“Let food be your medicine.” Hippocrates
I don’t know if it is just me or others also don’t like to see the pumpkins go to waste by carving and putting them on the porch to be rotten at this season, but I know that this wonderful nutritious vegetable has a lot of health benefits and it is well available and cheep. Almost everything in this plant is edible, from the flower and young leaves to the vegitable and the seeds. I think I got the rhyme 🙂 Pumpkin has a lot of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Vitamines like vitamine A, B, C, and E and minerals such as calcium, potassium, cupper, and phosphorus. Because of being rich in vitamine A, pumpkin is beneficial for eye sight, helps the health and integrity of skin and mucos membranes, and prevents lung and mouth cancer. Because of vitamine C, pumpkin can boost immune system and due to low calorie and low cholesterol, its consumption is recomended in cholesterol and weight control programs. Pumpkin has abundant antioxidant, specially the kind that prevents age related eye sight problems.
I use pumpkin in soup, pie, cup cake, and many other dishes and baking goods. The easiest way to eat pumpkin is to steam or roast and serve it with butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Pumpkin pancake with cardamom apple sauce is a good start for a crispy fall Sunday morning 🙂 The seeds however can be used as an energy booster snack full of protein, iron, zinc, magnesium, omega 3 fats. Pumpkin seeds have amino acids such as triptophan that is good for healthy brain and boost your mood. They can reduce bad cholesterol and promote healthy heart. Because of zinc, pumpkin seeds can boost immunity and promote healthy prostate in men. They also have shown some effect on reducing diabetic complications due to regulating insulin.
So, lets eat our pumpkins and dry their seeds in a dehydrator and roast them in a low heat oven to preserve their nutritions and enjoy them while they are here. bon appetit!
“Let’s always eat and drink healthful food and beverages and do it in moderation.” Dr. Sii
Si'Mama Cafe 