The Nutritional Benefits of Pumpkin

With Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the holiday season on the horizon, now is a good time to double down on a healthy diet. If you’re looking to add a new secret weapon to your recipe rotation, pumpkin is a nutrient-rich superfood that can be used in amazing meals and desserts. This great gourd isn’t just versatile and delicious—the nutritional benefits of pumpkin make it a can’t-miss.

What Are the Nutritional Benefits of Pumpkin?

Pumpkin earns its superfood label thanks to its high nutrient content and low calorie count. A serving of pumpkin is low in calories and carbohydrates, but it’s packed with must-haves like vitamin C, iron, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants.

The nutritional benefits of pumpkin go well beyond getting your daily intake of some vitamins and minerals. Regularly using pumpkin in your diet can help improve heart health, boost your immune system (which is especially critical with the start of cold season), and can even help you keep your vision strong and sharp for longer.

Yet despite how little pumpkin impacts your healthy diet in terms of calories and carbs, its fiber-richness helps you feel fuller. Eating pumpkin can help suppress cravings and curb your appetite, which makes it easier to stay on track with your weight loss and weight management goals.

How to Use Pumpkin in Your Healthy Diet

As far as versatility goes, pumpkin is a superfood of a whole different caliber. Pumpkin can be prepared and used in a variety of ways, meaning you can make it a regular part of your diet without things ever getting stale.

Like other harvest vegetables, pumpkin is great for roasting and turning into soups. If you puree pumpkin, you can use it as a thickening agent in sauces or as an ingredient in healthier takes on desserts like pancakes, muffins, and brownies. You can also make pumpkin fries, a lower-calorie alternative to sweet potato fries that’s every bit as delicious.

And let’s not forget the seeds, which can make for a great snack. Pumpkin seeds are also packed with nutrients and can be baked, roasted, or even eaten raw. Add them to your salad or oatmeal, blend them into a smoothie, or just eat them by the handful—it’s hard to go wrong with pumpkin seeds.

Wellness Awaits at Williamsburg Chiropractic in Brooklyn, NY

Focusing on a healthy diet today can affect your wellness in the long run. Chiropractic care and spinal decompression are also important for longevity and pain relief, and you can get started at Williamsburg Chiropractic in Brooklyn, NY. Request an appointment at Williamsburg Chiropractic and see why our patients have trusted us to help them build better lifestyles since 2001.