I don’t know about you, but it seems like all I see in the grocery store these days are pumpkins… and lots of them piled high outside in bins… and I guess it’s not surprising with Halloween right around the corner. I’ve never really thought of pumpkin as a fruit but that is the correct classification. It’s not a vegetable as many people believe.
Pumpkin has been described as a “ mystery food”, a “super food” and the “miracle” for pets because it is able to cure symptoms of diarrhea as well as constipation . But before you begin any treatment like this, it’s always wise to consult your veterinarian just to be sure of the underlying cause of the problem.
What makes pumpkin so special? Pumpkin is rich in carotenoids, beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, magnesium, zinc, potassium, vitamin A, iron and of course FIBER! It’s low in calories too. In fact, foods like pumpkin that are so rich in carotenoids have been shown to decrease the risk of various cancers and the two carotenes found in pumpkin – beta and alpha-carotene are very powerful phytonutrients.
Some of the other health benefits of pumpkin are:
