The pumpkin. Ornate. Recognizable.
Valued from its being anti-anxiety to anti-viral and a lot in between! Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka presents just how
nutritious and beneficial the Cucurbita maxima, the formal name of the pumpkin, is, a vegetable whose flesh,
seed, peel, flower, and leaves all offer nutrients our
Sitka chiropractic patients can take make good use
of. High levels of minerals, flavonoids, carotenes,
phenols, and total antioxidant activity are plentiful in the
leaves and flowers while the seed is packed with nutrients and
amino acids. All parts of the pumpkin have powerful
nutrients! (1) Nutrition info like this is a part of the chiropractic service we deliver. This fall, maybe you will want to think twice about tossing
your pumpkin in the trash!
DECORATIVE, DERMATOLOGICAL, AND MUCH MORE: anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiolic, non-irritating, antidiabetic, antioxidant,
antiviral
The Cucurbita maxima is well-recognized for its ornamental
value as well as economic value and as a generator of wasted
resources when its time is up. Its abundance of bioactive
compounds (flavonoids and coumarins) as well as antioxidant and pharmacological
value that are just starting to be appreciated. (2) Pumpkin
seed extracts were analyzed to be safe and to extend
significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties nearly akin
to aspirin and brufen/ibuprofen. (3) In the family
of winter squash, the pumpkin’s Cucurbita maxima - with its polysaccharide
substance plus its total phenolic and flavonoid
content - has more antidiabetic and antioxidant activities than its related Cucurbita
moshata. (4) Another study found that the nutrition of the pumpkin fights
several viral infections (like HCV, HIV, ADV7, etc.) with its antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. (5) The peel has the highest
number of flavonoids. Peel extracts are not cytotoxic or irritating
to the skin, making them potentially valuable
for cosmetic product use. (6) The pumpkin’s value is more than skin
deep.
PREVENTIVE OF NIGHT BLINDNESS IN CHILDREN AND EVEN ANXIETY
AND DEPRESSION
What about facilitating the prevention of childhood night blindness said to be a global problem? Fortifying yogurt with
β-carotene (vitamin A) via pumpkin (and pumpkin pie spice and ground pumpkin
seed) was showen to be a nutrient-rich food with the low-cost
advantage of potentially preventing or reducing
childhood blindness. The pumpkin rendered it even more appetizing!
(7) The pumpkin seed that they ground up for the yogurt may also decrease
the intensity of the central nervous system related anxiety and depression.
C.
maxima’s secondary metabolites like arginine, β-carotene, quercetin, and other
antioxidants may be the advantageous contributors.
(8) All these are beneficial for health.
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Robert Borzone on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes The Cox® Technic
System of Spinal Pain Management to help a patient get back to
healthy organic gardening.
Make your Sitka chiropractic
appointment soon. No matter the back pain condition, that brought you to our office, enjoy your pretty pumpkin
and figure out a way to repurpose it for your health
value!