The Health Benefits of Apples & Pumpkins!
Fall is known as the season for apple and pumpkin lovers. Halloween and Thanksgiving are two heavily themed events where the presence of apples and pumpkins are notoriously front and center. Both apples and pumpkins are on display in abundance just about everywhere this time of the year and brings with it a jubilant energy. The great thing is both apples and pumpkins are excellent fruits for the health (full of fiber too), delicious to most pallets and are a beautiful to see out in nature or wherever it may appear. This means that you can enjoy more now than usual too, while not packing on additional weight, due to the high fiber and water content that are available in apples and pumpkins.
The Benefits of Apples.
Apples are versatile fruits that can be digested in both liquid and solid form. They can be baked, boiled, grilled or even eaten raw on top of things like a salad or eaten as is and still taste delectable. They are packed with fiber, allowing one to feel full longer. Indulging in this fruit will help to avoid irritability from constipation. Apples are also full of plenty of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that keeps the body healthy while thwarting diseases. Apples are low in calories, yet high in water content, making it beneficial for those seeking to lose or even maintain their body weight. Apples are a great source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect the body’s cells against the effects of free radicals. Apples also have minerals like calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc all of which are helpful in the protection of bone, muscle, and brain health too. Apples are an anti-inflammatory fruit that takes down swelling in the body. This is a superpower fruit that comes in all shapes and sizes. The one caveat regarding apples is that because it is listed on the dirty dozen list, it does need to be purchased organic 100% of the time; due to the pesticides that are sprayed on this fruit and how beneficial the skin of an apple is within the body. An apple’s skin is a superfood on so many levels, the skin alone is full of vitamins A, C, and K.
The Benefits of Pumpkins
Pumpkins like apples are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Pumpkins host vitamin C, potassium, phosphorus, and iron and you can eat not just the flesh, but the seeds as well. Pumpkins are packed with vitamin A and are not just beneficial for the eyes, they are good for the immune and reproductive system too. The beta carotene in pumpkin can help reduce inflammation in the body, which means that pumpkins may even be helpful for those who suffer from arthritis.
Though classified as a fruit because of having seeds, many think of pumpkins as vegetables because of its savory nutritious content and lack of sweetness, though small pumpkins are sweeter than most other pumpkins. Nevertheless, this time of year, whether you are purchasing pumpkins for decorating purposes, making Jack-o-lanterns, soups, pies, drinks, or some sort of hearty squash dish, you won’t be disappointed because pumpkins can be found just about everywhere. They too can be eaten and drank throughout the day in various types of meals, whenever you like. Though most pumpkin meals are served hot or warm, it is not unheard of to enjoy a cool temperature pumpkin dish too. Some people enjoy their pumpkin pie at room temperature.
Conclusion:
This Fall Season look for ways that you can incorporate both apples and pumpkins into your healthy food consuming regime. You can even go apple and/or pumpkin picking to obtain your own, if big box stores, farmer’s markets or supermarkets are not your thing. Either way, these beautiful babies are very beneficial for the health, while also delicious to taste and versatile too. You can eat or drink apples and pumpkins for every meal of the day and never ever get bored because the endless options that are available. Need some creative ideas? Visit our online store and download our Fall Recipe Guide which is full of education and recipe ideas that will impress you with some delicious, yet nutritious meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and even desserts too. (Low sodium, and sugar, yet hit in vitamins and minerals and of course fiber.)