Nutrition Tip: Winter Squash Makes Good Carbohydrates & Unique Anti-Inflammatory Starches

Roasted Pumpkin

About 90% of the winter squash's total calories comes from carbohydrates, and according to The World's Healthiest Foods, a site I love, about half of those carbohydrates are starchy, although not all starch is the same. Here's what WHF says about this:

Many of the carbs in winter starch come from polysaccharides found in the cell walls. These polysaccharides include pectins—specially structured polysaccharides that in winter squash often include special chains of D-galacturonic acid called homogalacturonan. An increasing number of animal studies now show that these starch-related components in winter squash have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, as well as anti-diabetic and insulin-regulating properties.

When I started the GAPS diet, which in the beginning eliminates all grains, I had some problems regulating my blood sugar. Holistic Nutritionist Brooke Kaufman advised me to add roasted, winter squash to my diet (for GAPS roast without any oil). This immediately helped and has become a beloved staple ever since. You can do a lot with squash from baking to roasting, to saving and roasting the seeds. Brilliant.