Pumpkin flavored foods and drinks are everywhere you look right now, and it’s easy to forget that pumpkin is actually a nutritious fruit. The festive, orange fruit is an excellent source if Vitamin A (which is important for eye health), Vitamin C (which helps strengthen the immune system), potassium, magnesium, and also contains carotenoids (which give the pumpkin its color and also act as antioxidants.) Also pumpkin is high in fiber and low in calories, so it’s a healthy choice to full up on if you’re trying to lose weight.
If you’re reaching for canned pumpkin just be sure nothing is added to it, like sugar, and it’s just as healthy as fresh pumpkin. Some other things to note: pumpkin seeds are very healthy, pumpkin-spice flavored things don’t actually contain pumpkin, and the healthiest way to eat fresh pumpkin is to grill it and add cubes or slices of it to your salads, kebabs, or simply pair it with your favorite protein.
