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1. Keep Eyesight Sharp
A cup of cooked, mashed pumpkin contains more than 200% of yoru recommended daily intake of Vitamin A, which aids vision, particulary in dim light, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Pumpkins are also rich in carotenoids including beta-carotene, which the body converts inot a fomr of Vitamin A for additional eye protection.
2. Aid Weight Loss
Pumpkin is often overlooked as a source of fiber, but with three grams per one cup servingand only 49 calories, it can keep you feeling full for longer on fewer calories.A fiber-rich diet can help people eat less, and thereby shed pounds. A 2009 study found that people who ate a whole apple before lunch (the fiber is in the skin) consumed fewer calories throughout the meal than people who ate applesauce or drank apple juice.
3. The Seeds Can Help Your Heart
Nuts and seeds, including those of pumpkins, are naturally rich in certain plant-based chemicals called phytosterols that have been shown in studies to reduce LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol.
4. May Reduce Cancer Risk
Like the sweet potato, the carrot and the butternut squash (to name a few), pumpkins boast the antioxidant beta-carotene, which may play a role in cancer prevention, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Food sources of beta-carotene seem to help more than a supplement, according to the NIH — even more reason to scoop up some pumpkin today. Also, the plant sterols in pumpkin seeds have also been linked to fighting off certain cancers.
5. Protect The Skin
The same free-radical-neutralizing powers of the carotenoids in pumpkin that may keep cancer cells at bay can also help keep the skin wrinkle-free, Health magazine reported.
6. The Seeds Can Boost Your Mood
Pumpkin seeds are rich in the amino acid tryptophan, which is important in production of serotonin, one of the major players when it comes to our mood. A handful of roasted pumpkin seeds may help your outlook stay bright.
7. Help After A Hard Workout
A cup of cooked pumpkin has more of the refueling nutrient potassium, 564 milligrams compared to a banana with 422. A little extra potassium helps restore the body’s balance of electrolytes after a heavy workout and keeps muscles functioning at their best.
8. Boost Your Immune System
High in Vitamin C, one cup of cooked pumpkin contains more than 11 milligrams, or nearly 20 percent or the recommended dosage.
