“Respect the pumpkin! Respect the pumpkin!” Pitiful
thing! The pumpkin wants to share its healthy gifts with us! What do we do? We carve
it into scary, funny, goofy looks
for Halloween and puree it up for a Thanksgiving pie! Cross Chiropractic Center
is playing with the pumpkin’s plight and confesses
to liking the pumpkin fun while also valuing
its edible, healthy aspects for our
Sandy Springs chiropractic patients who are undergoing chiropractic care for back pain or neck pain and their supporting families.
RESPECT FOR THE NUTRITIOUS PUMPKIN
Respect for the pumpkin keeps growing! The commonly known 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 said to be 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, and more.
(2) The scent, flavor, and color qualities 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 that young
and old alike enjoy…including Cross Chiropractic Center and our Sandy Springs
chiropractic families!
AGE MATTERS
Age counts in the lifespan
of the pumpkin and the human! 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 greatest antibacterial activity. (4)
For the human, aging brings more and more
molecular injury to cells in response to
oxidative stress due to environmental, lifestyle, and disease issues.
The proper intake of antioxidants is key
as we age. The cucurbita fruits (types of pumpkin/squash)
are great in these antioxidants as well as in zinc and copper. Researchers
even suggested that these should be consumed every
day! (5) Our aging cells would be grateful! In
a study of extracted seed oils like pumpkin, melon, and black cumin,
researchers discovered a treasure trove of beneficial
cytoprotective – cell-protecting - properties related to preventing age-related diseases brought on
by oxidative stress. (6) Cross Chiropractic Center is all about
protecting cells and the health of our Sandy Springs
chiropractic patients.
CONTACT Cross Chiropractic Center
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes the importance of containing
inflammation as well as chiropractic spinal manipulation treatment with The Cox® Technic System of
Spinal Pain Management.
Schedule your Sandy Springs chiropractic
appointment soon. Cross Chiropractic Center appreciates
the pumpkin for all its nutritional value. And we still anticipate the annual carving, decorating, and baking!