Which Pie is Best for Your Thanksgiving

Have you started prepping your Thanksgiving meal shopping list? There is one thing that all lists cannot go without…pie! With all the delicious choices available, which one will you choose? This holiday season, Let LivingBetter50 help all the women over 50 make food their superpower, not the enemy!

Foods have an incredible range of mind-body benefits! We are what we eat, and the chemical reactions that take place encourage us to be done or want more. Here are 3 pie options and the pros/cons of them for your waistline!

Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin is an amazingly nutritious food. A high density of nutrients and low-calorie count can help you lose weight! That is, of course, if you don’t pack your pie with too much sugar. It’s also loaded with many vitamins to help boost your immunity. Vitamin A, lutein, and zeaxanthin can improve the failing eyesight of us women over 50. Pumpkin is also known to promote skin health due to its high vitamin C content. If you’re looking for a nutritious dessert or counting calories, pumpkin pie is your best bet.

Pecan Pie

Pecans are a great source of calcium, potassium, and magnesium, all of which can help lower blood pressure. According to the ESC Congress 2019, they may also help prevent stroke and coronary artery disease due to their ability to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and improve HDL (good) cholesterol levels. They are also high in fiber, which promotes better elimination, regulates blood sugar, and is food for the gut microbiome, which as we know, is directly connected to mental health and wellbeing.

Like other nuts, pecans may improve cognitive function and memory. Another fun fact, the L-arginine amino acid found in abundance may even help promote hair growth. The high iron content can also help combat hair loss! If you’re feeling overall tense, angry, or in need of some winding down this Thanksgiving, the pecan pie may be your best choice from a mind-body perspective.

Sweet Potato Pie

Sweet potato in Ayurveda is considered a Rasayana, or rejuvenating food. It helps bolster energy and rejuvenate on a mind body and spirit level. When you look at their nutrient profile, this will probably come as no surprise. They are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber and have been linked with gut health and better mood (thank you microbiome food and the gut-brain connection), stronger immune response, improved brain health, and function, and so much more, including anti-cancer properties! If you’re stressed out, burned out, fatigued, or run down this Thanksgiving, the sweet potato pie is a pick-me-up not to pass over this holiday season.

While eating foods high in fat are showing some improved weight loss benefits. Be wary of the amounts of sugar used to make these pies a little sweeter.

LivingBetter50 is a magazine for women over 50, offering an over 50 magazine free download for women with spirit!