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Sitka Pumpkin: Decorative and Nutritious

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!

 
Sitka chiropractic nutrition info on the pumpkin 
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."