Health Benefits of Butternut Squash

Butternut squash is an orange-fleshed winter squash, known for its versatility in many dishes. It has a sweet, nutty flavor and is low in calories but loaded with important nutrients. Aside from vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium, butternut squash is also a good source of calcium, iron, phosphorus, and copper. A one-cup serving of cooked butternut squash provides more than 450% of the daily recommended amounts of vitamin A and over 50% of the recommend requirements for vitamin C. It also is rich in carotenoids including beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and alpha-carotene which are plant pigments that give butternut squash its bright color. These compounds are provitamin A carotenoids, meaning your body converts them into retinal and retinoic acid, the active forms of vitamin A. Below is a list of the vitamins and minerals found in butternut squash and the benefits they provide.

 o   Vitamin A: is essential for regulating cell growth, eye health, bone health, and immune function.

o   Vitamin C: is needed for immune function, collagen synthesis, wound healing, and tissue repair. Both vitamins A and C work as potent antioxidants in your body, protecting your cells from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals.

o   Vitamin E: is another antioxidant in butternut squash that helps protect against free radical damage and may reduce your risk of age-related conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

o   B vitamins: including folate and B6 which your body needs for energy and red blood cell formation.

o   Magnesium, potassium, and manganese: all of which play important roles in bone health. For example, manganese acts as a co-factor in bone mineralization, the process of building bone tissue.

  For a great butternut squash soup recipe, click here. https://minimalistbaker.com/curried-butternut-squash-soup/

 Denise Boyd, BSc, Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RNH) with a specialization in Cognitive and Immune Support.