7 Nutrition Facts about Pumpkins – They’re Not Just For Carving Anymore!

You are probably planning a trip to the pumpkin patch in the next couple of weeks, especially if you have kids.

When you get home and get ready to scoop out the guts of that pumpkin, remember how nutritious the pumpkin is.

Here are 7 nutritional facts about pumpkins and their seeds you may not know, from Chicago Healers (www.chicagohealers.com) practitioner Dr. Helen Lee DC, as well as several suggestions for incorporating pumpkin into your daily diet.

Nutritional Facts

• Contains 9 Important nutrients– Vitamin C, Vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, alpha and beta carotenoids, which help prevent cellular damage as well as lutein for eye health.
•  Help support healthy kidneys, bladder and prostate.
•  Helps lower cholesterol
• Helps with digestive health
• Can help prevent osteoporosis
• High protein value in the seeds
• Contains essential fatty acid oils

Doctor Lee suggests several ways to incorporate pumpkin seeds into your daily diet:

• Raw pumpkins seeds by the handful, mixed into trail mix or sprinkled on your cereal
• Spread pumpkin seed butter on your morning toast
• Make waffles, pancakes, pie or other desserts
• Add baked or browned pumpkin into your chili, risotto, rice or spaghetti sauce.

So whether you use fresh pumpkin or buy it in a can, now you know the great benefits of pumpkin in your diet. Don’t forget to save the seeds when you carve the pumpkins. They are super nutritious and a great snack too.

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Chicago Healers (www.chicagohealers.com) is the nation’s pioneer prescreened integrative health care network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy.  Our holistic health experts teach and advocate natural and empowered health and life choices through their practices, the media, educational events, and our website.  With close to 200 practitioners and over 300 treatment services, Chicago Healers has provided nearly 400 free educational events for Chicagoans and has been featured in 300+ TV news programs and print publications.  For more information, visit www.chicagohealers.com.