How pumpkins can ease you into winter.

Well girls, as the weather and the abundance of 'basic' jokes have reminded us, it's officially the season of the pumpkin-spiced latte. Love it or loathe it, there's a lot to be said for the health benefits of the enormous orange fruit.

Here are just a few reasons you should think about including it in your diet:

Skin
Pumpkin is a fantastic source of vitamin A and what's vitamin A good for? Your skin! With the changing weather, our skin can really suffer at this time of year so anything that keeps it in good condition is good with us!

Weight
Pumpkin is full of fibre and fibre-rich food keeps you feeling fuller for longer. If you're currently watching your weight, then be sure to introduce some pumpkin into your diet. At 40 calories a handful, you really can't go wrong.

Mood-booster
Pumpkin seeds can actually boost your mood! The evenings are getting darker, the mornings are getting a little more miserable and that chill in bed at night is definitely not your imagination; it's no wonder that a lot of us need a mood booster around this time of year. Pumpkin seeds are rich in an amino acid called tryptophan, which is important in the production of serotonin. Serotonin levels dictate your mood. Something to think about!

Detoxification
Pumpkin juice is very useful for flushing toxins from the body so it's often recommended as a detoxifying food. Drinking water throughout the day and including pumpkin juice in your diet will increase urine content, thereby helping you to maintain a healthy urinary system.

Immune-booster
If you haven't already caught a cold, then you need to keep it that way! Pumpkins are full of immune-boosting vitamins that will help keep you in tip-top shape this autumn and winter. Incorporate it into your diet to keep sniffles and tissues at bay.

Less carving, more eating!