Executive Chiropractic of Iowa 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 carve it into scary, funny, goofy looks for Halloween and puree it up for a Thanksgiving pie! Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is making light of the pumpkin’s quandry and admits to enjoying the pumpkin fun while also appreciating its edible, healthy features for our West Des Moines chiropractic patients who are being treated for back pain or neck pain and their supportive families.

RESPECT FOR THE NUTRITIOUS PUMPKIN

Respect for the pumpkin grows and grows! The well recognized pumpkin or squash of the cucurbita moschata species of fruits is insect-, disease-, and hot-tolerant…as well as the essential ingredient for tasty pumpkin pies! (1) Recognized for its being nutrient-full and recipe-flexible, the pumpkin is described as a potent source of proteins, metabolites, carbohydrates, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, carotenoids, tryptophans, sterols, and more. Some of its most promising functional properties known today are wound healing, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, anti-ulcerative, spermatogenesis-enhancing, and more. (2) The scent, flavor, and color qualities 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 nutritious. (3) All this in the beautiful fall fruit we cut into jack-o-lanterns that young and old alike enjoy…including Executive Chiropractic of Iowa and our West Des Moines chiropractic families!

AGE MATTERS

Age is significant in the pumpkin's and the human's lifespan! For the pumpkin, the mature stage of its ripening – versus the young and ripened stages – had the greatest phenolic and flavonoid content (33 compounds!), the greatest antioxidant activity, and the greatest antibacterial activity. (4) For the human, aging brings more and more molecular damage to cells in response to oxidative stress due to environmental, lifestyle, and disease issues. The proper intake of antioxidants is important 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 eaten daily! (5) Our aging cells would be grateful! In a study of extracted seed oils like pumpkin, melon, and black cumin, researchers found a treasure trove of beneficial cytoprotective – cell-protecting - properties related to preventing age-related diseases triggered by oxidative stress. (6) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is all about protecting cells and the health of our West Des Moines chiropractic clients.

CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the importance of controlling inflammation as well as chiropractic spinal manipulation treatment with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

Make your West Des Moines chiropractic appointment today. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa appreciates the pumpkin for all its nutritional value. And we still look forward to the annual cutting, decorating, and baking!

Executive Chiropractic of Iowa respects the pumpkin for its decorative and nutritional benefits especially the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant!
 
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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."