Is pumpkin good for diabetics? | The Times of India (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat pumpkin if you have diabetes? ›

Pumpkin is also a great option for people with diabetes due to its high fiber and low carbohydrate count per serving.

One can include pumpkin seeds in the total dose of 4-8 teaspoons of 2-3 types of seeds per day. To summarize, pumpkin seeds are beneficial to become healthy as they contain a lot of nutrients in them which are heart-healthy, blood pressure healthy, and also helpful in type 2 diabetes.

Most of a pumpkin's health benefits come from its vitamins and minerals, along with its low sugar and high fiber content. While there aren't many studies on pumpkin specifically, it's high in several nutrients that have established health benefits.

Pumpkin is very healthy and considered safe for most. However, some people may experience allergies after eating pumpkin (32). It's also considered mildly diuretic, which means eating a lot of pumpkin may induce a “water pill”-like reaction, increasing the amount of water and salt your body expels through urine (33).

Households that take part in the Teal Pumpkin Project offer Halloween happiness to children managing a range of medical conditions, including tens of thousands of youngsters with diabetes.

While it's sometimes associated with seasonal lattes and desserts, pumpkin can be a simple addition to sweet and savory cuisines. Pumpkin is considered a safe food for most healthy adults, but check with a healthcare provider if you have a history of food allergies, are pregnant, or are taking certain medications.

Not safe for those with low blood pressure

If you already have low blood pressure (hypotension), then just bid adieu to pumpkin seeds as they are antioxidant in nature, and help to lower blood pressure. Consult an expert before opting for these seeds, in case you wish to eat them.

Studies have shown that avocados can help people manage their diabetes and improve their overall health in a variety of ways. So, to answer the question, can you eat avocados with diabetes, the answer is yes. Adding avocado to the diet can help people lose weight, lower cholesterol and increase insulin sensitivity.

​Diabetes-specific benefits of pumpkin

It contains carbohydrates called polysaccharides and a compound called puerarin, which when paired, help in lowering blood sugar and preventing diabetes. Pumpkin has also shown to increase the production of insulin, thus helping in regulating blood sugar.

Which has more sugar potato or pumpkin? ›

Sweet potatoes are richer in natural sugars and starches than most vegetables, making them higher in calories. One-half cup of sweet potatoes has about 90 calories compared to 30 to 40 calories in one-half cup of pumpkin or winter squash.

Vitamins And Minerals

Sweet potato beats the other two (pumpkin and potato) in calcium, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, and iron.

It offers a long list of nutrients that protect and support the heart, such as vitamins A, B1, B6, and C, copper, fiber, folate, and manganese. Pumpkin provides calcium, potassium, and magnesium, which can help keep your heartbeat regular and your blood pressure low.

Morning: Eating pumpkin seeds in the morning can provide your body with the necessary energy to kickstart your day. You can enjoy them as a snack, sprinkle them on top of your breakfast oatmeal or smoothie bowl, or add them to your yogurt.

Pumpkin has a high GI, at 75, which makes a perception of it not being good for diabetes patients. “But one also needs to see it in the context of the impact of its carbs on the body's blood sugar level — which is very low. Thus, pumpkin is actually a safe bet for diabetic patients,” explained Tyagi.

Any fruit you eat will cause your blood sugar to rise, but some only produce a small increase. Some fruits that do not cause a spike in blood sugar include apples, cherries, oranges, pears, and strawberries.

Although pumpkin is a higher potassium food, in moderation it can be beneficial for your overall health. Pumpkin is packed with nutritional benefits that are great for the renal diet including fiber, Vitamin C and beta-carotene. So go ahead, enjoy this fall delights in moderation today!

The American Diabetes Association recommends filling half your plate with non-starchy vegetables at meals, such as asparagus, broccoli, green beans, squash and mushrooms. However, the association warns that if you buy frozen or canned veggies, buy the “no salt added” version or rinse the sodium off the produce.