I never thought I could eat pumpkin so much as I have this year.

For some reason I have been inundated with so much pumpkin.

Oh well. Tis the season for pumpkins!

FUN PUMPKIN FACT: According to a document called the Compliance Policy Guides, by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), canned pumpkin has not necessarily been 100% pumpkin for many years (1938 to be exact).

Canned “pumpkin” can actually contain either field pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) or certain varieties of sweet squash (Cucurbita maxima), or mixtures of the two. (Read the policy in its entirety.)

And that same concept can be said about pumpkin seeds. So, in other words, the pumpkin seeds you buy in the store may be squash seeds. That means if you want pumpkin seeds (and want to know they are really pumpkin seeds) you must then get a pumpkin and go to work.

Nevertheless, if you want to make pumpkin flavored recipes when pumpkin isn’t in season, then canned pumpkin is the next best thing.

Even though pumpkin and squash are a part of the same family of winter squashes, if you can get your hands on some actual pumpkin, instead of canned, take advantage of it. It may take some more time to prepare, but it’s worth it because of the health benefits that go along with it, such as:

boosting immunity
promoting healthy skin
aiding in iron absorption
regulating blood pressure
protecting against a heart attack or stroke
protecting against some cancers
preventing anxiety
reducing inflammation in the body
reducing cholesterol

And did you know the seeds are a natural remedy for bed wetting?

They are also good for the heart, immune system, prostate, insulin control, menopausal symptoms, the liver, and anti-inflammatory diseases like arthritis. They also have even been linked to getting you a good night’s sleep.

Pumpkin Pineapple Mango Smoothie

What you’ll need:

1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1/2 cup rice milk
1/2 cup frozen mangoes
small dash of ground cinnamon
1/4 cup frozen pineapple
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Blend all ingredients together in a high speed blender until smooth.

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