Eat this “fall” treat for year-long HEART HEALTH

Is it me?

Or are “PUMPKIN”-flavored food and drinks hitting the shelves earlier and earlier each year?!

Just the other day, I saw pumpkin-spice coffee creamer AND pumpkin flavored beer at the grocery store—and we’re only in mid-AUGUST!

Seems too early for that kind of stuff… but it did jog my memory on why this “fall” treat is actually one of the healthiest things you can eat YEAR long…

Pumpkins are so much more than a staple fall decoration. In fact, pumpkins pack a wallop of nutrients that provide a bevy of health benefits… especially when it comes to your heart!

Pumpkin is chock-full of potassium, vitamin C, and fiber… all nutrients that are great for your heart.

Studies show that people with higher potassium intakes have lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of strokes—two major risk factors for heart disease.

Pumpkin is also high in antioxidants, which keep “bad” LDL cholesterol from oxidizing. When LDL cholesterol particles oxidize, they can clump along the walls of blood vessels, restricting your vessels and raising your risk of heart disease.

But with pumpkin-flavored food and drinks poised to flood every grocery store or local coffee shop in the next few weeks… it’s important to remember that not all ‘pumpkin-flavored’ food are good for you (or your heart).

Your best bet is to stick with natural pupkin… not sugary pumpkin treats or drinks.

My go-to pumpkin treat is roasted pumpkin seeds.

Pumpkin seeds make a delicious, convenient snack you can eat at home… or when you’re on the go.

And not to mention, they are a good source of antioxidants, magnesium, zinc and fatty acids—all of which help keep your heart healthy.

They make a great stand-alone dish or you can add them to salads for extra taste and crunch.

When I make pumpkin seeds, I simply lay them on a baking sheet, brush with olive oil, a dash of salt, and bake until brown and toasted… that’s it!

I also like to keep a jar of pumpkin seed butter in my pantry. This is like peanut butter… but made with pumpkin seeds. It makes a great spread on toast and can be found at organic food stores or online retailers.

To pumpkin power,

Sarah Reagan

Sources:

Ramen, Ryan. “9 Impressive Health Benefits of Pumpkin.” https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/pumpkin