With the beginning of fall, the pumpkin season starts again! Pumpkins are not only a delicious food that can be used in savoury as well as sweet dishes, but they are also an essential component of festive fall decoration. Did you know that pumpkins - which come in many different shapes, colours and sizes - are a type of berry? And can you believe that the heaviest pumpkin ever recorded at the Campionato dello Zuccone festival in Tuscany weighed 1’226 kg? Pumpkins are also very nutritious. They contain beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A in your body and helps fight off infections, is good for your eyes and skin. They are also packed with vitamins B, C and E, as well as a lot of minerals like magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium.
Our plant-based pumpkin pie recipe makes a delicious and healthy fall dessert, which is easy to make. Be sure to also check out our Red Thai Curry recipe for a perfect fall dinner.
Not as low in calories, but nonetheless very delicious and healthy, are the seeds of the pumpkin. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of magnesium, which is important for your blood pressure and blood sugar levels, as well as heart and bone health.[1] The dark green oil collected from roasted pumpkin seeds is said to help people with high cholesterol levels. Animal studies also suggest that the oil has a positive effect on the blood pressure[2] and can help to improve an overactive bladder.[3] During menopause pumpkin seed oil can help reduce hot flashes, joint pain and headaches.[4] Roasted pumpkin seeds make a delicious and nutritious addition to your breakfast bowl.
If you want to find out more about pumpkins, be sure to visit the Juckerfarm with its major pumpkin exhibition titled “Women’s Power”:
Sources
[1] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-benefits-of-pumpkin-seeds#TOC_TITLE_HDR_6
[2] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/pumpkin-seed-oil#nutrition
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4032845/
[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21545273/