Pumpkin
Description: Most pumpkin fruits are orange, but some are white, yellow, or other colors. They have a hard outer shell that is lined inside with a thicker layer of coarse pulp.
Availability: Fall
Facts: Pumpkins are related to squash. The mature pumpkin fruit usually weighs 15 to 30 pounds (6.8 to 14 kilograms), but some giants may weigh over 800 pounds (363 kilograms). In addition to using pumpkins for decorative purposes in the fall and for Jack-O-Lanterns on Halloween, pumpkin is delicious. People cook pumpkins in various ways, especially as pumpkin pie. Pumpkin seeds, a source of protein and iron, are a popular snack when roasted.
Serving Size = 1 CUP
Selection:
Storage: Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight, for use within 1 week after ripe.
Nutrition Benefits: rich in vitamin A and potassium
Pigments: alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin
Phytochemicals: ferulic acid, glutamic acid, lignans
ORAC Score: 404
Reprinted with the permission of the Defeat Diabetes Foundation.
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