Pumpkin Time is here
Pumpkins are the most famous of all the winter squashes being associated with Halloween. As we all recognize they are round with smooth, slightly ribbed skin and usually orange/deep yellow. They originate as a species from North America and from a botanist’s perspective they are considered a fruit as they bare seeds.
Overweight and Sugar issues
A 2019 study showed that two plant extracts one of which was pumpkin polysaccharides brought down blood sugar levels and a hope that it could help limit some type 2 diabetes. Equally, pumpkins are rich in fibre and fibre slows the rate of sugar absorption into the blood. And as we’ve said pumpkins are high in vitamins and minerals and low in calories, so makes a good ‘weight loss’ carbohydrate.
Highly Dense Nutritious Food
Eating them is a tremendous pleasure but pumpkins are also very therapeutic. The orange ones are rich in carotenoids which the body can convert into Vitamin A. The seeds contain phytosterols that reduce bad cholesterol as well as ‘tryptophan’ the pre-cursor to happy contentment and the sleep helping hormone serotonin.
The raw seeds are also a natural deworming treatment, treating a variety of parasites which can paralyze and eliminate worms due to their ‘cucurbitacin’ biochemistry. They are also wonderful for any urinary (bladder/kidney issues) and can be thrown and blitzed by the tablespoon into smoothies. All in all, pumpkin is considered to be a nutrient-dense food which is low in calories and so makes a good ‘weight loss’ carbohydrate. . .
Pumpkin FODMAP
For those on the FODMAP food programme, you’ll perhaps know that it contains moderate amounts of oligos-fructans and GOS with only ¼ cup diced serving is considered ‘low fodmap’.
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