October Pumpkin Treats - With Beta Glucan & Fiber Benefits!

It's pumpkin (pie) season!  Scroll down for 2 treat recipes :)

Pumpkin (and squash) is loaded with antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A, and beta-carotene - helping support cellular, skin & eye health...

The Beta Glucans in pumpkin are superstars:    

Immune Boosting Beta Glucans activate immune cells called macrophages, natural killer cells, and neutrophils - which help identify & destroy infectious microbes (bacteria, viruses, other pathogens) - boosting your immunity. (1)

Anti-inflammatory for Your Gut!  Beta Glucans help calm your gut's inflammatory immune response, and helps make more butyrate (& other SCFAs) for even more anti-inflammatory healing. (2)

Pumpkins have a lot of soluble fiber, which does 3 great things for you:

Prebiotic:  Soluble fibers feed your good gut microbes - especially Bifidobacteria & Lactobacilli sp.  These helpful bacteria make short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, which heals your gut lining & calms inflammation. (3)

Digestion:  Stay hydrated & your soluble fiber makes a gel that can aid digestion, support nutrient absorption and can ease constipation. (4)

Regulate Blood Sugar & Cholesterol:  Soluble fiber slows carb uptake, which calms blood sugar and insulin spikes after eating.  It can also stick to bile & cholesterol in the gut so it doesn't get re-absorbed. (5)

It's simple to experience the benefits of fiber & beta glucan with high-quality supplements - like Klaire Labs Ther-Biotic Biotagen Powder: 

Take 25% OFF these and all products TODAY at Fullscript.

NOTE:  I am not a medical doctor and do not share medical advice.  Always consult your physician when considering supplements.

You can also...

Enjoy your fiber & beta glucans in these delicious pumpkin treats! 

Both are free of sugar, gluten & dairy - perfectly suitable at breakfast time :) 

Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

4 eggs

1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree

1/2 15 oz. can coconut milk (fatty top half if possible)

2 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice - we use Simply Organic brand "Pumpkin Spice"

scant 1/2 teaspoon stevia glycerite

 1 gf, df, sugar free pie crust (see recipe my blog "Easy Cherry Berry Pie")

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º f.

2. Blend first 4 ingredients well, then pour into pie crust.

3. Bake 55 minutes, let cool & enjoy!

Egg-Free Pumpkin Squares

Ingredients: 

1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree

1/2 15 oz. can coconut milk (fatty top half)

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoons pumpkin pike spice (we use Simply Natural brand)

1/2 teaspoon stevia glycerite

1/4 teaspoon fine pink or sea salt

4 Tablespoons gelatin (we use Great Lakes brand)

Directions:

1. Blend well in high-speed blender.

2. Pour into bake-proof glass storage dish (without lid)

3. Bake 35 minute.

4. Cool, then chill in fridge for 2 hours or until set & inserted knife comes clean.

5. Cut in squares and enjoy! 

These travel well!  Perfect for fall pumpkin patch adventures :)

So, how will you begin to boost your immunity and build your gut health this fall?

Let me know - just hit reply :)

Happy Pumpkin Season!

Sources:

1. Camilli G, Tabouret G, Quintin J. The Complexity of Fungal β-Glucan in Health and Disease: Effects on the Mononuclear Phagocyte System. Front Immunol. 2018 Apr 16;9:673. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00673. PMID: 29755450; PMCID: PMC5932370
2. Bacha U, Nasir M, Iqbal S, Anjum AA. Nutraceutical, Anti-Inflammatory, and Immune Modulatory Effects of β-Glucan Isolated from Yeast. Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:8972678. doi: 10.1155/2017/8972678. Epub 2017 Aug 23. PMID: 28913359; PMCID: PMC5587958.
   
3. Liu G, Yu B, Li J, Zhang Z, Tao H, Zhao H, Lu Y, Yuan C, Li Q, Cui B. Short-Chain Fatty-Acid-Producing Micro-Organisms Regulate the Pancreatic FFA2-Akt/PI3K Signaling Pathway in a Diabetic Rat Model Affected by Pumpkin Oligosaccharides. Foods. 2023 Sep 25;12(19):3559. doi: 10.3390/foods12193559. PMID: 37835211; PMCID: PMC10572525.
4. Stachowska E, Maciejewska D, Palma J, Jamioł-Milc D, Szczuko M, Marlicz W, Wunsch E, Skonieczna-Żydecka K. Improvement of bowel movements among people with a sedentary lifestyle after prebiotic snack supply - preliminary study. Prz Gastroenterol. 2022;17(1):73-80. doi: 10.5114/pg.2021.108985. Epub 2021 Nov 1. PMID: 35371359; PMCID: PMC8942012.
5. Surampudi P, Enkhmaa B, Anuurad E, Berglund L. Lipid Lowering with Soluble Dietary Fiber. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2016 Dec;18(12):75. doi: 10.1007/s11883-016-0624-z. PMID: 27807734.