What happens to your eyes, skin and digestive health when you regularly eat butternut squash
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Not only is the musk squash delicious and comforting, but it is also filled with nutrition. It has an impressive quantity of beta-carotene and other antioxidants that can help prevent chronic diseases and support other facets of health.
Here are the advantages of the musk squash, as well as its nutritional facts, its risks and its uses.
The musk squash contains beneficial nutrients for your eyes, in particular vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene. This is what gives the musk squash of its orange color.
Vitamin A is a key component of rhodopsin – a protein in your retina. It is also important that the connectival membranes and the cornea work normally.
In addition, beta -carotene – a form of provitamin A which is also an antioxidant – allow age -related macular degeneration (AMD).
In addition to vitamin A, musk squash also contains vitamin C, another antioxidant that can help prevent and treat early AMD. Interestingly, some of the highest concentrations of vitamin C in your body are in your eyes. Researchers think that eating more food vitamin C (as opposed to taking supplements) can reduce the risk of developing cataracts, but more research is necessary to confirm it.
Another antioxidant found in musk squash, vitamin E can also prevent and treat early AMD. It can also prevent oxidative stress linked to eye diseases such as cataracts.
Research is well not concluded on the question of whether the supplementation of one of these nutrients helps prevent these eye diseases, so bringing them into food is particularly important.
Musk squash is a vegetable food filled with fibers, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Consequently, it can help prevent against chronic diseases.
Fiber is a nutrient that Americans do not consume enough, but it is associated with a decrease in the risk of cardiovascular disease and better control of blood sugar.
Meanwhile, antioxidants of the musk squash can protect against oxidative stress, which is linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurological diseases, respiratory diseases, etc.
For example, a large meta-analysis revealed that a higher food intake of beta-carotene was linked to a reduced risk of lung cancer for non-smokers. In addition, a review of the umbrellas of dozens of studies revealed that the vitamin C intake was linked to a reduced risk of various cancers and cardiovascular disease.
Antioxidants of the musk squash, in particular vitamin C, are also essential for skin health.
Eating enough vitamin C is essential because vitamin C deficiency can cause fragile skin, poor healing of bleeding wounds and gums. In addition, vitamin C works with vitamin E to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. It is also necessary to form collagen – a protein that gives your skin its structure and elasticity.
In addition to protecting harmful UV rays, vitamin E can also protect against acne and other skin conditions due to its antioxidant effects. However, more research should be carried out on how vitamin E consumption affects various facets of skin health.
A musk squash cup contains 10% of the daily value (DV) of fiber. Fibers are linked to better intestinal health and the regularity of the intestine, and most Americans could eat more.
Eating enough fiber and foods rich in prebiotics can also help promote a healthy intestinal microbiome. A healthy intestinal microbiome is linked not only to better intestinal health but also better immune and mental health.
Eating musk squash and other sources of fiber such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains is important to promote your digestive health.
The musk squash is low in fat and sodium and filled with fibers and micronutrients. It is mainly a source of carbohydrates, and its fiber can promote satiety. A cup (140 grams) contains:
- Calories: 63
- Fat: 0.14 grams (G)
- Carbohydrates: 16.4 g
- Fiber: 2.8 g, or 10% of DV
- Sodium: 5.6 milligrams (MG)
- Added sugars: 0 g
- Protein: 1.4 g
- Vitamin C: 29 mg, or 32% of DV
- Vitamin A: 745 micrograms (MCG), or 83% of DV
- Vitamin E: 2 mg, or 13% of DV
In addition to being an abundant source of vitamins A, C and E, a museum squash cup also contains 10 to 12% of the DV of magnesium, potassium, copper, niacin, manganese and thiamine.
As you can see, the musk squash is particularly abundant in vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for eye health and for the formation and maintenance of cardiac and pulmonary cells.
The consumption of excess beta-carotene of the musk squash can cause caroteodermia, an harmless affection where the skin becomes yellow-orange. You can reverse this skin reaction by stopping the consumption of foods or supplements rich in vitamin A.
This is distinct from the consumption of excess vitamin a preformed – the type found in meat and dairy products – which can cause harmful effects such as serious headaches, vague vision, coordination problems and potentially even death in extreme cases.
Musk squash is easy to eat alone or in combined dishes. You can even use it in pastries. Here are some ideas to add more musk squash to your diet:
- Mix with olive oil and roast it
- Add the roasted musk squash to salads or cereal bowls
- Boil the musk squash and puree to add to the pastries
- Use the puree musk to make a winter soup or a pasta sauce
- Replace the potatoes with musk squash to make fries or an accompanying dish
- Cut it in half, rotate it and fill it with vegetables and grains
- Add it to the cheese or risotto macaroni for more flavor
- Make a curry with the musk squash and the green vegetables