Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Everywhere!

It’s that time of year, jack-o-lanterns and Halloween!  Did you know that pumpkins offer many great health benefits, as well as being delicious?

Rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, both the flesh and seeds of the pumpkin provide many health-boosting nutrients. Pumpkin is low in fat and calories and rich in disease-fighting nutrients. (http://suite101.com/article/health-benefits-of-pumpkin-a153140)

Courtesy of Today’s THV, here are

6 Health Benefits of Pumpkins:

1. Pumpkins keep eyesight sharp. A cup of cooked, mashed pumpkin contains more than 200-percent of your recommended daily intake of vitamin-A, which aids vision, particularly in dim light. Pumpkins are also rich in carotenoids, the compounds that give the gourd their bright orange color. 

2. Pumpkins aid weight loss. Pumpkin is an often-overlooked source of fiber, but with three grams per one-cup serving and only 49 calories, it can keep you feeling full for longer on fewer calories. A fiber-rich diet seems to help people eat less, and thereby shed pounds.

3. Pumpkins may reduce cancer risk. Pumpkins boast the antioxidant beta-carotene, which may play a role in cancer prevention. And the plant sterols in pumpkin seeds have also been linked to fighting off certain cancers.

4. Pumpkins protect the skin. This is a great one, 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.

5. Pumpkin seeds can boost your mood. They are rich in the amino acid that many think brings on the need for that post-Thanksgiving feast snooze. While experts agree that it's likely the overeating that's lulling you to sleep, the amino acid is important in the production of serotonin, one of the major players when it comes to our mood.

6. Pumpkins can boost your immune system. Pumpkins are a solid source of the essential nutrient Vitamin-C. One cup of cooked pumpkin contains more than 11 milligrams, or nearly 20-percent of the 60 milligrams women need daily.

(http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/230058/2/6-health-benefits-of-pumpkins)

Now that you know all the great benefits of pumpkins, time to try a new pumpkin recipe!

Here are a few sites with great recipes:

·        41 Yummy Pumpkin Recipes: Better Home and Garden http://www.bhg.com/thanksgiving/recipes/pumpkin-recipes/

·        AllRecipes.com, Pumpkin Recipes

            http://allrecipes.com/howto/pumpkin-recipes/

·        Real Simple, 14 Great Pumpkin Recipes

      http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/delicious-pumpkin-recipes-00000000021334/page4.html

There are countless recipes online, so give pumpkin a try. 

Let us know what recipe you have tried and how you liked it!