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Newsletter From Dr. Jared Hanson ND, LAc

The Nutritional Blessings of Thanksgiving

It is our national duty to stuff ourselves silly on Thanksgiving. Many of our signature holiday flavors, however, happen to be incredibly good for you. It’s a shame that many of us only eat them once or twice a year.

Pumpkin

The flesh of the pumpkin, like most naturally orange or red fruits and vegetables, is high in carotenoids, a family of powerful anti-oxidants. It is a boon to the gastrointestinal system, offering relief for gas, bloating and flatulence, as well as burning and acidity. In scientific studies the flesh has been shown to protect the lining of your gastrointestinal tract from the erosive effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and to prevent ulcers. It is also known to relieve hot flashes. Pumpkin flesh can benefit those with gastritis, peptic ulcers or ulcerative colitis.

Pumpkin seeds are a nutritional powerhouse. They are an excellent source of zinc, as well as a good source of other nutrients such as iron and unsaturated fatty acids. If you have white spots on your fingernails, you’re zinc deficient and should be eating more pumpkin seeds. Chew them well to maximize absorption. They are used as a separate herbal medicine with distinct indications. Pumpkin seeds are particularly a male tonic, improving prostate problems such as benign prostatic hypertrophy as well as increasing sperm count and motility.

Pumpkin seeds are also traditionally used to eliminate parasites and form the basis for many contemporary parasite cleanses.

Cranberry

Cranberries contain high amounts of beneficial flavonoids and polyphenols, making them one our most potent dietary anti-oxidants. This anti-oxidant property means cranberries can be an effective tool in preventing our two biggest killers, heart disease and cancer, both of which are related to oxidative stress and inflammation.

Cranberry is most well-known for its ability to fight urinary tract infections. It does this by preventing the bacteria from adhering to the bladder cell walls. Drinking cranberry juice has been shown to be an effective preventative measure both in treating symptomatic UTIs and in preventing their recurrence. Here’s an interesting comparison: in one study involving female college students, women who consumed cranberry juice had half the occurrence of UTIs while women who consumed soda regularly were five times as likely to suffer from a UTI. We can only imagine that drinking cranberry juice and avoiding soda and other forms of simple sugars would lead to even better results.

The ability of cranberries to prevent bacteria from adhering to cell walls has been shown to be true in other parts of the body as well. It can help treat ulcers, which are associated with the bacteria H. pylori, and cranberry even makes an effective mouthwash by preventing the accumulation of oral bacteria.

Turkey

Turkey, as many of us have heard, is a good source of tryptophan, the least abundant amino acid in our foods. Other good sources are cottage cheese and liver (oats and avocados for we vegans out there).

Tryptophan is a necessary precursor to making melatonin and serotonin, two important biochemicals related to mood and hormonal function. While skeptics may say it’s our own gluttony rather than the tryptophan that makes us pass out after Thanksgiving dinner, tryptophan has in fact been used very effectively in cases of insomnia. Tryptophan has also been used successfully to treat depression and other mental disorders such as schizophrenia, anorexia, bulimia, mania, psychosis, and suicidal tendencies.

Tryptophan supplements have made a comeback. Despite the fact that tryptophan is an amino acid necessary to human life, tryptophan was banned in the late ‘80s after certain imported products were found to be contaminated. (At about the same time Prozac hit the market. Coincidence?) These restrictions were loosened in 2001 and domestic tryptophan is available again, if you’ve had enough turkey.