Given the season, you might be craving all things pumpkin. Allow us to steal your focus away from the mighty pumpkin and direct it toward butternut squash. Much like pumpkin, butternut squash has an orange flesh that is celebrated for not only its flavor, but also its nutritional benefits. 

Butternut Squash Nutrition

Even though butternut squash is typically available year round, it tends to be most abundant during fall. A lot of people consider it to be a vegetable, but it is technically a fruit, although it lends itself to both sweet and savory applications. It exhibits a slightly nutty and decadent flavor that beautifully absorbs warming spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric. The following nutrients are present in 100 grams (g) of raw butternut squash:

• Calories: 48
• Protein: 1.15 g
• Carbohydrates: 10.5 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Folate (vitamin B9): 55 micrograms (mcg)
• Magnesium: 15 milligrams (mg)
• Vitamin C: 7.6 mg
• Potassium: 329 mg
• Iron: 0.21 mg
• Manganese: 0.075 mg
• Calcium: 22 mg

Butternut squash is also a rich source of carotenoids, including beta-carotene, which are plant pigments that give it the vibrant orange color. Those compounds are provitamin A carotenoids, which the body converts to retinal and retinoic acid (the active forms of vitamin A). Vitamin A is necessary for cell growth, eye health, bone health, and optimal immune function. Continue reading to discover why you should add more butternut squash to your diet. 

May Lower The Risk Of Heart Disease

A 2016 study in 2,445 people demonstrated that the risk of heart disease lowered 23% for every additional serving of yellow or orange vegetables. Butternut squash contains antioxidants that have a positive impact on the heart. Although more research is necessary to better understand the relationship of butternut squash on heart health, the existing research is promising. Butternut squash also contains potassium, which helps lower blood pressure, enhance muscle strength, and aid overall heart function.

Helps You See Better

Thanks to the carotenoid content, butternut squash is one of the best foods for eye health. The body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A in the body, which works to promote healthier vision. Butternut squash also contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which are other carotenoid compounds. A review of several studies found that those carotenoids help minimize the damage from ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun and blue light exposure. Butternut squash also contains vitamin C, which works in conjunction with vitamin A to help prevent age-related vision issues, such as macular degeneration and cataracts. 

Supports Healthy Digestion

One cup of butternut squash provides nearly 10% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of fiber. The squash provides both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber moves slowly through the digestive system and forms a gel-like substance that helps feed healthy bacteria in the gut. Insoluble fiber helps the body process waste, improve overall gut health, and prevent constipation. Since fiber helps to fill you up, eating butternut squash may help stave off hunger cravings and aid weight loss efforts. Foods that are rich in fiber also help lower total cholesterol levels, improve blood sugar, and reduce the risk of heart disease. 

Benefits Immune Function

In case it isn’t evident by now, butternut squash is rich in beta-carotene, but that isn’t the only antioxidant it contains. Butternut squash is also rich in vitamins C and E, both of which lend a helping hand to the immune system. Researchers note that all of the antioxidants in butternut squash help fight free radical damage, support immune function, and encourage optimal cellular health. During cold and flu season, which tends to coincide with fall, you should eat more vitamin C-rich foods, such as butternut squash. 

May Benefit Diabetes Treatment And Prevention

The body converts the food you eat into energy as carbs that are broken down into sugar (glucose). Most people don’t typically monitor blood sugar levels on a regular basis. That isn’t the case for people with diabetes, and the CDC estimates that one in 10 Americans has type 2 diabetes. You can prevent the disease or eradicate the need for medication by making smarter, healthier lifestyle choices, such as eating a balanced diet. Butternut squash offers some anti-diabetic properties, according to some research. Although it contains carbohydrates, which get a bad rap, the other nutrients are of greater importance.

Vincent Stevens

Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.