How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Pumpkin is best shared among friends and family, as it invites feelings of contentment and relaxation. Soft yet hearty, pumpkin will satisfy your stomach on a cool autumn day. Its mildly sweet taste is undoubtedly comforting. From pumpkin soup to pumpkin pie, this versatile vegetable can be used in both sweet and savory dishes, inviting a warm orange glow to your autumnal dining table. Whether you're visiting a pumpkin patch, carving this year's jack-o-lantern, or sharing a piece of pie on Thanksgiving, pumpkin is at the core of many memorable experiences. Even seeing one conjures images of the autumn harvest and evokes the scents and smells of Halloween.

Sit Back & Relax

Pumpkins have long been utilized as a natural sedative. The earth element predominates pumpkin, making it a heavy, grounding and nutritive ingredient. This earthy quality gives pumpkin its natural relaxant effect and makes it a comforting option in times of stress. Enjoy a steamy bowl of pumpkin soup on a blustery autumn day to bring a sense of calm to a swirling mind or relieve agitated thoughts. Many clients have confirmed the comforting quality of pumpkin. One describes it as, "Very comforting [and] grounding, like a security blanket," while another shares a similar experience, and notes how it was both "physically and mentally" grounding. This mild sedative effect, supported by its magnesium and potassium content, helps reduce tension in the body and relax the muscles. After eating pumpkin, you may feel a little sleepier than normal. This is due to its tryptophan content which encourages sound sleep and balances moods by increasing serotonin. A pinch of nutmeg compliments, and further enhances, the relaxing effect of pumpkin.

Soothe & Protect

The gooey, demulcent qualities of cooked pumpkin coats the digestive tract and acts like a protective barrier to the mucus membranes. This can actually be felt as you swallow the soft pumpkin. As one client describes it, "It felt like it was coating my mouth and insides protectively." Pumpkin is particularly pacifying for Pitta dosha as it is mildly sweet, cool in energy and drying by nature. These attributes of pumpkin give it an anti-inflammatory effect for soothing ulcers, acid reflux, an irritated gut, and in cases of a hot, burning digestive tract. Another client, who regularly experiences a hot digestive tract, reaped the rewards of this Pitta pacifying vegetable and notes, "It felt soothing in my upper GI which is highly acidic and easily aggravated."

Glowing Skin

The glowing amber hues of pumpkin skin can increase the lustre and glow of your skin too. Pumpkins contain high levels of beta-carotene, a pigment that gives certain fruits and vegetables their rich orange, yellow and red colors. The body converts this beta-carotene into Vitamin A which benefits the skin, the eyes and balances Pitta dosha. This, along with pumpkin's Vitamin C and E content, plays an essential role in the health, development and maintenance of the skin by minimizing cell damage caused by free radicals and protecting the skin from premature aging, leaving it feeling soft and supple. In Ayurveda, these anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients are recognized as playing an important part of rejuvenation of the body (rasayana) as they help slow down the aging process, enhance longevity and regeneration of cells. The body can also be massaged with pumpkin oil to promote healthy skin.

Light & Satisfying Food for Weight Loss

Don't let the association with rich pumpkin pie skew your vision of this vegetable and its role in weight loss. Even though pumpkin satisfies the stomach, it is light and dry in nature. This means it can be part of a diet supporting weight loss and balancing Kapha dosha. Pumpkin's earthy quality and high fibre content leave you feeling fuller for longer. A client shared this nourishing experience, "I was full for a very long time after eating the pumpkin soup and I really didn't expect this from veggie soup." Even though it is comforting, it feels light in the stomach and has a low calorie content, benefiting weight loss. You can actually experience the lightness of pumpkin for yourself. One client summarized this sensation clearly, "Pumpkin feels heavy and dense when you pick it up... I thought it would be heavy and dense on my tongue. But when you actually eat it, it has a light airy texture."

Effect on Digestion

For most people, pumpkin can help promote a regular bowel movement by both bulking and softening the stools. Pumpkin's demulcent qualities and soluble fibre content softens stools, while insoluble fiber adds bulk and can relieve constipation. Many of our clients have experienced this action of pumpkin first hand, with one remarking, "I had a large stool after eating pumpkin and felt very relieved." Another noticed how it kept digestion regular, even when going through a period of increased stress. She writes, "Usually during times like this, I either get constipated or have painful, burning elimination. I've noticed that the pumpkin has helped my elimination to stay somewhat normal, despite the extreme stress." Pumpkin's soothing effect is especially helpful for those with inflamed or irritated bowels.

However, not all digestive systems are created equal, and some people, particularly Vata types, can experience gas and constipation as pumpkin is cold and difficult to digest. Perhaps you never even thought about pumpkin as being a cold vegetable until now, and shared the experience with this client, "I never noticed the cool quality in pumpkin. I think this is because I always combine [it] with heating spices which, perhaps, balance out the cold." The cold, dry and light nature of pumpkin can lead to excessive gas for some. As one client noted, "I ate the pumpkin early afternoon, by the time I went to bed around 10.30pm I was extremely gassy." It just so happens that pumpkin pairs perfectly with some warming digestive spices such as nutmeg, cardamom, allspice, cinnamon and cloves. These spices help keep your tummy nice and toasty and dispel the gas that dry pumpkin can create. Vata types can also benefit from adding a little ghee, a pinch of mineral salt and even a squeeze of lemon in savory dishes to improve digestibility and balance the dryness of pumpkin.