![]() ![]() Polyphenols: increase by up to 45% with any cooking method.Vitamin C: decreases by up to 50% with any cooking method.Beta-carotene: increases by up to 30% when boiled and decreases by up to 20% when steamed or microwaved. ![]() While we didn’t find any studies on acorn squash specifically, research in similar vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, shows how some nutrients are affected by cooking ( 14, 15): Does cooking impact the nutrition of acorn squash?Ĭooking can increase or decrease certain vitamins and minerals in acorn squash, depending on the method used. + Contains carotenoids, but not as much as other winter squashes. There is no official recommendation for carotenoid intake, but some experts suggest getting at least 4 mg of beta-carotene, 0.6 mg of alpha-carotene, and 3.3 mg of lutein daily for general health and reduced risk of lung cancer ( 13). On the other hand, acorn squash provides a small amount of lutein & zeaxanthin (0.053 mg), while sweet potatoes and butternut squash don’t contain any. Like most winter squash, acorn squash is a rich source of carotenoids, a group of plant pigments that give vegetables their bright red, orange, and yellow colors.Ĭarotenoids have strong antioxidant properties, meaning that they help protect against free radicals - compounds that have been linked to diabetes, heart disease, and cancer ( 7, 8).Ī one-cup (140-gram) portion of raw acorn squash contains the following carotenoids ( 9):Īcorn squash contains less beta-carotene but more lutein and zeaxanthin than similar vegetables, such as sweet potatoes and butternut squash ( 10, 11, 12).įor example, raw butternut squash contains almost 20 times more beta-carotene per cup than acorn squash (5.9 mg vs 0.3 mg, respectively.) + Good source of vitamins B2 (niacin) and B9 (folate) and the minerals potassium and iron. + Excellent source of vitamins B1 (thiamin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6, and C and the minerals manganese, magnesium, and copper.
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