Pumpkin Packs a Superfood Punch (2024)

FAQs

Pumpkin Packs a Superfood Punch? ›

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. Speaking of skin, the orange skin of a pumpkin contains beta-carotene and when eaten, the body converts it to vitamin A.

Pumpkins are a superfood because they're high in many nutrients essential for a well-functioning body, including: fiber, carotenoids, potassium, vitamins A, E, and C, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, selenium, iron, magnesium, and beta-carotene.

Like all fruits, pumpkin is a good source of fiber. Canned pumpkin contains 7 grams of fiber per one-cup serving. Fiber is beneficial for removing cholesterol from the body, keeping blood sugars from spiking and helping regulate bowel habits. In addition, fiber also helps us to feel fuller longer.

The Bottom Line

Rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, pumpkin is incredibly healthy. What's more, its low calorie content makes it a weight-loss-friendly food. Its nutrients and antioxidants may boost your immune system, protect your eyesight, lower your risk of certain cancers and promote heart and skin health.

There are many ways to enjoy pumpkin. For the healthiest versions, try using it in savory dishes like soup or as a roasted vegetable.

Both pumpkin and pumpkin seeds are rich in fiber, and fiber promotes good brain health. A high-fiber diet has been shown to lead to a healthy gut, which leads to positive brain health.

It is safe and healthy to eat pumpkin every day, but Campbell suggests sticking to only one serving per day—about half a cup of canned pumpkin and one cup of raw pumpkin – for a couple reasons. “Although pumpkins are great for you, they do contain a good amount of fiber,” says Menshulam.

Potassium. Potassium is essential for electrolyte balance and supports muscle function. Pumpkin also contains this vital mineral, helping keep your muscles in top shape.

Pumpkin is rich in fiber and contains prebiotics, which can help improve digestive system health and bowel movement. It may help relieve constipation and diarrhea in some people. However, if constipation or diarrhea persists, a person should consult a doctor.

What Is In Canned Pumpkin? You may have heard that canned pumpkin is actually made of squash. That is both true and untrue. Libby's, the quintessential canned pumpkin brand, uses a proprietary strain of the Dickinson pumpkin variety in their product, which is also often called a Dickinson squash.

Does pumpkin detox your body? ›

Pumpkin detox can be seen as a short-term solution to achieve goals such as cleansing the body, balancing the digestive system and losing weight. Therefore, it can often be repeated several times to achieve a specific goal.

For every 100 grams, there are 86 calories in potatoes and 76 in sweet potato. On the other hand, pumpkin is part of the squash family, and while it has more calories than, say, a green vegetable, there are only 20 calories in 100 grams of pumpkin.

Pumpkin is a starchy vegetable, providing carbohydrate and the energy needed to fuel our body. As pumpkin is also rich in fibre, it keeps you feeling full for longer and reduces your urge to snack between meals.

However, if you place the two in a side-by-side comparison, sweet potato generally outpaces pumpkin in its nutritional makeup from vitamin A to fiber to protein. While pumpkin is a light, low sugar option, sweet potatoes do more heavy lifting and will ultimately feed your body more essential nutrients.

Fresh foods generally have a higher nutrient content than do cooked or canned foods. But in this case, both fresh pumpkin and canned pumpkin are packed with nutrients, such as potassium, vitamin A and iron. If you want to use fresh pumpkin, look for pumpkins without blemishes that are firm and heavy for their size.

Pumpkins contain potassium, which is known to help control cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Potassium works to counteract the effect that sodium has on an individual's blood pressure. The magnesium in pumpkins has also been found to prevent high blood pressure by helping the blood vessels relax.

An intriguing article by The Zero-Waste Chef alerted me to the fact that sugar pie pumpkins can be eaten in their entirety – well, mostly, aside from the stem. As part of her ongoing mission to minimize waste and teach others how to do it, the Chef embraces “nose-to-tail” cooking.

Pumpkins pack a healthy dose of fiber, which is proven to support digestive health, regulate blood sugar and reduce the risk of heart disease. Basically, the more fiber, the better. And to that end, pumpkin is an obvious choice.

You can also support liver function by including pumpkin and other antioxidant-rich foods in your diet. These antioxidants help your liver break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates — and filter harmful substances out of your bloodstream.

Which part of the pumpkin can I eat? You can eat all of the pumpkin - except for its stalk. Whether you can eat the skin or not depends on the variety. Smaller varieties such as onion squash have deliciously edible skin, the skin of larger varieties may be too tough to eat or less than appealing.