This quote pretty much sums up my thoughts on health foods - I am not a fan of diets and blah foods. I enjoy food. At the same time, I realize that food is a fuel for my body, and what I put into it will determine how my body functions and how I feel in every way.
So, when I discovered that many Super Foods (i.e. everyday foods that pack a serious positive punch for my body) are things I LIKE, I was pumped. I am trying to incorporate these foods into my diet more, and it's surprisingly easy.
My first one: pumpkin.
To sum up the whole page on pumpkin, its benefits are:
1. Lots of fiber, low in calories
2. Lots of disease-fighting nutrients - potassium, pantothenic acid, magnesium, Vitamin C, Vitamin E
3. Loads of carotenoids (alpha carotene, beta carotene) - these decrease risks of cancer and heart disease, as well as cataracts and weakening eyesight - yay!
4. Beta carotene in particular is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
5. Alpha carotene in particular slows aging (yay again)
To make things even better, canned pure pumpkin (not the pie filling) is actually more nutritious then the gourd option - and way easier, too!
Here are some easy ways to get more pumpkin in your diet -
Pumpkin Spice Muffins (delicious, more like a pumpkin pie cupcake with no icing): http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=55850
More pumpkin recipes:
http://lowfatcooking.about.com/od/fall/tp/top10lowfatpump.htm
Put some pumpkin in your diet, people!
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