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Why We Love Butternut Squash

in The Too Busy to Diet Blog on October 11, 2013

Lucy loves her butternut squash (she’s eating it with her noodles), and we think that she has great taste! Here are the nutritional reasons that we think butternut squash is a winner:

Nutrition Tidbits

• It’s a super food for the immune system due to its Vitamin A, C and E contents.
• It’s one of the best antioxidant foods containing Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene.
• Butternut squash is a great source of vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, manganese, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B1, copper, vitamin B6, niacin-vitamin B3, and pantothenic acid.
• It contains potassium that works to lower blood pressure and maintain a healthy heart.
• It’s a good source of  fiber that decreases risk of colon cancer, reduces constipation,  maintains a healthy heart by reducing cholesterol, and smoothes out blood sugars.
• It possess phytochemicals that have anti-cancer properties.
• It’s rich in beta-crypotoxantin, an orange-red carotenoid that can significantly lower one’s risk of lung cancer.
• Its high vitamin A content provides protection from lung inflammation, emphysema, and lung cancer.
• It reduces incidence of colon cancer and enhances heart health by protecting blood vessel walls from damage.
• Beta carotene’s anti-inflammatory effects may help in reducing the incidence of asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis caused by inflammation.
• Vitamin C can reduce the progression of heart disease and diabetes.

Food facts

• Butternut squash was found between Guatamala and Mexico
• It’s a relative of the melon and cucumber
• It’s believed to be one of the first foods cultivated in the Americas.