Pumpkin is one of the most delicious gourds; its deep orange flesh and sweet flavour make it a wonderful food on the fall table.
Although most people tend not to eat them they are very important in our bodies, here are the 10 reasons why we should eat it always.
1. Helps your reproductive system work
Just like their orange cousins, the carrot and the sweet potato, pumpkins are rich in beta carotene. Your body changes this antioxidant to vitamin A. You need vitamin A to see, ward off germs, and for your reproductive system to work the way it should. It also helps your heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs stay healthy.
2. Sharpens your sight
One cup of pumpkin can give you 200% of your recommended daily vitamin A intake. If you get it, your eyes will thank you. Vitamin A helps you have healthy eyes and see more clearly, especially in low-light conditions.
3. Curbs risks of cancer
Pumpkin’s vitamin A kick brings another biggie: a lowered risk of certain kinds of cancer, like lung or prostate cancer. Studies show this benefit comes only when you eat foods with vitamin A. You don’t get the same protection from vitamin A supplements alone.
4. Boosts immunity
In addition to beta carotene, pumpkins offer vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, and folate — all of which strengthen your immune system. More pumpkin in your diet can help your immune cells work better to ward off germs and speed healing when you get a wound.
5. Helps to maintain blood pressure
Pumpkin’s rich orange colour is also a sign it’s packed with potassium. This is crucial for lowering blood pressure. Unsalted pumpkin seeds are also crammed with minerals and plant sterols that raise HDL cholesterol levels (the “good” kind) and help keep blood pressure numbers down, too.
6. Lowers risks of strokes
The more good news about pumpkins’ potassium power: Studies show that higher potassium levels can lower your risk of stroke, kidney stones, and type 2 diabetes. Another bonus: Potassium may also increase bone mineral density, boosting your bone health.
7. Trims your tummy
Pumpkins are high in fibre and low in calories. That means they make you feel full without adding to your overall food intake for the day. If you’re looking for a healthy way to fill up, nutrient-rich pumpkin is a good go-to choice. The fibre uptick in your diet promotes digestive health, too, so what goes in comes out on a regular basis.
8. Helps you to sleep more soundly
Pumpkin seeds have tryptophan, an amino acid that helps make a chemical called serotonin. In addition to making you feel good, serotonin is also a key player in promoting good sleep.
9. Settles down your Skin
The antioxidant power of beta carotene in pumpkin works to combat the effects of ageing on your skin. It also helps ease inflammation, which keeps your skin and your body calmer and happier.
10. Helps your heart
Your odds of heart disease go down as your fibre intake goes up, and pumpkin is loaded with it. But it isn’t just the fibre that takes care of your ticker: The vitamin A and potassium you get when you add pumpkin to your diet also play a part in heart health.
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