5 Reasons You Should Have Another Piece of Pie

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Pumpkin pie is probably the second thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word Thanksgiving.  It is the best part of Thanksgiving dinner, though, am I right?

Tragically, some people limit themselves to one piece.  I can't even imagine what this must be like.  Sure, it's dessert, but it's also extremely good for you!

So, in honor of the upcoming holiday, here are some of the health benefits of pumpkin.

+ Pumpkin is loaded with carotenoids, including beta carotene, which our body converts to vitamin A.

+ Carrots aren't the only orange food that helps your eyes.  Pumpkins also contain lutein and zeaxanthin which are good for your eyes!

+ Pumpkin is rich in Vitamin C, fiber, and potassium.

+ 1 cup of pumpkin contains only 49 calories- around 2.5% of your recommended daily intake!

+ 1 cup of pumpkin also has only 2 mg of sodium and <1 g each of saturated fat, polyunsaturate fat, and monounsaturated fat.

I'm sure even pumpkin pie can get boring after eating it for a while, but there are many other ways to incorporate pumpkin into your diet.  Some of my favorite recipes include

+Pumpkin Apple Bread

+Pumpkin Spice Doughnuts

+Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili

So, enjoy your leftovers, sometimes they're healthier than you think.

-Cassi

Sources x x x

Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist, nor do I claim to be.  For more information regarding the nutrition of certain type of foods please talk to your doctor.

This Shit is BANANAS

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Is this in your head now?  Good.  That was the goal.  However, totally unrelated to this post.

Bananas are extremely beneficial to both your physical and mental health.

Because bananas contain three natural sugars (sucrose, fructose, and glucose) they give an immediate burst of energy.  They're actually comparable to a sports drink and in an experiment where subjects were either given a cup of sports drink or half a banana during exercising, both subjects performed the same.

Bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to be relaxing
and can improve your mood.  In a recent study conducted by MIND, many people suffering from depression felt much better after eating a banana.

Bananas are extremely high in potassium, but low in in sodium.  This makes it perfect for blood pressure regulation.  US Food and Drug Administration has actually allowed allowed the banana industry to make official claims on the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Since they are high in fiber, including them in the diet can regulate bowel action.  This makes them a solution to constipation, without the need of laxatives.

If you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana.  It has a natural antacid effect on the body and will cause soothing relief.

Banana skin is often successful at reducing swelling and irritation.  The next time you get a mosquito bite, try rubbing a banana skin on it instead of itch cream!  This can be especially beneficial when camping or if packing lightly is a must.

ANNND in case you have a phobia of un-uniform banana slices, look no further than the Hutzler 571 banana slicer.  Don't take my word for it though, be sure to read the reviews and see what everyone else thinks.

For more information, check out this article.

-Cassi