The pumpkin. Pretty. Recognizable.
Valued from its being anti-anxiety to anti-viral and a lot in between! Johnson Chiropractic 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 provide nutrients our
Richmond chiropractic patients can take advantage
of. High levels of minerals, flavonoids, carotenes,
phenols, and total antioxidant activity are plentiful in the
leaves and flowers while the seed is loaded with nutrients and
amino acids. All parts of the pumpkin offer powerful
nutrients! (1) Nutrition info like this is a part of the chiropractic service we deliver. This fall, maybe our Richmond chiropractic
patients want to reconsider 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
appeal 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 closely akin
to aspirin and brufen/ibuprofen. (3) In the family
of winter squash, the pumpkin’s Cucurbita maxima - with its polysaccharide
substance plus its overall 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 possibly valuable
for cosmetic product use. (6) The pumpkin’s value runs more than skin
deep.
PREVENTIVE OF NIGHT BLINDNESS IN CHILDREN AND EVEN ANXIETY
AND DEPRESSION
What about helping
prevent childhood night blindness said to be an issue
around the world? 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 decreasing
childhood blindness. The pumpkin made it tastier!
(7) The pumpkin seed that they ground up for the yogurt may also reduce
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 healthy contributors.
CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic
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 return to
healthy organic gardening.
Make your Richmond 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
benefit!