"Pumpkin is one of the well-known edible plants and has substantial medicinal properties due to the presence of unique natural edible substances...Various important medicinal properties including anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and others have been well documented." Nutrition Research Reviews Dec 2010
While many of us may think of pumpkin(an orange type of winter squash) as a vegetable, scientifically it is considered a fruit as it has seeds. A 5 pound pumpkin will yield 4 1/2 cups of cooked pumpkin. Pumpkin is a nutrient-dense food loaded with nutrients and low in calories. One cup of canned pumpkin has 137 calories, 3 grams of protein and 19 grams of carbs.
High Fiber in Pumpkin
Canned pumpkin has and 7 grams of fiber per cup.One cup of pumpkin contains more fiber than:
avocado...6.7 grams
cup of carrots...2.8 grams
cup of kidney beans..6.8 grams
The high fiber in pumpkin may help with:
appetite control(by decreasing hunger)
maintaining healthy weight
keeping blood sugar from spiking
maintaining bowel regularity
reducing the risk of gastrointestinal cancer, including colon cancer
Pumpkin for Healthy Heart
Because pumpkin has almost no salt, fat or added sugar it is considered a heart-healthy food.
Pumpkin and Pumpkin Seeds are Nutrient Dense Foods
One cup of pumpkin contains more Vitamin A(2962 mcg) than:
cup of sweet potato...1836 mcg
cup of kale...885 mcg
cup of carrot...852 mcg
One cup of pumpkin seeds contains more potassium( 588 mg ) than:
one half an avocado...487 mg
one medium sweet potato...541 mg
one cup of spinach...540 mg
Food as Medicine: Pumpkin
From the American Botanical Council:
"Pumpkin has a long history as a functional food and medicine. In addition to its use by indigenous Americans, pumpkins have been used as a medicine in several countries such as China, the former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Ukraine, Argentina, India, Mexico, and Brazil. The seeds are used as an antihelmintic (to expel intestinal worms, particularly tapeworms) and as a diuretic. In traditional Chinese medicine, pumpkin seeds are used to treat motion sickness, nausea, impotency, and swollen prostate accompanied by difficult or dribbling urination."
Medicinal and biological potential of pumpkin
Dietary plants and herbal preparations have been traditionally used as medicine in developing countries and obtained a resurgence of use in the United States and Europe. Research carried out in last few decades has validated several such claims of use of traditional medicine plants. Popularity of pumpkin in various systems of traditional medicine for several ailments (anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, anti-tumor, immune modularization, antibacterial, anti-parasitic, antiinflammation) focused the investigators' attention on this plant. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition Jun 2006
"Pumpkin, a member of the Cucubitaceae family, is used as an herbal medicine. Pumpkin was proved to have many biological effects including antifatigue, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, and antiobesity activities... Pumpkin contains the essential amino acid L-tryptophan. The latter as well as its intermediate metabolite 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) enter in the formation of the neurotransmitter serotonin; therefore, they are endorsed for treatment of depression...Consequently, many strategies of alternative therapeutic are recently investigated to assess its efficacy in preventing or treating depression. In specific, the natural products that exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifatigue effects mostly have an antidepressant-like effect. Recently, pumpkin has received significant attention due to the nutritional and health benefits of the bioactive compounds present in its seeds and fruits. The extract of pumpkin was reported to have a potential antifatigue activity and can elevate exercise performance...this study provided science-based evidence that pumpkin could be an effective antidepressant agent." Oxidative Medicine and Callular Longevity Jul 2021
Pumpkin Seed Oil Properties
Pumpkin has received considerable attention in recent years because of the nutritional and health-protective value of the seed oil.
In recent years, several studies have highlighted the health properties of pumpkin seed oil against many diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. It also shows antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Nutrition Research Reviews Dec 2010
" Pumpkin seeds oil is an extraordinarily rich source of diverse bioactive compounds having functional properties used as edible oil or as a potential nutraceutical. In recent years, several studies have highlighted the medical properties of pumpkin seed oil..Moreover, pumpkin has gained attention as an exceptional protective against many diseases, e. g. hypertension and carcinogenic diseases; due to its health benefits such as antidiabetic, antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammation." Lipids in Health and Disease Apr 2016
Effect of pumpkin seed oil on hair growth
A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was conducted to determine if pumpkin seed oil(PSO) would be effective in treating hair growth in male patients. The researchers reported: "Mean hair count increases of 40% were observed in PSO-treated men at 24 weeks." Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine Apr 2014
Pumpkin Seed Oil for Overactive Bladder
A study reported in the Jan 2014 issue of the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine evaluated the effect of the pumpkin seed oil on urinary dysfunction in human overactive bladder. The researchers reported that pumpkin seed oil significantly reduced the symptoms of an overactive bladder. The scientists conclusion: "[O]ur results suggest that pumpkin seed oil extracted from C. maxima has the potential for prevention or treatment of urinary disorders."
Pumpkin Seed and Pumpkin Seed Oil for BPH
Both pumpkin seed and pumpkin seed oil has also been reported to be an effective treatment for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The role of pumpkin seed in the management of patients affected by lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia was reported in the Italian medical journal of Urology(Arch Ital Urol Androl) Jul 2016. The conclusion of the researchers was:
" On the basis of our narrative review, the use of Cucurbita pepo[Pumpkin] in the management of patients affected by LUTS-BPH[lower urinary tract symptoms-benign prostatic hyperplasia] seems to be useful for improving symptoms and quality of life."
Antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects of pumpkin seed oil
The conclusion of researchers in a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food Feb 2012 was: " [T]his study has shown that pumpkin seed oil exhibits an antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects through a mechanism that may involve generation of NO[Nitric Oxide].ā
Largest Pumpkins in the World
Mathias Willemijns from Germany holds the worlds record for a 2,624.6 pound pumpkin grown in 2016.
In 2011 Jim and Kelsey Bryson from Canada grew an 1818.5 pound pumpkin. Jim said his trick for growing this super large pumpkin is a diet of maple syrup.
The state of Washington was the location for a 1944.5 pound pumpkin grown by Russ Pugh in 2009. He was paid $7 per pound for his winning entry which totaled over $13,000.
Largest Pumpkin Pie in the World
According to the Guinness Book of World Records:
The largest pumpkin pie ever baked was 3,699 pounds made in Ohio and served 5000 people. In case you were wondering, 14.5 pounds of cinnamon was used in the pie.