October traditionally has pumpkins galore, not just because it is a garden seasonal at the time, but also because in many places certain holidays celebrate using pumpkins - Thanksgiving and Halloween! 

Pumpkins are not just beautiful and delicious, but also have many health benefits. Here are a few perks of including pumpkins in your diet:

• Rich in Vitamin A - This is important because Vitamin A can help strengthen your immune system

• Rich in antioxidants including alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin - Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and as a result protect your cells. 

• Contains Vitamins C and E - These two vitamins function as antioxidants and also help fight free radicals that could damage your eyes

• Low Calorie, Nutrient Dense, Great Fiber Source - One of the best foods and snacks when you want to eat healthy. This amazing squash is a weight management dream because it has less carbohydrates than similar foods, is right in fiber, and is made up of 94% water.

These are just some of the benefits of pumpkins. This amazing fruit/vegetable (botanists consider it a fruit while culinary experts think more of it as a vegetable) is a great addition to your diet. Here is a simple recipe from Once Upon a Chef to try at home. Click on the picture to go directly to the page and see a step by step picture guide. 

Our bodies are in constant need of nutrients. Vitamins and minerals are constantly consumed by our body to help maintain this magnificent machine working. Some people diligently take a vitamin supplement while others rely on a cautiously laid out balanced diet to provide all the vitamins they need. Sometimes people do both.

Our skin also benefits from vitamin boosts. Yosep’s Vitamin Ampoule not only has our blend of Hydrating Plants Extract and Desensitizing Plants Extracts, it also has some very important vitamins that our skin needs to retain moisture, regenerate, and protect itself from environmental factors. 

Our Vitamin Ampoule has Vitamin B12, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E. These vitamins, applied directly to the skin, through this ampoule, provide a very important and usually much needed supplement.

• Vitamin B12: Reduces inflammation. Improves balance, texture and moisture retention in the skin.

• Vitamin A: Can regenerate UV damaged skin to some degree. It improves the natural functions of the skin and is especially suitable for the care of aging.

• Vitamin E: Contains antioxidant properties and protects against oxidative stress.

It is not the same to eat foods high in these vitamins than to apply skin products specifically made with these vitamins. That said, because we are focusing on these ingredients, we want to make sure you can include these in your diet as well, here are some helpful images that have foods high in Vitamins B12, A, and E. Because Vitamin B12 is usually found in meat proteins, we have also included an image with foods high in B12 specifically made for a vegetarian diet. Incorporating vitamins through food is a great way to stay healthy. As always, please consult your primary care physician before making any big changes to your diet.