Why is Pumpkin Good for You?
It’s pumpkin season…but even when it’s not, I use it a lot in pancakes and home-made bread because I have kids who hate vegetables. It’s one way to get some good vitamin into them without any complaints. So what is so great about pumpkins?
• It’s packed with vitamin A. According to the National Institutes of Health, a cup of cooked, mashed pumpkin contains more than 200% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A, which aids vision, particularly in dim light.
• It might help you lose weight because it’s low in calories and fiber-rich which gives you a sense of feeling fuller. Pumpkin has three grams per one-cup serving and only 49 calories.
• Pumpkins have the antioxidant beta-carotene, which according to the National Cancer Institute, may help with cancer prevention,
• Pumpkin seeds have also been linked to fighting off certain cancers.
• And, they have more potassium than a banana–564 milligrams–which is good for your heart!
Check out 10+ Favorite Pumpkin Recipes...from Pancakes to Pasta: