There is one food that takes center stage during autumn -the pumpkin.
Many people use this orange gourd as a decoration at Halloween .
But we also use it in many foods that are popular during the fall season, foods like pumpkin bread, pumpkin coffee ,pumpkin cookies, pasta made with pumpkin and pumpkin pie .
In fact pumpkin pie is one of the most common desserts at an American Thanksgiving table .
But perhaps we should eat pumpkin all year long and not just in the fall .
Pumpkins are packed with important nutrients and vitamins .
If cooked in a healthy way meaning without much sugar or butter, pumpkin is a powerhouse of health benefits .
Pumpkin is good for your eyesight .
The nutrient beta carotene and vitamin a are necessary for maintaining good eyesight .
Pumpkins are a great source of both.
One nutrition website says that one cup of cooked, mashed pumpkin can give you more than 200% of your daily recommended amount of vitamin A .
Pumpkin may reduce your risk of getting cancer .
The national Cancer institute says on its website that antioxidants may help reduce a person’s risk of getting cancer .
That is because antioxidants neutralize something called free radicals in the body .
The institute defines free radicals as highly reactive chemicals that have the potential to harm cells .
Antioxidants have to get rid of these free radicals.
Examples of antioxidants found in food include beta-carotene, lycopene and vitamin A,C and E.
And as we said earlier pumpkin is full of beta-carotene and vitamin A.
Pumpkin helps your skin.
Beta-carotene helps to keep your skin healthy and young-looking.
Yet another good reason to eat pumpkin . Pumpkin may help your heart .
Parking is also loaded with potassium .
Health experts say that consuming potassium helps to treat hypertension or high blood pressure just as degree see your intake of sodium does .
Pumpkin is good for weight loss .
Pumpkin has a lot of fiber. Fiber slows down digestion of food.
When you eat pumpkin you feel full and eat less .
So if it is available where you live, try to find ways to include pumpkin in your next meal .
1.gourd n.葫芦，葫芦科植物
Many people use this orange gourd as a decoration at Halloween.
很多人把这种橙色的葫芦科植物用作万圣节的装饰。
2.富含
be packed with
be a great source of
be full of
be loaded with
have a lot of
Pumpkins are packed with important nutrients and vitamins.南瓜富含重要的营养物质和维生素。
Pumpkins are a great source of beta-carotene and vitamin A.
南瓜富含贝塔胡萝卜素和维生素A
3.powerhouse 强大的组织，集团 a group or an organization that has a lot of power.
If cooked in an healthy way, meaning without much butter or sugar, pumpkin is a powerhouse of health benefits.
如果以健康的方式烹饪南瓜，少放黄油和糖，南瓜对健康大有裨益。
4.mashed 泥
A cup of cooked, smashed pumpkin can give you 200% of your daily recommended amount of vitamin A.
一杯烹制后的南瓜泥能提供人体每日所需维他命A含量的两倍还多。
5.free radicals自由基
antioxidants抗氧化剂
lycopene番茄红素
potassium 钾
sodium钠
hypertention高血压
