When it comes to celebrating the beginning of fall, there are a few things that everybody looks forward to!
Apple picking, carving pumpkins, and making beautiful suncatchers out of the changing leaves are all at the top of our list, but there’s one rather new tradition that officially heralds the arrival of autumn: pumpkin spice flavors!
Whether you drink it in your latte or enjoy it in your morning bowl of granola, pumpkin spice is an incredibly popular flavor combo this time of year, and you can find it just about anywhere!
But, if you’re anything like us, you may have felt a slight frisson of guilt every time you tucked into a pumpkin-spicy treat, because surely something so delicious is also, well, kind of unhealthy, right?
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Well, actually it turns out that pumpkin spice is pretty darn healthy!
While drinking it with lots of cream and sugar might offset the benefits, the flavors themselves are actually chockfull of benefits that improve whole body health.
Scroll through the gallery below to see what you might be gaining from indulging in pumpkin spice this season!
What Is Pumpkin Spice?
So what, exactly, is pumpkin spice?
It's a flavor combination that first rose to popularity as a seasonal, limited-time offering for coffees, but the sweet combination has been around for decades in dishes like pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread.
The combination general combines pumpkin puree with nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
The spices may shift slightly depending on the recipe, and are usually also sweetened for a flavorful treat.
Still, it's not just your sweet tooth that will be thanking you for this indulgent flavor!
Pumpkin Spice Benefit #1: It Soothes Your Toothache
If you've ever had a toothache, you may have encountered a bit of folk wisdom for how to treat it: apply clove oil to the painful spot.
In fact, there's a scientific reason for that; cloves actually contain a lot of eugenol, a natural anesthetic.
Eugenol help to reduce pain, kill bacteria, and even reduce swelling or inflammation from a sore tooth, especially if you can't get an appointment at the dentist straight away.
Pumpkin Spice Benefit #2: Sore Muscles Melt Away
When you stock up on pumpkin spice, you're also stocking up on cinnamon!
And that's a good thing, because it's just packed with health benefits.
Chief among them? Cinnamon is an excellent anti-inflammatory, so it's great for easing muscle pain and stiffness throughout your body.
Pumpkin Spice Benefit #3: Your Eyesight Might Sharpen
Growing up, you probably heard more than once that carrots are good for your eyesight, but did you know that pumpkins are too?
As long as you're eating something with real pumpkin in it, like these delicious pumpkin ice cream sandwiches, you're reaping the benefits of the super-nutritious gourd!
Pumpkins, like carrots, get their orange hue from beta-carotene, which is famous for enhancing your eyesight.
Pumpkin Spice Benefit #4: It Could Be Hiding An Anti-Bacterial Super Power
Nutmeg, one of the many zippy ingredients that makes pumpkin spice so tasty, may have a major additional benefit, just not in the form we normal eat it in.
Nutmeg extract is a powerful anti-bacterial, which may have extensive uses for oral health, including preventing cavities.
Pumpkin Spice Benefit #5: Your Circulation Improves
Good circulation is key to maintaining good whole body health, because it makes sure that your whole body is receiving the oxygen it needs.
Getting plenty of ginger, a key part of the pumpkin spice blend, can work wonders for your circulatory system.
Ginger is a well-known anti-inflammatory and stimulant, which is great for blood flow.
As an added bonus, it also works well for nausea and stomach upset.
Pumpkin Spice Benefit #6: Blocked Sinuses Will Thank You
Autumn, beautiful as it is, is also the season for getting sick.
If you're suffering from a cold or stuffy nose, sipping on something hot and pumpkin-spicy might be just what the doctor order.
Not only is heat soothing to the system, the spices working in concert will help clear out your sinuses with their strong flavors and powerful anti-bacterial properties.
Pumpkin Spice Benefit #7: It’ll Keep You Energized
You don't have to enjoy pumpkin spice in your coffee to feel energized and peppy.
If you're looking to kick the caffeine habit, try switching for a tea or decaf beverage with pumpkin spice flavoring.
The powerful stimulating properties of spices like ginger and cloves will get your blood pumping and keep your mind alert, even without the caffeine!
Which of these pumpkin spice benefits are you the most excited for?
Let us know in the comments and don't forget to SHARE with anyone still feeling guilty over their occasional pumpkin spice splurge!
