When fall arrives, so does its signature squash: pumpkin. While you might only be familiar with pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin pies, pumpkin has more to offer than just fall desserts. Its vitamin- and nutrient-rich flesh and seeds have an abundance of health benefits, from weight loss to better quality sleep.

"Pumpkin seeds are a great super food that most people don’t talk about outside the month of October," Shane Allen, a certified personal trainer, sports nutritionist, and weight loss specialist in Dallas, Texas, told Medical Daily in an email. The bright orange winter fruit — seeds and all — is nutritionally dense, with lots of fiber, vitamin A, carotenoids, and good fats.

Click “View Slideshow” to see why you should add the squash to your diet not just this fall, but year-round.

Pumpkins
Pumpkin and its seeds are rich in vitamins and nutrients that boost your health, helping with everything from weight loss to sleep. Ginny, CC BY-SA 2.0