We ALL Scream for Pumpkin Seeds!

-

I Scream, You Scream, We ALL Scream for Pumpkin Seeds! 

The first Saturday of every October, my family has a tradition of carving pumpkins together next to a fire on the living room floor and then baking the yummy seeds. We travel to the pumpkin patch early on Saturday morning together, spend WAY too much time trying to find the perfect pumpkins to carve, then attempt to navigate through a corn maize together. Then, we head back home to spend the rest of the evening choosing a design that we want to carve and begin carving away, making sure every single seed (or as many seeds as possible) are salvaged in a bowl for mom to bake.


It wasn't until carving pumpkins this year that I started wondering about the pumpkin seeds that were so safely housed inside the perfectly round, bright orange pumpkins. How many seeds are in an average pumpkin? Are they all the same size? What is the nutritional benefit of eating pumpkin seeds? After I was done carving, I did some research and this is what I found:

DID YOU KNOW? 

1. Each pumpkin has an average of 500 seeds!

2. Over 1.5 BILLION pounds of pumpkin are produced each year in the U.S. 

3. The world's heaviest pumpkin was grown in Germany and weighed over 2,600 pounds. 

4. Pumpkins take anywhere between 90 and 120 days to grow! 


NUTRITION FACTS: 

Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of protein, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that help reduce risk factors of chronic diseases. 

Pumpkin seeds are rich in: 

1. Antioxidants to protect our cells from damage at the cellular level and helps reduce inflammation.

2. Fiber to help with regular, consistent, and healthy bowel movements.

3. Magnesium to help regulate blood sugar levels (helping to reduce the risk of diabetes) and regulate blood pressure (helping to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease).

4. Zinc to help enhance the immune system in fighting off bacteria and viruses.

5. Iron to help your blood transport oxygen throughout your body, preventing fatigue and improving energy levels. 





There are so many different ways to "spice up" your pumpkin seeds and bake them into something delicious! 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds provides 180 calories, 10 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber and 15% of your daily value of iron! So when you're carving your pumpkins this fall season, consider saving the seeds and baking them for a delicious snack! 


-G.G. 

References:

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a22544/facts-about-pumpkins/

https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-pumpkin-seeds

Comments

  1. AHOctober 23, 2023 at 11:50 AM

    I love this. We just carved pumpkins and have lots of pumpkin seeds to roast. I usually go savory, but I want to try some cinnamon sugar this time around!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Are All Sugars Created Equal?

-
Image
Are All Sugars Created Equal?  I think one of the most confusing nutrition topics for people is sugar. With so many conflicting stories out there, it’s difficult to separate the facts from the fiction. Not to mention, the types of sugars are endless. How do we know what’s best for our bodies? White or brown sugar? Cane or raw? Should we just go with Stevia instead? Is it even okay to consume artificial sweeteners? Should we avoid foods with high amounts of natural sugar in them? Each answer only seems to lead to another question!  Let’s start off with distinguishing the purpose of sugar in the first place. Do our bodies even need it? The short answer is yes! Sugars are carbohydrates (what we commonly call “carbs”), one of the three main macronutrients that our bodies need for fuel to function and survive. One of the major ways to categorize sugar is by separating the “natural” sugars from the “added” sugars. Natural sugars are, well, naturally found in foods. They give us the energy th
Read more

Do you struggle with pre and post exercise nutrition?

-
Image
What should i eat before and after a workout? First things first…carbohydrates, proteins and fats are important for the body before  and after exercise. Exercising muscle preferentially uses carbohydrates from stored glycogen, but fats are also an important fuel source for energy production during exercise. Fats and carbohydrates are the two major fuel sources during exercise. Fats must be translocated and broken down from their storage form before they are used. Typically there is enough carbohydrate stored as muscle glycogen for exercise but as muscle glycogen stores decline, the skeletal muscle will then use some amino acids (basic components of all protein). More specifically, the amino acid leucine is used for energy.              It is important to consume an adequate amount of carbohydrates exercise to delay fatigue and minimize gastrointestinal distress. It is also important to consume enough fluids to prevent hypohydration. Now, lets talk about pre-exercise me
Read more