You were probably just about to toss them out, weren’t you? Well, if the fairy godmother can turn Cinderella’s pumpkin into a carriage, we can certainly repurpose your pumpkin guts to create something that benefits both you AND the planet.
This post will not only cover the benefits of pumpkins, but will offer sustainable and eco friendly practices to improve hair wellness and reduce landfill waste. So… are you ready? Let’s get straight into it!
Your Pumpkin Guts Don’t Belong In Our Landfills
Did you know that each year over 80% of Halloween pumpkins are thrown away, according to this blog post by Boreal’s. It’s estimated that our farmers produce about 2 billion pumpkins each year, yet the majority end up in our landfills.
Crazy, right?!
Landfills don’t get nearly enough oxygen to break down organic materials properly. So, as those pumpkin guts start to decompose, methane (a greenhouse gas) is produced.
Additionally, toxic chemicals are easily released into the air, the ground, and into our water sources surrounding these landfills. That means increased pollution levels all around us. Our waste is literally costing us the natural beauty of the planet.
But fear not! Read onto the next section so I can tell you how pumpkin guts are just so beneficial to us.
The Benefits Of Pumpkins
Believe it or not, pumpkins are not just for carving, painting, smashing or general fall decor. They’re actually considered a superfood, making them an essential part of a healthy hair diet!
Why?
Well, because they are jam packed with nutrients from their roots all the way up to their stems. And that’s reason enough to figure out how to repurpose them once autumn leaves us for the year. Check out a few of my fave benefits below:
1. Helps With Eye Health
Beta carotene is the reason for pumpkins orange color. But our bodies use it as fuel for vision health, converting it into necessary antioxidants like vitamin A.
This is especially important being that many of us spend a big part of our day looking at screens (tv’s, tablets, computers, and phones). Not to mention those especially bright headlights… Or is it just me that thinks so?
2. Promotes Hair Health
Over production of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, is a common cause for hair loss, thinning, alopecia, and male-patterned baldness. However, pumpkin seeds are said to contain beta-sitosterol which blocks the enzyme that produces DHT.
Now what does this mean for you? It means if you’ve been on your personal hair wellness journey, eat some pumpkin seeds. And get ready for longer, stronger, healthier hair!
3. Pumpkin Guts Improve Gut Health
That’s right, they’re a great source of fiber and protein, helping to move things along your digestive tract which improves regularity. This can also help with weight management and even weight loss.
4. Supports Heart Health
Regulating your heartbeat and keeping your blood pressure and sugar low is important to your journey. Between the potassium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc, pumpkins hold quite some power that can reduce your risk of chronic diseases.
5. Reduces Inflammation, Builds Healthy Bones
Whether you’re a hair stylist like myself, or your job just requires a decent amount of physical labor, you may experience pain or swelling in your joints. This is especially true if you suffer from inflammatory symptoms like asthma, arthritis, or carpal tunnel.
That being said, preventing bone deterioration is equally just as important. Thanks to these fruits of fall, you can face these aches head on!
6. Reverses Skin Damage
Pumpkins contain AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) which promote collagen and cell turnover to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. They also are a good source of vitamin C, which brightens and evens skin tone, while improving elasticity.
They also have natural enzymes to gently exfoliate and protect against free radicals and air pollutants.
So Now, What To Do With Those Pumpkin Guts?
I don’t know about you, but the above benefits alone were enough for me to look into ways of repurposing my pumpkins after spooky season was over. Here’s some sustainable and eco-friendly practices to help you promote hair health & wellness while reinvesting into our communities and our planet:
Make A Hair Mask
What’s a hair wellness journey without a hair mask?
I saw this one during my search. And all you need is 3 ingredients:
- 1 cup puréed pumpkin guts
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons honey ( I use a local raw honey for extra benefits).
Mix it all together and apply to clean, slightly damp hair. Comb through and cover with a shower cap. Let it sit for at least 20 minutes before rinsing and washing.
If you really want to get creative, add a 4-5 drops of cinnamon essential oil– which will help to strengthen the hair root, stimulate growth, prevent scalp infections and treat dandruff.
Whip Up A Face Mask or Body Scrub
We all could use a little bit of self care every now and again to fill our cup, so that we can better serve others.
So sit back and relax with a glass of wine, plus a 5-10 minute DIY pumpkin face mask. Or use a luxurious body scrub in the shower to transport your senses on a mini vacay.
Interested? Check out some DIY recipes here.
Roast The Pumpkin Seeds
Once you’ve removed and cleaned the seeds from the pumpkin guts, you can roast the seeds with a little bit of olive oil and some seasonings. These seeds are powerhouses when it comes to preventing hormonal imbalances, supporting your immune system, regulating your mood, and improving sleep quality. All are key aspects of a successful hair wellness journey.
Pumpkin Guts Make For Savory Recipes
Using a food processor or a blender, you can purée those pumpkin guts, canning them for use at a later date or right now.
Your homemade pumpkin purée is far better than the store bought canned stuff. Plus, you can make some slammin’ baked goods, like pies, or soups and broths.
Plant Your Seeds
If you’re at a point along your hair wellness journey where you’d like to start your own beauty garden, save a handful of seeds to plant early next summer (usually June or July, depending on your gardening zone, of course).
Then, you can use the shell of the pumpkin as planters to hold your mums or as a make shift bird feeder- which makes for a cute garden feature. It’s a unique way of ‘planting the seeds for healthy hair‘.
And what about the pumpkin guts? I’m glad you asked, scroll down.
Take Care of Our Critter Friends
Leave it for the wild life! I mentioned above that you can use the pumpkin shell as a bird feeder (make sure to scrape off any paint, if the shell had been painted).
But you can also use the pumpkin guts to give food to the other critters on your area, like deer, squirrels, chipmunks. Of course this is based off of where you’re located.
Just be sure to toss your pumpkin guts a good ways from your house. You don’t want any unwanted visitors hanging out by your doorstep.
Do you have fur babies at home? Pumpkin is a perfect, healthy treat for cats or dogs- in moderation, of course.
Donate To Local Farmers
Farmers spend thousands on feed for their animals that they raise to provide food for the community. So why not give back? It’s part of what makes this hair wellness journey so special.
Check in with any local farmers in your area to see if they’ll take your pumpkins as donations. Whether they use it for feed or compost, your pumpkin guts will not go to waste!
Compost The Pumpkin Guts Yourself
Not feelin’ any of these ideas or just don’t have the time to dedicate to it? No worries.
Compost the pumpkins yourself right in your backyard. Chop it up into smaller chunks to help speed up the process. And then bury them in the ground. Your pumpkin- and its guts- will deliver nutrients to the soil and make Mother Nature rejoice.
Are you convinced, yet?
Pumpkins are a beneficial superfruit that should not go to waste or take up unnecessary space in our landfills by the millions. At the same time, you can successfully gain traction in your hair wellness journey through a variety of wellness practices that promote positivity and balance within yourself, nature, and the surrounding community.
Sooo… how ’bout it? Let me know in the comments below which way you plan on repurposing your pumpkins!