Pumpkinpalooza - 30+ Low Carb, Sweet and Savory Pumpkin Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is pumpkin ok for a low carb diet? ›

Pumpkins keep for a long time when stored in a cool place. Pumpkin isn't just a delicious thing to eat, they're also relatively low in carbs (4-12 grams per 100 grams). This makes pumpkin a great seasonal low-carb alternative to starchier sides like rice, potato and pasta.

Yes, you can have some pumpkin on a keto diet as pumpkin contains only 7 grams of net carbs per 100 grams. As an element of comparison, broccoli, a popular keto vegetable, contains 6 grams of net carbs per 100 grams. If you keep the intake of pumpkin low enough to fit your daily macro, you will stay in ketosis.

One cup of cooked pumpkin contains 10.6 total carbs [*]. How many net carbs in pumpkin? Since it also has fiber, pumpkin net carbs are just 7.9 grams. Even if that's on a higher side for your macros, this number is quite low because eating an entire cup of pumpkin in one setting is unlikely.

It's carbs where the difference lies. Potatoes have the most carbs at 20 grams per 100 gram serving. Sweet potato has 17-18 grams, and pumpkin has just shy of five, which is why it's so low-calorie.

Pumpkin is low in calories and high in fiber, which may help with weight loss. Fiber can help you feel full, reduce appetite and food intake, encourage regular bowel movements, reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and improve mineral absorption in the gut, all of which may benefit weight management.

Pumpkin contains compounds such as pectin and fiber that slow down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream, which can help regulate blood sugar levels and prevent insulin spikes. Additionally, pumpkin is a low-glycemic index food, meaning it has a minimal impact on blood sugar levels.

On the keto diet, you are allowed to have no more than 50 grams of net carbs per day – and the fewer, the better! But by focusing on “net” rather than “total” carbs, you won't be denying your body the essential fiber it needs for proper function.

- Starchy Vegetables: Potatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, yams, corn, cassava, artichoke, etc. - Refined Carbs: Bread, pasta, pastries, tortilla, sandwich, etc. Due to the high-carb content of these food items, they are not keto-friendly.

Pureed, baked or roasted pumpkin is a nutrient-dense food that is low in calories and fat while being high in fiber, helping you feel full for longer.

There are 12 grams of carbohydrates in one cup of pumpkin. Some of that carbohydrate is fiber (2.7 grams) and some is naturally occurring sugars (5.1 grams). The remaining carbohydrate is starch.

Can I eat pumpkin every day? ›

It is safe and healthy to eat pumpkin every day, but Campbell suggests sticking to only one serving per day—about half a cup of canned pumpkin and one cup of raw pumpkin – for a couple reasons. “Although pumpkins are great for you, they do contain a good amount of fiber,” says Menshulam.

Fast-acting carbs: Glucose tablets, glucose drinks, full-sugar soft drinks or squashes, jellies (not diet), sweets. Medium-acting carbs: Bread, pasta, potatoes, yams, breakfast cereal, couscous. Slow-acting carbs: Pearl barley, peas, beans, lentils, sweetcorn, pumpkin.

Pumpkin ranks high on the glycemic index at 75, but low on the glycemic load at 3. People might assume that it is bad for diabetics because of its high GI, but that is not true. Its low GL rank indicates that having a small portion of pumpkin is perfectly safe and will not drastically increase your blood sugar levels.

Other than offering complex carbohydrates, pumpkin offers the antioxidant beta-carotene, an important antioxidant for your vision and skin. One cup of plain pumpkin purée also provides essential nutrients like fiber, vitamin A, potassium and non-heme iron.