Like all members of the gourd family (which includes pumpkin, melon, and cucumber), butternut squash is technically a fruit because it contains seeds. Squash's tangerine hue, however, indicates butternut's most noteworthy health perk. The color signals an abundance of powerhouse nutrients known as carotenoids, shown to protect against heart disease. In particular, the gourd boasts very high levels of beta-carotene (which your body automatically converts to vitamin A), identified as a deterrent against breast cancer and age-related macular degeneration, as well as a supporter of healthy lung development in fetuses and newborns. What's more, with only a 1-cup serving, you get nearly half the recommended daily dose of antioxidant-rich vitamin C. (courtesy of wholeliving.com)My favorite ways to eat them:
Butternut Squash Soup
Macaroni and Cheese with Butternut Squash
Lasagna with Butternut Squash and Sage
Cranberry Bean Salad with Butternut Squash and Bacon (mmm...bacon)
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