Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka Shares Pumpkins Nutritional Benefits
“Respect the pumpkin! Respect the pumpkin!” Poor thing! The pumpkin wants to share its healthy gifts with us! What do we do? We cut the pumpkin into scary, fun, goofy images for Halloween and puree it up for a Thanksgiving pie! Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is playing with the pumpkin’s plight and confesses to enjoying the pumpkin fun while also appreciating its edible, healthy features for our Sitka chiropractic patients who are being treated for back pain or neck pain and their supportive families.
RESPECT FOR THE HEALTHFUL PUMPKIN
Appreciation for the pumpkin keeps growing! The well recognized pumpkin or squash of the cucurbita moschata species of fruits is hot tolerant and resistant to insects and disease…as well as the most common ingredient for amazing pumpkin pies! (1) Well-known for being nutrient-dense and recipe-flexible, the pumpkin is said to be a potent source of proteins, metabolites, carbohydrates, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, carotenoids, tryptophans, sterols, and more. Some of its most favorable functional properties known today are wound healing, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, anti-ulcerative, spermatogenesis-enhancing, etc. (2) The scent, flavor, and color traits of the pumpkin - terpenoids (oxygen-containing metabolites that contribute to aromatic scent and flavor and even color) and carotenoids (tetraterpenoids responsible for color) - are quite healthful. (3) All this in the pretty fall fruit we cut into jack-o-lanterns enjoyed by young and old…including Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka and our Sitka chiropractic families!
AGE MATTERS
Age is significant in the lifespan of the pumpkin and the human! For the pumpkin, the mature stage of its ripening – versus the young and ripened stages – proved to have the highest phenolic and flavonoid content (33 compounds!), the greatest antioxidant activity, and the highest antibacterial activity. (4) For the human, aging generates more and more molecular injury to cells in reaction to oxidative stress from environmental, lifestyle, and disease issues. The suitable intake of antioxidants is key as we age. The cucurbita fruits (types of pumpkin/squash) are great in these antioxidants as well as in zinc and copper. Researchers even proposed that these should be consumed every day! (5) Our aging cells would be grateful! In a study of extracted seed oils like pumpkin, melon, and black cumin, researchers found a cornucopia of useful cytoprotective – cell-protecting - properties linked to the prevention of age-related diseases triggered by oxidative stress. (6) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is all about protecting cells and the well-being of our Sitka chiropractic patients.
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the importance of managing inflammation as well as chiropractic spinal manipulation treatment with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Sitka chiropractic appointment soon. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka respects the pumpkin for all its nutritional value. And we still anticipate the annual carving, decorating, and baking!
