The 411 on the fall fruit Pumpkin trivia: nutritional value, the
history of jack o' lanterns and more. Saturday, October 31, 2009
- 14:30 Q. Is there any nutritional value from eating pumpkin?
A. The bright orange color of pumpkin is a dead giveaway that it
is loaded with an important antioxidant: beta-carotene. Beta-
carotene is one of the plant carotenoids converted to vitamin A
in the body. In the conversion to vitamin A, beta carotene
performs many important functions in overall health. Research
has indicated that a diet rich in foods containing beta-carotene
may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and
protects against heart disease as well as some degenerative
aspects of aging. And, no, the pumpkin is not a vegetable; it's
a fruit. Q. Where does the practice of making Jack O' Lanterns
come from? A. This practice originated from an Irish myth about
a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to story, Stingy Jack
invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name,
Stingy Jack didn'