Thursday, November 5, 2009

Health Benefits of Pumpkins

Pumpkin is perfect when you want a healthy treat and an excellent source of beta-carotene. Belonging to the squash family, pumpkins have an understated taste that lends itself well to a variety of dishes. Besides, pumpkins make a great fat substitute in baking.



Health Benefits

The distinctive bright orange color of pumpkin clearly indicates that it's an excellent source of that all-important antioxidant beta-carotene. Research shows that people who eat a diet rich in beta-carotene are less likely to develop certain cancers than those who fail to include beta-carotene-rich foods in their diet. Pumpkin also has another carotenoid, beta-cryptoxanthin, which may decrease the risk of lung cancer in smokers.

Calories 24
Fat 0 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg
Carbohydrate 6 g
Protein 1 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sodium 1 mg
Vitamin A 6,115 IU
Niacin 1 mg
Vitamin C 6 mg
Calcium 18 mg
Potassium 282 mg
Carotenoids 6,012 micrograms

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