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It’s Official! Pumpkin Spice Lattes Help Your Liver
Discover the 3 key ingredients in a pumpkin spice latte, a classic autumn treat, which all provide amazing ways to support the health of your liver. We also share a healthy pumpkin spice latte recipe that you can make yourself (you’ll save money and calories!).
Raise your pumpkin spice latte high and do it shame-free, because it turns out the key ingredients in this classic autumn treat are all great ways to support the health of your liver.
The 3 key ingredients in this case are, of course:
- pumpkin
- nutmeg
- coffee
Each of them has a role to play in supporting your liver health.
Pumpkin Supports Your Liver
In the past we’ve covered the benefits of pumpkin seeds, but the flesh of the pumpkin is also an amazing source of many vitamins and minerals that support your liver.
Pumpkin is extremely rich in beta-carotene and antioxidants, both linked to a decreased risk for liver disease. Pumpkin is also rich in Vitamin K, which also lowers your risk for liver cancer.
Of course, for best results you’ll want a pumpkin puree low in sodium and sugar, so be sure to read labels. You can also place a small, cleaned out pumpkin in the microwave for six minutes to get a wholly natural puree.
Nutmeg: The Spice in the Pumpkin Spice
The perfect fall flavor.
A recent study indicates nutmeg restores lipids and other compounds which help to protect against liver damage. It’s also full of a compound called myrislignan, which offers your liver additional protection.
So if you love nutmeg, load up! You can have yours guilt-free.
Coffee for Liver Health
We’ve covered coffee’s positive benefits here on our blog before. It helps slow the advance of progressive liver disease. It’s also a preventative for cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Caveat: Skip the Coffee Shop
Most coffee shops load their coffee drinks up with so much sugar and whipped cream that one drink carries a calorie count larger than some meals. And since avoiding sugar, or at least cutting way down on it, is a staple of a smart liver support diet, you’re going to need an alternative way to enjoy fall’s favorite drink.
Fortunately, we’ve got you covered. Save money and calories by making your own Pumpkin Spice Latte. Now that’s a treat.
http://www.emedmd.com/content/liver-disease-prevention-carotenoids, "Liver Disease Prevention with Carotenoids," eMedMD.com, accessed September 10, 2018.
https://greatist.com/health/superfood-pumpkin, "Superfood: Pumpkin," Covington, C. Greatist, September 25, 2013, accessed September 10, 2018.
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/presspacs/2018/acs-presspac-may-9-2018/nutmegs-hidden-power-helping-the-liver.html, "Nutmeg's Hidden Power: Helping the Liver." The American Chemical Society, Journal of Proteome Research, May 9, 2018, accessed September 10, 2018.
About the Author
Stephen Holt, M.D. is a Distinguished Professor of Medicine NYCPM (Emerite) and a medical practitioner in New York State. He has published many peer-review papers in medicine and he is a best-selling author with more than twenty books in national and international distribution. He has received many awards for teaching and research. Dr. Holt is a frequent lecturer at scientific meetings and healthcare facilities throughout the world. He is a best selling author and the founder of the Holt Institute of Medicine.
