All Things Food

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Four Top Health Benefits of Pumpkin

https://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/four-top-health-benefits-pumpkin

More than just a celebrated autumn fruit, pumpkin provides a wealth of health benefits, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases, facilitating wound healing and providing cardiovascular protection

Pumpkin is popularly known as a Halloween decoration or a delicious Thanksgiving pie. Yet it's more than just a symbol of these annual festivities -- it offers a bounty of health benefits that have been celebrated for centuries.

Pumpkin, a type of winter squash, is part of the Cucurbitaceae family. It's native to North America and in the U.S. is sometimes referred to as Cucurbita pepo. One of the fascinating benefits of pumpkin is its rich beta-carotene content. Beta-carotene is a carotenoid and antioxidant, a natural plant compound that gives pumpkin its bright orange color.[ii]

Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have developed an eco-friendly way to measure beta-carotene and other carotenoids found in pumpkin, showing that pumpkin contains more beta-carotene than many other foods found in your pantry.[iii] The human body can naturally convert beta-carotene into vitamin A, which promotes vision and skin health, among many perks.

In a 2019 clinical trial conducted by the National Eye Institute called the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), high doses of beta-carotene along with vitamins C and E were linked to a significantly reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration.[iv] Here's a rundown of additional wondrous benefits of pumpkin for well-being.

1. Anticancer Effects

A 2016 study suggested that a diet rich in beta-carotene can help suppress prostate cancer tumors.[v] A cross-sectional study done on a Japanese population in 2014 also showed that beta-carotene can slow the development of colon cancer. In a separate animal study, pumpkin seed was found to reduce the risk of colon cancer when consumed in dietary proportions.[vi]

Pumpkin seed extract also had growth inhibition effects on benign prostate hyperplasia, also known as prostate gland enlargement, and some cancer cell lines, such as prostate, breast and colon.[vii]

2. Diabetes Support

Research published in 2010 concluded that a mixture of flax and pumpkin seeds supplemented in the diet of diabetic rats may assist in preventing diabetes and its complications.[viii]

In a more recent study, published in 2019, a combination of two plant extracts -- one of which was pumpkin polysaccharides -- pushed down blood sugar levels in animal models.[ix] While further human trials may be needed, the study demonstrated the plant compounds' potential to successfully manage Type 2 diabetes.

3. Wound Healing

Pumpkin seed oil has been tested for wound healing due to its known properties that may aid treatment. Results from one study showed that cold-pressed, excellent-quality pumpkin oil, which has a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols and sterols, promoted efficient wound healing in rats.[x]

4. Heart Health and Blood Pressure Regulation

According to a 2017 study involving 2,722 participants, consuming plenty of potassium is an important step to maintaining healthy blood pressure.[xi] Pumpkin is high in potassium, containing 394 milligrams per cup.[xii]

Other research revealed that pumpkin seed oil led to beneficial effects when administered along with an ACE-inhibitor and calcium-channel blocker in treating high blood pressure.[xiii] Consistent with other outcomes is the conclusion of a 2012 study showing that pumpkin seed oil exhibits antihypertensive and heart-protective effects.[xiv] The mechanism may involve the generation of nitric oxide.

In female rats in a different study, supplementing with pumpkin seed oil also improved lipid profile and cardiovascular outcomes, specifically lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressures.[xv]