5 Health Benefits Of Pumpkin Everything

Fiber

Fiber helps us feel fuller longer, with fewer blood sugar swings, and it’s heart healthy because it helps lower blood cholesterol. Fiber also helps with digestion, including regular bowel movements. The average American fiber intake is 15 grams per day – about half of what we need to consume in order to receive the benefits of fiber. Adults up to age 50 need between 25 (women) and 38 (men) grams of fiber per day (men over 50 need 30 grams per day and women over 50 need 21 grams per day). 1 cup of pumpkin contains 2.7 grams (raw, mashed) and 7 grams (canned) of fiber.

Protein

1 cup of roasted pumpkin seeds has almost 12 grams of protein and 209 milligrams of the amino acid tryptophan (protein chains are made up of amino acids). Tryptophan is the precursor to the feel-good neurotransmitter, serotonin, which helps our mood as well as our sleep.