The fall brings some cozy and comforting treats, particularly those involving pumpkin flavors and spices. You’ve undoubtedly seen ads for pumpkin spice lattes (PSLs), in addition to pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin pies in stores. Now, we are in no way prepared to say that those items are beneficial to your health. What we can say is that pumpkin spice itself may not be as bad as you think.
Pumpkin spice blends typically contain cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves, all of which offer beneficial antioxidants and antimicrobial properties. Even pumpkins themselves provide lots of beta-carotene, fiber, and other vitamins and minerals that benefit overall health.
Is Pumpkin Spice Healthy?
Both cinnamon and nutmeg have the highest concentration of salicylic acid, which is an integral compound for reducing inflammation. Cinnamon has also proven to be effective at lowering blood sugar and LDL (bad) cholesterol and raising HDL (good) cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes. Ginger works to soothe nausea and has antibacterial properties. It has also proven effective at alleviating menstrual cramps and osteoarthritis pain.
Does Pumpkin Spice Benefit Mental Health?
We can agree that pumpkin spice is comforting during the fall. Many people feel warmed by the spice, but does the spice blend exhibit mental health benefits? In the United States, there is a recurring pumpkin spice theme during the fall. You can see it in coffee shops, grocery stores, and other establishments that anticipate the holidays. Some psychological experts believe that the anticipation of the holidays rekindles past experiences and builds community. There is even a link between smell and memories. For most people, pumpkin spice brings up warm and fond memories. There is no direct link between pumpkin spice and better mental health, but it is possible to evoke positive emotions.
Pumpkin Spice Recipes
We could not publish an article about pumpkin spice without including a few recipes. These are not your calorically dense PSLs; rather, they are healthier recipes that embrace the classic fall spice. We hope you enjoy them.
Pumpkin Spice Date Energy Balls
Have you been on the lookout for a healthy pumpkin spice treat? Well, you found it in these raw vegan date energy balls.
Click here to make the recipe.
Post Cleanse Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea
Is your post cleanse palate ready for this comforting tea? Delight in one of fall’s signature flavors by sipping pumpkin spice chai tea.
Click here to make the recipe.
Raw Vegan Pumpkin Spice Almond Milk
The warming flavors of fall have taken over! Whip up a batch of this homemade pumpkin spice almond milk and we promise you won’t regret it.
Click here to make the recipe.
Homemade Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte
Made in a matter of minutes using whole food ingredients and a blender, this vegan pumpkin spice latte is your new fall drink of choice!
Click here to make the recipe.
Keto And Vegan Pumpkin Spice No Bake Balls
Pumpkin spice no bake balls are softy, chewy, and will satisfy anybody’s sweet tooth. They are keto-approved and taste like pumpkin pie!
Click here to make the recipe.
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.
