7 Health Benefits You Get by Eating Pumpkin This Halloween
It’s very versatile
I consider this a huge benefit because many other foods are high in nutrients, but they may not suit everyone’s eating habits or diet.
Pumpkin is very low in calories, so it’s a perfect match for any diet including Keto, Atkins or high-calorie diets such as Paleo.
You can add it to your morning smoothie or cook the almighty pumpkin pie we all love to eat on Halloween (and not only!). Before you throw away the seeds, though, think twice!
Pumpkin seeds are edible and they also contain powerful nutrients that can improve your heart health and bladder functions. You can add such seeds to a salad, overnight oats or enjoy it with plain yogurt.
ATTENTION! If you’re going to buy canned pumpkin, make sure to read the label thoroughly as some products may contain added unhealthy ingredients like sugar. Check out our list of dangerous food labels and what they really mean to find out more.
Should anyone NOT eat pumpkin?
Surprisingly enough, yes. While pumpkin is a great choice for most people, this popular fruit may also cause allergies; if you’ve never eaten pumpkin before, make sure to eat a small quantity and watch out for any strange reactions like skin itching or redness.
Pumpkin is also mildly diuretic. This means that it may induce a reaction similar to a ‘water pill’ by increasing how much water and salt you eliminate through urine. This effect may be harmful for people taking medicine such as lithium, since diuretics can prevent your body’s ability to remove lithium.
I also have some bad news for you: that delicious pumpkin latte or pumpkin-based candies don’t count as healthy. Most of the times, these foods are packed with added sugar, preservatives and other harmful substances that rather counts them as junk food.
Looking for more useful nutritional content? Try one of our other delicious posts:
- 10 Foods and Drinks That Make You Look Much Older Than You Really Are
- 7 Mistakes Even YOU Might Make With Peanut Butter
- What Are Empty Calories? (& How to Avoid Them)
What’s your favorite pumpkin recipe to serve on Halloween? Let us know in the comment section and we’ll drop an extra tip to make your meals healthier!
