Fall-elujah, folks…
And as much as this orange gem is great for seasonal lattés and spooky carvings, it can achieve a whole lot more! It’s no surprise that this impressive superfood, like many others, has become yet another must-have for skin and health as it serves a dual purpose: making a person look good and feel even better. That’s why today, we’re sharing some of our favorite pumpkin benefits for skin and overall health. For more gourd info on this superfood, keep scrolling!
Benefits of Pumpkin for Skin
Below are some of our favorite skin benefits of pumpkin! Other notable skin benefits include the ability to exfoliate dead skin, lighten dark spots, and fight sun damage.
Pumpkins are rich in nutrients and vitamins that help promote healthy skin. These include but are not limited to vitamins A, C, and E, copper, and magnesium. When it comes to combatting facial redness specifically, the vitamin C content of pumpkins can help reduce inflammation, which is beneficial to those with common skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis (which are notorious for blotchy, itchy patches). When applied to skin, vitamin C not only helps minimize redness, but also evens out skin tone, leaving behind a less irritated, even complexion.
You want to give people pumpkin to talk about, yes. But you may not want that something to be frequent breakouts.
Lucky for acne sufferers, a superfood like pumpkin can help keep unwanted spots at bay. Pumpkins are rich in B vitamins such as riboflavin, folate, niacin, and B6. Both niacin and folate help to increase circulation, which can improve cell turnover and renewal. A well-functioning skin cell turnover cycle works to remove dead skin cells and is necessary for overall skin health. If dead skin cells linger and accumulate on the surface, they can lead to clogged pores, breakouts, and even a dull-looking appearance. Simply put, the more effective the turnover cycle is, the less likely you are to experience frequent breakouts. And if you’re looking for a product for troubled skin, pumpkin seed oil specifically can be used as an acne treatment and is recommended by dermatologists.
Like carrots, sweet potatoes, and other orange foods, pumpkins are loaded with beta-carotene, which is an antioxidant the body converts into vitamin A. When applied topically, vitamin A can help improve the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines associated with the natural aging process. It also helps stimulate collagen synthesis, which can improve the elasticity our skin loses over time. We also can’t forget to mention that the content of vitamin E in pumpkins can improve blood circulation, which can help provide firming effects to the skin. A smooth, plump complexion? Sign us up!
Ready to reap some of these beauty benefits? Check out how to make a DIY pumpkin face mask here!
Benefits of Pumpkin for Health
Below are some of our favorite health benefits of pumpkin! Other notable health benefits include the ability to potentially aid in weight loss, improving heart health, and treating diabetes.
The fall and winter months in North America are unfortunately synonymous with flu season. And if you’ve been searching for a superfood to become your cold weather immunity-boosting BFF, no need to look further! The vitamins and minerals that’re packed in pumpkins can benefit skin, but they can also help keep your body feeling and working its best. The content of vitamin C and E, folate, iron, and zinc specifically in these orange gems can help increase white blood cell count and push immune cells to work more efficiently, which is what you need when trying to avoid common bacterial infections and viruses. And if you happen to fall ill, consuming pumpkin-based dishes can help you recover much faster.
Jeepers creepers, where’d you get those healthy peepers?
Pumpkins not only help support a healthy, well-functioning immune system, but healthy eyes, too. If you’ve struggled with eyesight from an early age, munchin’ on a bunch of pumpkin won’t promise a turn of events and 20/20 vision, but doing so can help keep your vision sharp before old age gets the best of them. Remember how we mentioned that the body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A? The vitamin A content in pumpkin can help reduce the chances of developing cataracts, which is a common cause of blindness. Research has also shown that a severe vitamin A deficiency can contribute to blindness. And we can’t forget to mention that the contents of vitamin C and E in pumpkins also work their magic when it comes to protecting eyes, as they may prevent free radicals from damaging eye cells.
Consuming pumpkin may help reduce the risk of developing chronic illnesses such as lung cancer and heart disease. Many studies have linked these diseases to increased inflammation in the body and the high levels of antioxidants in pumpkins can help minimize oxidative stress that contributes to said inflammation. When it comes to protecting against certain cancers, the antioxidants in pumpkins can help to neutralize free radicals and for illnesses like heart disease, the content of potassium in pumpkins can aid in lowering blood pressure (a leading cause of heart attacks). And although developing chronic diseases is often out of our control, it never hurts to take additional measures to keep our bodies healthy and strong.
If including this superfood in your diet is more up your alley than applying it to your skin, you can take your pick from 60+ delightful pumpkin dishes here!
And that’s a wrap on this skincare superfood, friends! We hope you enjoyed learning some of the skin and health benefits of pumpkins and will grab a few extra when picking this year. After all, there’s nothing better for your body than a few farm fresh fruits (yes, pumpkins are classified as fruits if you didn’t know). If you do happen to go picking and decide to reap the benefits of pumpkin by either making your own DIY face mask or making a pumpkin-based autumn dish, shoot us a message on socials! We’d love to know all about it. Until then, enjoy the crisp breeze and fallen leaves!