Pumpkins: Not Just for Carving

Now that fall is among us, everything pumpkin is the craze. For food lovers, there is pumpkin pie. For caffeine craves there is the beloved pumpkin spiced latte, and for the more outdoorsy type – pumpkin picking. However, for the people who are into health and beauty, pumpkin can benefit you in that way as well.

With the weather getting cooler you may notice your hair becoming dull. Dryness and frizz begins to take control. This would be the time to break out the deep conditioning treatments and why not incorporate your favorite fall ingredient. The bright color of pumpkin much like other vegetables means it is rich in antioxidants. When it comes to your hair, it is best to start with the root of the problem which is the scalp. Being rich in vitamin A promotes a healthy scalp. Other helpful nutrients pumpkin contains are vitamin C and potassium. Vitamin C promotes hair health overall and potassium helps with hair regrowth. You can create pumpkin hair masks using various items you can find in your kitchen. For an example, pureed pumpkin, honey and coconut oil can be used to make a nourishing hair mask. The various amounts of ingredients needed for the mask depends on the length and thickness of your hair. You can find several mask mixtures containing pumpkin on Pinterest.

Other than hair, pumpkin can also enhance your skin. Some of the same vitamins that work to keep your hair healthy can work to improve your skin as well, such as vitamin A. It helps the skin’s healing process. Pumpkin also has many natural enzymes that, when applied to the skin, exfoliates without abrasive scrubbing.  Creating a mask for you face, much like you hair, will do the trick.  A very simple pumpkin face mask to create is 2 tsp. of pumpkin puree, a ½ tsp. of honey and a ¼ tsp. of milk or soy milk. Once you have mixed these ingredients together, apply it to your face. You only have to sit looking like a Jack-O-Lantern for 10-15 minutes before you can rinse and wash your face as usual. Redness is another thing that can be reduced. It can be caused by a lack of vitamins in your system. Eating pumpkin seeds that are high in Zinc can prevent the problem. Zinc is commonly found in many facial cleansers as well.

Your overall health can be effected by pumpkin as well. Munching on pumpkin seeds is a good source of the amino acid tryptophan. This amino acid releases hormones that promote wellness. It makes you feel good and enhances your mood. It also promotes a better night’s sleep which everybody seems to need.  Getting enough sleep overnight will help you throughout your day as well.

No matter how you choose to eat pumpkin seeds, they can be a small enhancement to any meal. You could pack them in a little sandwich bag for lunch or sprinkle them on your plate to have a little extra flavor eating dinner. On the other hand you could take the more beautifying approach and create a mask for a little relaxation. Either way a small dose of pumpkin could make a lot of difference.