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Pumpkins are a key symbol at Halloween \u2014 but did you know they\u2019re good for you too? Learn how you can carve out ways to add more pumpkin to your diet. Market Director of Clinical Nutrition Systems Jennifer Larrivee MS, RDN, LDN, for MetroWest Medical Center says pumpkin is a superfood that is low-fat, low-calorie, and nutrient dense. Pumpkin packs a nutritional punch \u2013 full of vitamins A, C, B2 and E, and minerals. Pumpkin vitamins may boost immunity, fight chronic disease and protect your eyesight.<\/p>\n
\u201cPumpkin has quite a bit fiber, it\u2019s going slowdown that rate of digestion, so it\u2019s going to keep you fuller longer,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s also going to stabilize the blood sugars because when we have fluctuations in our blood sugars that\u2019s what causes those hunger cues to occur.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pumpkin is rich in potassium, which research suggests may help decrease blood pressure. In addition, pumpkin contains antioxidants, like vitamin C, which help promote healthy skin. Moreover, the orange skin of a pumpkin contains beta-carotene and when eaten, the body converts it to vitamin A.<\/p>\n
Larrivee recommends using canned pumpkin in breads, pancakes, or your favorite sauce. \u201cYou can even puree pumpkin into hummus or grill it up as a side dish,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Pumpkin is an ideal ingredient in soups, salads, pies, breads and cakes. Of course, pumpkin spice becomes a pop culture sensation each fall when it is featured in everything from coffee drinks to pretzels and cereal and ice cream to Oreo cookies.<\/p>\n
And don\u2019t forget to use the seeds.<\/p>\n
\u201cPumpkin seeds have extra protein and fiber in them as well. They\u2019re also going to have potassium. They\u2019re going to have those extra vitamins just like the actual flesh itself,\u201d explains Larrivee. \u201cAnd what a great way to get extra fiber and how fun. Put in hot cereals, just have it as a snack itself.\u201d<\/p>\n
She says pumpkin seeds are high in zinc and vitamin E both nutrients have been shown to be beneficial for people with diabetes.<\/p>\n
Put pumpkins on your preferred produce list, pronto!<\/p>\n
MetroWest Medical Center offers an outpatient nutrition clinic, with a doctor\u2019s referral, to counsel patients with diabetes, heart disease and obesity, among other illnesses, on food choices based on their medical dietary needs.<\/p>\n
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Pumpkins are a key symbol at Halloween \u2014 but did you know they\u2019re good for you too? Learn how you can carve out ways to add more pumpkin to your diet. Market Director of Clinical Nutrition Systems Jennifer Larrivee MS, RDN, LDN, for MetroWest Medical Center says pumpkin is a superfood that is low-fat, low-calorie, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":87161,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-107067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n