The Great Pumpkin
Halloween Help for Your Heart
Pumpkin flesh is crammed full of phenols — a type of health-promoting antioxidant that’s found in many plant-based foods. But pumpkin phenols may have particularly body-kind qualities. In cell studies, phenols from pumpkin flesh put a damper on the same enzyme that some blood pressure drugs target to reduce vascular tension. In other words, the phenols in pumpkin may help keep blood vessels relaxed, which means better blood pressure and better heart health.
Save the Seeds
When you scoop out your pumpkin, save the seeds so you can roast them. Pumpkin seeds are rich in alpha-linolenic acid — a healthy fat that also helps protect blood vessels. No time to cook fresh pumpkin? No problem. Use canned pureed pumpkin. It’s precooked, tastes great, and is just as good for you. BTW, cooking pumpkin seems to enhance its phenolic properties.
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About The Author
Does this apply to the other winter squashes, too? We eat a LOT of delicata, gold nugget and butternut. I tend to really sweeten our pumpkin by filling and baking it with custard. It's a recipe from The Frugal Gourmet Cooks American. This makes more of a dessert than a vegetable. However, the other squashes are a part of dinner a few times a week in the fall. Any word on how they compare in nutrition?