Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers 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, silly looks for Halloween and puree it up for a Thanksgiving pie! Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers is making light of the pumpkin’s quandry and confesses to enjoying the pumpkin fun while also appreciating its edible, healthy features for our Baton Rouge chiropractic patients who are being treated for back pain or neck pain and their supporting families.
RESPECT FOR THE NUTRITIOUS PUMPKIN
Appreciation for the pumpkin grows and grows! 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 tasty pumpkin pies! (1) Well-known for 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 recognized 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 Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers and our Baton Rouge 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 – exhibited the highest phenolic and flavonoid content (33 compounds!), the greatest antioxidant activity, and the highest antibacterial activity. (4) For the human, aging brings more and more molecular harm to cells in reaction to oxidative stress due to environmental, lifestyle, and disease factors. The right intake of antioxidants is key as we age. The cucurbita fruits (varieties of pumpkin/squash) are great in these antioxidants as well as in zinc and copper. Researchers even suggested 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 discovered a bunch of beneficial cytoprotective – cell-protecting - properties related to preventing age-related diseases brought on by oxidative stress. (6) Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers is in favor of protecting cells and the health of our Baton Rouge chiropractic clients.
CONTACT Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the importance of managing inflammation as well as chiropractic spinal manipulation treatment with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Baton Rouge chiropractic appointment today. Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers respects the pumpkin for all its nutritional value. And we still look forward to the annual cutting, decorating, and cooking!
