It’s the first day of fall, y’all!

It’s Wellness Wednesday!

It’s the first day of fall! And you know what that means…..pumpkin season! Whether or not you are on #teampumpkinspice, you can still enjoy this wonderful winter squash! Many recipes that use pumpkin don’t end up tasting at all like a pumpkin spiced latte! Check out this super yummy (and incredibly healthy) recipe for pumpkin hummus below. (I PROMISE, it doesn’t taste like a PSL! That would be….yuck!) But it is a beautiful orange color and is sure to impress!

As for the health benefits of pumpkin, along with other winter squash and sweet potatoes, they are nutrition superstars! They contain lots of fiber. Fiber is key to a healthy gut and well-functioning digestive and immune systems. Plus, a diet rich in fiber helps with weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight! Pumpkins also contain loads of antioxidants, in particular, beta-carotene, which is important for healthy vision, respiratory health, and skin protection. Pumpkins have a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. The vitamin A content is particularly high, which helps the immune system fight off disease. You can’t go wrong with pumpkin!

References:

Murray, M. (2005).  The Encyclopedia of Health Foods. Atria Books: New York, NY

#jazzercise #jazzercisenation #wisconsinjazzercise #wellnesswednesday #fullbloomacres #health #healthyfood #eatclean #fitness #dancefitness #wfpb #eattherainbow