits.

Pumpkin Health Benefits

There a bunch of different ways that you can reap pumpkin health benefits. You can make with pie and other bakery with it, you can eat the seeds, put the fruit of the squash into soups, you can just eat it plain or with a bit of sugar and cinnamon.

1. Anti-Cancer

Pumpkins can beat out the free radicals that can lead to cancer. The antioxidant that pumpkin has is called beta-carotene. Beta-carotene can also be found in carrots and yams.

 

2. Eyesight

Vitamin A is amazing for keeping eyes healthy and strong. A cup of pumpkin, when mashed and cooked, has over 200 percent of the amount of vitamin A you are suggested to have in a day. Pumpkins have components that can also be changed into vitamin A to further help the eyes.

 

3. Weight Loss

Pumpkin is a better source of fiber than some might think. In a single cup of pumpkin, there are three grams of fiber and 49 calories. More fiber means that your body holds onto the nutrients from food better and for a long time while helping your body to get rid of waste faster.

4. Anti-aging

You remember the free radicals that cause cancer? They can also cause issues with the skin; whether it is faster signs of aging or blemishes. There is something in pumpkin called carotenoids stop free radicals and slow signs of aging.

 

5. Immune System

One of the great pumpkin health benefits is that it can help to boost the immune system. Vitamin C is really good for fighting off colds and other illnesses. You can get 11 milligrams (20 percent of the suggested amount) of vitamin C from one cooked cup of pumpkin.

 

6. Lower Blood Pressure

Pumpkins have fiber, potassium, and vitamin C, all of which have been shown to help keep the heart strong and healthy. The potassium is good for lowering blood pressure and lower blood pressure means a smaller chance of having a stroke.

 

7. Lower Cholesterol Levels

The antioxidants that keep coming up are also amazing for lowering bad cholesterol (called LDL) from oxidizing. Cholesterol oxidizing is terrible for you because it jacks up your chances of suffering from heart disease because if rests vessels.

8. Better Sleep

Did you know that there is that stereotype of getting sleepy after the big Thanksgiving meals? There is some truth to that, and it is not only because of the turkey. Pumpkin also has a lot of tryptophan, and your body changes the tryptophan into what is called serotonin.

Serotonin is a naturally occurring chemical in the brain that can make you tired and relaxed. So you have trouble sleeping, try eating a serving of cooked pumpkin about an hour before bed and see if helps to sleep better.

 

9. Anti-Inflammatory

Inflammation is what causes pain in injuries, menstrual cramps, it can increase sinus pressure during a cold or flu. Pumpkin has three different anti-inflammatories that can do amazing things for keeping inflammation down. With less inflammation, there is a chance that people with rheumatoid arthritis will suffer less.

 

10. Improve Liver Health

Keeping the liver healthy is very important because the liver helps to keep us healthy. Return the favor if you can. One you can return the favor is by eating pumpkin. Pumpkin has carotenoids which assist the body in detoxing the liver and helping to build healthier liver tissues.

11. Skin

The antioxidants, vitamin C, carotenoids, and vitamin E are all amazing for keeping your skin healthy. These components together can keep your skin clear and heal scar tissue so that the scars are not as easy to see.

 

12. Diabetes

Pumpkins are possibly one of the best things a diabetic can eat. This squash can help with insulin resistance and lower blood sugar. For type two diabetics, it can slow the rate at which diabetes progresses.

13. Increase Virility  

Pumpkins are a good source of zinc and the zinc can get a man’s sperm healthy and increase testosterone levels. To get the benefit of pumpkin for this, a man can just eat cooked pumpkin, he can get it through muffins, bread, pie, whatever he is in the mood for. Some of these pumpkin health benefits may be able to increase sperm count, erection time, and more.

 

14. Magnesium

Magnesium is hugely important because it makes your bones, nervous system, and heart strong. The vast majority of people do not get enough magnesium in their diet and can suffer from things like osteoporosis to anxiety. Pumpkin can do amazing things to help.  

 

15. Slow the Progression of Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome is something that raises the chances of stroke and coronary heart disease and is brought by a mean combo of high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Pumpkin can help you out with that. The pigments and carotenoids in pumpkin can stop- or the very least- slow the progression of metabolic syndrome.       

Knowing these pumpkin health benefits, will you add more of this festive food into your diet? Comment below!

Sources

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-pumpkin

https://www.thealternativedaily.com/pumpkin-health-benefits/

https://foodrevolution.org/blog/health-benefits-of-pumpkins/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/health-benefits-pumpkin_b_4169210

https://dailyburn.com/life/health/pumpkin-health-benefits/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/pumpkin#section7

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pumpkin-health-benefits_n_1936919