Projo Fitness Blog

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Southern New England's pumpkin crop took a hit from the summer's wet weather, but farmers who planted seed around Independence Day are bringing their sweet pumpkins to market now.

Manfredi's Farm in Westerly is selling just-picked sweet pumpkins for $3. Down the road, Wal Mart is selling imported sweet pumpkins for 78 cents apiece.

Both are packed with nutrition, but the local pumpkin is fresher.

"The bright orange color of pumpkin is a dead giveaway that [it] is loaded with an important antioxidant, beta-carotene," say nutritionists at the University of Illinois Urban Extension. "Beta-carotene is one of the plant carotenoids converted to vitamin A in the body. In the conversion to vitamin A, beta carotene performs many important functions in overall health.

"Current research indicates that a diet rich in foods containing beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and offers protect against heart disease. Beta-carotene offers protection against other diseases as well as some degenerative aspects of aging."

A cup of cooked pumpkin contains 49 calories, 12 grams of carbohydrates, two grams of protein, and three grams of dietary fiber. It also contains important vitamins and minerals including: Calcium, 37 mg.; Iron, 1.4 mg.; Magnesium, 22 mg.; Potassium, 564 mg.; Zinc, 1 mg.; Selenium, .50 mg.; Vitamin C, 12 mg.; Niacin, 1 mg.; Folate, 21 mcg.; Vitamin A, 2650 IU, and Vitamin E, 3 mg.

The Urban Extension has all you'd like to know about pumpkins at its site here.

This chart will provide nutritional information on fresh as well as canned pumpkin..

 Tags  beta-carotine minerals pumpkin vitamins

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