Whip Out Yer Pumpkin and Use IT!

Happy Thanksgiving Day

I just edited and approved the pumpkin article below and though it would make a good post for Thanksgiving Day.

Pumpkin - The Superfood of the Season

The importance of good nutrition is nothing new. While ideas vary concerning what good nutrition actually is most experts agree that it is more than just calories. Good nutrition is the basis for healthy eating which is vital in achieving or maintaining good health. Because good nutrition is so important for good health, it is necessary that every adult have a basic knowledge of proper nutrition.

The importance of good nutrition is even more important to people whose health is compromised by chronic disease. Many conditions can be improved or even reversed with the proper nutritional habits. Whether you are a world-class athlete, exercise enthusiast, or simply a couch potato, one fact applies to all - nutrition is fundamental to good health. The term "superfood" has been gaining a lot of popularity in the nutrition world. In order to determine if this recent attention is valid or just a lot of hype, it is important to understand what is meant by the term.

Many believe the secret to health is in superfood nutrition. Such a method of healthy eating is said to allow those who practice it to function with more vitality and energy. But what exactly is a superfood? Superfoods provide rich, dense, high quality nutrition essential for building and maintaining a healthy resilient body. Generally speaking, superfoods give you a big bang for your calorie buck. One of the tastiest of the superfoods is the pumpkin. With virtues beyond carving, the pumpkin is a superfood indeed. Of course everyone is familiar with family traditions such as carving pumpkins for Halloween and eating pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. And, the pumpkin is a sure symbol of autumn and its beautiful colors for many. But what many don't realize is the superfood benefits the pumpkin contains.

The pumpkin boasts a low calorie and high fiber count - both great factors in weight loss. In addition, pumpkins contain significant amounts of vitamin A, calcium, potassium and iron. It is truly a nutrition stand-out. Including pumpkin in your diet doesn't need to be difficult since pumpkin can be purchased in canned form at your local supermarket. In fact, in terms of both dietary fiber and beta-carotene, the canned pumpkin nutrition profile exceeds that of fresh. Canned pumpkin is popular and widely used due to its convenience, quality, nutritional value and great taste.

There are numerous recipes available that use pumpkin as a main ingredient. Get creative by using cooked, pureed pumpkin in your favorite recipes. The wholesome taste and inviting color of pumpkin complements soups, sweets, and breads while boosting the nutrition of these dishes. If you prefer using fresh pumpkin, be sure to save the seeds.

Pumpkin seeds are loaded with nutrition, too. They can be an alternative to sweets and make a healthy snack that can be enjoyed all year long. Pumpkin seeds can be cooked and eaten with the husk on or off. For convenience, pumpkin seeds can be purchased in ready to eat form. While most of us know that good nutrition is essential to good health, many find it difficult to practice healthy eating.

Keep in mind that you really are what you eat and you deserve to live a life full of health. Including superfoods such as the pumpkin in your diet will go a long way toward reaching nutritional and weight loss goals.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- C Lynn writes a variety of articles on health and fitness topics. To learn more about superfoods, visit her website at www.Superfoods.HealthAndFitnessTools.com

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Being a slightly overweight, deskbound office worker, diet and excersise are top priorities to maintain my health. Just never have time though. However, after reading the following 5 articles by Kathryn, even- I, might start to follow her advice!


Don't Drown Your Food

If you are one of the generation who grew up on 70s-80s Saturday morning cartoons, you might remember a series of public service announcements that aired in between your favorite shows. Tucked in between the adventures of Batman and Robin, and even the kitschy Schoolhouse House videos were very short, very animated appeals to children about good nutrition. One that stands out in memory is Louis the Lifeguard pleading us in song not to "drown" the food we eat.

Louis was referring, of course, to condiments, as the PSA portrayed him gallantly rescuing a potato from a bowl of sour cream, and a boiled egg from an avalanche of mayonnaise. The message then is as clear as it should be now: not only can condiments can affect the taste of foods, but also affect the overall nutritional value of the meal. Just as certain diet products are designed to supplement a weight loss program by helping people maintain a healthy diet and exercise, condiments are meant to supplement the flavor of certain foods. Note the key word is supplement.

Oftentimes, however, we can get carried away with condiments, so much that they become their own food group rather than the miniscule part of a meal they were meant to be. Picture the plate of steamed broccoli smothered in melted cheddar cheese, the baked potato supporting a pool of butter, the grilled chicken coated in salsa...they make look delicious, and you might think you are enjoying a good meal with the base foods, but going overboard on the condiments can do harm.

So what is wrong with a bit here and bit there of something to complement a main or side dish? Nothing, if condiments are used in moderation. Use too much, however, and you could be adding things to your diet that you don't really need. Sugar Ever wonder why we like ketchup on our French fries? Unlike the tomatoes from which this condiment comes, ketchup has added ingredients to make it more palatable. Sugar, for one, gives ketchup its sweetness. Looking at a label of your favorite brand, you may say to yourself, "Hey, there's only four grams per serving here. That's not much." No, it isn't, but think of all the servings you've enjoyed over the week, the month, and the year. Two servings of ketchup a day over the course of one month equals 240 grams of sugar.

Fat You've heard the saying, "A sandwich just isn't a sandwich without..." Well, have you considered ending the sentence with fat? If you heard it like that, would you eat the sandwich? Yet, many people do enjoy a deli sandwich slathered with mayonnaise or another type of egg-based dressing. Mayonnaise has perhaps the highest fat content of any condiment--even in its "light" form, the dressing is almost always 50% fat. This is something to consider the next time you build a sandwich, ask yourself if you want to counteract a healthy slice of turkey with something that will cover the taste and not offer as much nutritional value.

Sodium That extra tang in your sandwich, on your main dish, in your vegetables that makes the food taste good? Salt. Check any label of your favorite condiments, and you will find salt is a main ingredient. Salt helps preserve the condiments in their packaging, and adds flavor to otherwise bland ingredients. Too much sodium, naturally, is never good for the diet, as it can lead to high blood pressure, water retention, and other problems. You might think a bit of salt here and there is not harmful, but as sodium occurs naturally in most foods you eat, you have to ask yourself if you should add more to your eating plan.

So should you stop eating condiments altogether? We don't necessarily say that, though we would advise sparing use when you do decide to enhance your foods. Also, consider taking a "condiment holiday," where you refrain from using anything on your food. Note the difference in flavor and absence of extra sugars and fat. You might find the food tastes just as good without the added help, and that it could be better for you, too.

Article Republished From: Liberated Press Releases and Other FREE Information a web site that DOESN'T use Google Adspam (Adsense text links) in or around articles.

Author Resource:- Kathryn Lively writes for Compuslim, custom fit weight loss for everyone.
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