It’s October already. ALREADY. Pumpkins are starting to appear in the grocery stores and I’m sure patches of these things are sprinkled all over your town. So when you see one at your grocery store remember, not all superfoods are green.
To be honest, I’ve never been a fan of the soft gooey pumpkin meat. It’s kinda gross. It takes me back to scooping pounds and pounds of the stuff to make jack-o-lanterns with my boys. Back then, I didn’t even consider eating the stuff, and I didn’t know how healthy it was or how it would brighten my skin. Had I known then what I know now, I’d be a walking jack-o-lantern.
But guess what? Turns out it’s not only low in calories (not the pumpkin pie…don’t get excited) but it’s packed with vitamins and minerals that are not only good for your body’s health, but for your skin’s health too. My favorite: a double youth whammy!
It’s like an anti-aging super beauty food.
Here’s what else…
It’s good for weight loss
Pumpkins are rich in dietary fiber which keeps you feeling fuller longer (source) and staves off appetite. One cup of cooked pumpkin has only 49 calories, and about 3 grams of fiber – that’s more fiber than what you would find in two slices of whole-grain bread.
Also, most whole-grain products in the market are considered “processed foods” a no-no for our healthy eating habits. You’re better off getting your fiber from plant-based, un-processed foods like pumpkins.
I know.
Bread.
I’m shaking my head as I write this.
So sad.
It’s good for your skin
Natural, plant-based foods which is what pumpkins are, are one of the best sources of anti-oxidants. And you already should know that anti-oxidants are necessary for fighting aging free-radicals.
They are also one of the best-known sources of beta carotene (what gives it it’s bright, orange color). Beta carotene helps protect us from the sun’s harmful rays (source). As a bonus, our bodies convert beta carotene into vitamin A,..you know, as in Retinol. You also already know what a potent anti-ager vitamin A is.
One cup contains more than 200% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin A. That’s a helluva lot of anti-oxidant goodness for your cells — and your youth.
And that’s just the benefit you get from eating pumpkins. When you apply it to your face, pumpkin is a moisturizing, brightening and soothing treatment. And the good news is that you don’t need to fork out big bucks on store-bought masks. Here’s a recipe for a DIY pumpkin mask that works just as well…
Pumpkin face mask…
1/4 cup pureed pumpkin (you can use canned pumpkin – not pumpkin pie mix)
1 egg white (great for tightening and toning skin)
1 Teaspoon honey (loaded with antioxidants, enzymes, and other nutrients that nourish, cleanse, and hydrate skin. Also naturally antibacterial, so it’s great for acne)
1 Teaspoon milk (rich in vitamins, alpha hydroxy acids, calcium, and other potent antioxidants)
Mix all ingredients and apply to your face. Wait twenty minutes and then rinse with warm water. Voila! you just saved yourself 40 bucks.
note: it’s a little runny so you may need to adjust a few of the ingredients. Play around with it and find a texture that works for you.
Protects your muscles
Just one cup of cooked pumpkin has more potassium than a banana (564 milligrams to a banana’s 422 milligrams). Potassium helps the body restore the balance of electrolytes after a workout, and protects against the loss of muscle mass that comes with age.
Preserves your youthful bones
When protecting your bones from deterioration as you age, you need to consider your facial bones too. Bone loss in your cheeks and around the orbital rim of the eyes will make you look much older. It’s called shrinkage (not the dude kind of shrinkage…that’s their problem) of the craniofacial bones.
The good news is that foods rich in calcium and potassium will help preserve our youthful bones.
The seeds
Roasted pumpkin seeds contain mono-unsaturated fatty acids, which are good for heart health and skin health too. They’re are also a great source of fiber, protein, and health-benefiting vitamins and minerals like niacin, selenium, zinc, and magnesium. We need these nutrients for a healthy body and healthy skin.
A one-quarter cup contains 16% of your iron requirement.
Pumpkin seeds are rich in an amino acid called tryptophan or the “feel-good” stuff that helps you relax, unwind, and improve your mood. It’s also the reason you get sleepy after your Thanksgiving dinner. Beauty sleep is a real thing, and you need yours if you want to stay youthful.
I toast my pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet and then add them to my morning oatmeal (actually afternoon oatmeal since I’m trying intermittent fasting) or add them to salads or my DIY Trail Mix below.
DIY Trail Mix ( I don’t measure)
♥ Roasted pumpkin seeds
♥ Walnuts
♥ Almonds
♥ Sunflower seeds
♥ Goji berries
♥ Cacao Nibs (or dark chocolate chips)
♥ Blueberries
This is a great on-the-go snack.
Okay, so before you go rushing out to get your pumpkin-spiced latte, let me remind you of something you already know (yes, you do). the pumpkin spice in your latte, although delicious, doesn’t have any health benefits. And pumpkin pie is loaded with sugar.
So I’ve linked a good source for healthy pumpkin recipes below. I’m trying a few of them myself. But an easy one is just to roast the pumpkin and sprinkle it with cinnamon.
If you’re going the canned route, make sure to stay away from the pumpkin pie mix which is loaded with sugar and syrup too. Canned pumpkin should have one ingredient: pumpkin.
Here’s a good source for healthy pumpkin recipes.
Do you have any awesome pumpkin recipes? Leave it in the comments.
xoxo