It’s pumpkin season!! Not only that, but pumpkins have an array of health benefits. They can actually strengthen your immune system and keep you strong through these coming winter days. Pumpkins offer Vitamin E, Iron, Zinc, Magnesium and folates which all strengthen your immune system and make up 19% of our recommended daily intake (women’s health magazine, 2021). Pumpkins in your diet can help with fighting off germs and/or bacteria and even help with wound healing (WebMD, 2019). Pumpkins contain potassium levels that can lower your risk of Stroke, Kidney stones, Type 2 Diabetes, and Heart Disease by including high doses of fiber from our little orange friends (Cleveland Clinic, 2020). According to Medical News Today, pumpkins also have a high dose of tryptophan, an amino acid that helps make serotonin (2020). Serotonin is a major component in promoting our wonderful and much needed sleep. Lastly, and you thought we were done…well get ready ladies (and men, you count too); pumpkins have the power of beta carotene which also can help combat the effects of aging in your skin, and help fight inflammation (healthonline.com, 2018). They may keep you looking pumpkin-y fresh! To say the least, pumpkins are my superfood! Even though we love our pumpkin spice latte’s, it is obviously better to have natural pumpkin. Luckily enough for our friends of Illumina, we use all natural pumpkin for our pies, cupcakes, and treatsJ. Check them out! --Ariel Clatty, PhD 11.03.2021