Total Pageviews

Thursday 26 September 2019

Pumpkin Fun and Health Benefits !



grandson with a lovely pumpkin, photo taken in 2014 ... wonderful memories
it will soon be time for the 2019 pumpkin!


Pumpkin season is here again … from pumpkin spice lattes to big Halloween decorations, this savoury orange fruit will be everywhere you look; and did you know you can eat every part of a pumpkin? Yes, from the skin to the seeds and even the stalk, you can eat it all roasted or steamed, sweet or savoury. 

With so many ways to enjoy pumpkin, you may be interested in knowing some of the top health benefits of eating this versatile fruit so that you can enjoy your snacks and dishes guilt-free. 

1. Low Calorie, High Nutrient Content 
Being 90% water, pumpkins are a low-calorie food with plenty of beneficial nutrients. They’ve got more fibre than kale, more potassium than bananas, and are full of magnesium, manganese, and iron. Pumpkins are also a great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Riboflavin.

2. Powerful Anti-Inflammatory 
Pumpkin seeds, or pepitas, are a perfect snack and work as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in reducing symptoms of inflammation. Plus, they’re even better than drugs because they taste great and don’t have any of the negative side-effects!

3. Anti-Cancer Properties 
Pumpkins are incredibly rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that has been linked with reducing the risk of cancer. Studies have shown that populations with high levels of beta-carotene in their diet had lower population-wide rates of cancer.

4. Great Source of Protein 
One serve of pumpkin provides 4% of recommended daily protein values, which is good news for non-meat eaters looking to increase their protein intake.

5. Good For Your Eyes 
Vitamin A is essential for good eye health, helping the retina absorb and process light, and pumpkins contain a high percentage of your daily requirement in just one serving! Additionally, lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants found in pumpkin, support the prevention of cataracts and may slow the development of macular degeneration.

Thai Pumpkin Soup
A low carb high fat Thai pumpkin soup for cold, rainy days.
And it’s dairy-free, too! See recipe here

6. Supports Your Immunity 
The large amounts of Vitamin A and Vitamin C found in pumpkin help protect your body and recover more quickly from infections, viruses, and diseases. Pumpkin oil can also help fight against bacterial and fungal infections.

7. Good For Your Skin 
The properties of pumpkin can protect your skin from harmful UV rays, plus the pulp is a popular ingredient in natural face masks that leave your skin looking fresher and younger.

8. Helps Treat Baldness 
While chemical treatments exist to treat baldness, they come with a number of side effects. The natural pumpkin seed oil alternative encourages hair growth by blocking the body’s process of creating a particular hormone that shrinks hair follicles.

9. Helps Heal Wounds and Burns 
Pumpkin oil has been found to have healing properties, with tests on second-degree burns on rats showing a positive impact on the closing of wounds by increasing the production of collagen by 65%.

10. Good for the Heart
The high amount of potassium found in pumpkin is great for the heart, regulating blood pressure and supporting cardiovascular health. Studies have indicated that the consumption of the right amount of potassium is as important for hypertension and high blood pressure as is the minimization of sodium intake.

To reap the most benefits from pumpkins, be sure to opt for real, whole pumpkin rather than canned pumpkin pie mix, as it typically contains added sugars and syrups.


A word of caution … Pumpkin is mildly diuretic and could be a problem for people who take certain medications, especially lithium.
Most words above from article here


I couldn't resist another picture!
All our five grand-children love pumpkin season, but especially these two, picture from 2016.
The 2019 Halloween and Pumpkin fun will soon be enjoyed


You will find a variety of articles/recipe ideas, within this blog. It is important to note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

All the best Jan

37 comments:

peppylady (Dora) said...

This weekend I am planning to do a pumpkin chili
Coffee is on

Elephant's Child said...

I adore pumpkin. My father didn't like it so it was never served when I was growing up. I am making up for lost time now - though I have never had pumpkin pie.

William Kendall said...

Thanks for the information!

Bill said...

I've had pumpkin soup, it's delicious. Nice photo of your grandson, he looks happy holding the pumpkin.

Rose said...

What is not to love about pumpkin season! Pumpkins are so photogenic!

Christine said...

I should have some pumpkin pie!

Chris Lally said...

Love the tips, Jan, and those beautiful photos:)

My name is Erika. said...

That might be an older photo but it is super so I can see why you shared it. And pumpkin is soooo yummy! Nice to know all the good things it can do for you.

dellgirl said...

This is such a delightful post, full of so much helpful information. I’m glad to read about this here. Thank you for sharing this.

Wishing you a wonderful Friday!

Lorrie said...

Such cute grandchildren! Pumpkin season is so much fun. I like the look of the Thai Pumpkin Soup!

Natalia said...

I also love pumpkin, we have few from our parents garden, so yum and versatile!☺

Sami said...

I had no idea pumpkins were so good for our health. My favourite winter soup is Pumpkin soup!
Have a lovely weekend Jan

Jo said...

Lovely photos of your grandchildren, I'm sure you'll soon have 2019's photos to add to the collection.

Louca por porcelana said...

Oh my!Wonderful photos!Great information too.Have a lovely day!

Victor S E Moubarak said...

Thank you Jan for this article. I must admit we have never tried pumpkins. They seem too big for just one meal. Although we use pumpkin seeds often as a snack or to add to breakfast cereals. Why are they so expensive compared to sunflower seeds?

God bless.

CJ Kennedy said...

Aww, the grands looks so cute and proud of their pumpkins.

pam nash said...

Pumpkins are good for so many things but best as jack-o-lanterns!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Great photos of your grandchildren and wonderful information on pumpkins. I already have mine. I bought it last week.

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

What darling photos of your grands! Thank you for all the information on pumpkins. I’m waiting for Fall temperatures to arrive here in Texas.

Tom said...

...this sure is pumpkin time!,,

Ygraine said...

Such a great post!!
We so often think of pumpkins as simply Halloween lanterns, don't we?
Never give a thought to the nutritional aspect of them.
Oh thank you so much for this info...and for those beautiful photos of your grandchildren!!😊😊

Hugs xxx

Khaya Ronkainen said...

So adorable are your grand kids! And it's certainly looks like pumpkin fun in your pics.:)

We eat quite a lot of soup here, so it's always a delight to try new recipes. And, I have to tell you, I tried your chicken and courgette curry soup recipe. It was a winner for an evening with friends. Thank you for the effort you put into sharing these wonderful dishes!

Lowcarb team member said...

Victor S E Moubarak said...
Thank you Jan for this article. I must admit we have never tried pumpkins. They seem too big for just one meal. Although we use pumpkin seeds often as a snack or to add to breakfast cereals. Why are they so expensive compared to sunflower seeds?

Hello Victor, many thanks for your comment and question.
It is my understanding that pumpkin seed production is more labour intensive than sunflowers seeds, hence pumpkin seeds cost more.

All the best Jan

R's Rue said...

❤️

mamasmercantile said...

A wonderful time of year. Your Grandson looked so thrilled with his find. We add pumpkin seeds to our breakfast porridge, a very tasty addition.

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful pumpkins, recipes and photos. Thanks for sharing, Valerie

Victor S E Moubarak said...

Many thanx for your response, Jan.

God bless.

Snowbird said...

Oh goodness, those delightful grands! Utterly adorable!I still haven't eaten pumpkin! Goodness knows why, I really must give it a whirl.xxx

Lady Fi said...

Ooo - I love pumpkins!

Bob Bushell said...

Beauty of Pumpkin, there are delicious.

Little Wandering Wren said...

I'm glad to know pumpkin is so good for me as back in Australia I do like to eat it a lot!
Happy Pumpkin festival!
Wren x

eileeninmd said...

Love the cute photos! I love pumpkin, yum! Have a great day!

Debbie said...

oh those little ones are so cute!!!

Linda P said...

Sweet photos of the grandchildren. An interesting article. I didn't realise there were so many benefits to eating pumpkin. Thank you for the information. Have a good week!

carol l mckenna said...

Sweet photos of the grand children and I love pumpkin ~ glad to see your post on how healthy it is ~

Happy Day to You,
A ShuttterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Lady Caer Morganna said...

Your grandchildren are absolutely adorable! Great post - LOVE pumpkin! Delicious and healthy!!

Magic Love Crow said...

Love your grand kids photos!!! Love this post! Great tips! Big Hugs!