Popular Autumn Fruit Boosts Your Health!
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted November 5, 2020
Dear Reader,
We’re in the full swing of autumn.
There is a chill in the air, the leaves are gold, orange and brown. And believe it or not Thanksgiving is right around the corner…
It’s the time of year we take stock of our lives and celebrate the bounty of the fields.
And out of those fields comes something that’s surprisingly healthy for you and your family.
There’s a good chance you have one or two sitting in on your porch right now.
Pumpkins.
That tasty orange fruit (yes, technically pumpkins are fruits) has nutritional properties that are actually closer to powerhouse vegetables!
Let’s have a look at all of the goodness pumpkins can give you:
- Vitamin A: pumpkins are one of the highest sources of vitamin A you are going to find in a food. According to the National Institutes of Health, pumpkins ranks under beef liver (which is the best source) and just under spinach and sweet potatoes.
- Antioxidant Powerhouse: pumpkins are full of many powerful antioxidants such as Alpha–carotene, Beta–carotene, Beta–cryptoxanthin and others. Those antioxidants help neutralize free radicals throughout the body and protect against a wide variety of diseases from heart disease to cancer.
- Eyesight: two more powerful antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin are found in pumpkin (as well as Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin K) all of which help protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet sunlight. Lutein is especially good at filtering out blue light (the kind that comes from your computer or phone screen).
- Weight Loss: if you want to lose weight, you want to eat as many nutrient dense foods as possible. Nutrient dense foods are those which are low in calories and high in nutrients. Pumpkin comes in at 50 calories per cup – which is very low (especially considering how many vitamins and other nutrients it comes with.
- Heart Health: pumpkin contains a large amount of potassium (potassium is one of those missing nutrients most people don’t get enough). Potassium helps heart health and protects your muscles, your bones, and reduces the production of kidney stones. The fiber and Vitamin C found in pumpkin is also great for your heart.
- Healthy Skin: if you want a healthy skin, you want to eat as much Beta–carotene as you can. Beta-carotene converts to Vitamin A in your body to help protect your skin from sun damage.
Pumpkins are a great fall food to add to your plate – and not just this time of year, but all year round!
P.S. Pumpkins are a staple food this time of year. But there’s another food – a Thanksgiving favorite in fact – that can combat, heart disease, ulcers AND cancer! Find out what it is and all of it’s amazing health benefits here.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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