Benefits of Pumpkin

Pumpkin is a crop of the plant of the same name and belongs to the Cucurbitaceae  family that also includes gourds.  With a high dietary value, pumpkins are linked with a lot of health benefits. Apart from the flesh, even the seeds of pumpkins boast of a large number of nutrition benefits.

Pumpkin meat is soaring in carotenoids. They give pumpkins their orange color. Carotenoids are essential for neutralizing free radicals, malicious molecules that can do violence to cell membranes and depart the cells defenseless to damage.

Pumpkins are also high in lutein and zeaxanthin, which hunt free radicals in the eye lens. Therefore, they may help in preventing the formation of cataracts and trim down the risk of macular disintegration, a grave eye problem than regularly results in sightlessness.

Besides carotenoids, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which are all antioxidants, pumpkins, have a lot of common nutrients, like iron, zinc, and fiber.

1 cup cooked Pumpkin contains:

Calcium – 37 mg
Carbohydrate – 12 gm
Dietary Fiber – 3 gm
Folate – 21 mcg
Iron – 1.4 mg
Magnesium – 22 mg
Niacin – 1 mg
Potassium – 564 mg
Protein – 2 grams
Selenium – 0.50 mg
Vitamin A – 2650 IU
Vitamin C – 12 mg
Vitamin E – 3 mg
Zinc – 1 mg
Calories – 49

Beta-carotene, found in pumpkin, is a powerful antioxidant as well as an anti-inflammatory agent. It helps avert construct of cholesterol on the arterial walls, thus dips the chances of strokes.

The high amount of fiber, present in a pumpkin, is excellent for the bowel health. It is helpful in lowering the risk of hypertension. The presence of zinc in pumpkins enhances the immune system.

Pumpkin seeds promote on the whole prostate health, apart from lessening the problem of complicated urination. They comprise of L-tryptophan, a compound that has been found to be effective against effects of anti-inflammatory drugs.

It is rich in phytosterols, which helps with reducing the levels of LDL cholesterol.

So, do buy a pumpkin for yourself, next time you visit a market.

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