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    Pumpkin Spice is a popular addition at coffee shops throughout America.

Getting Into Gardening

Pumpkin Spice is Everywhere!

I know that fall has arrived, not by the change in the weather, not by the change in my garden, and not even by the changing color of the leaves on the trees – which in my youth was the sign of autumn’s arrival. But years have gone by and times have changed, now I know it is fall because everywhere I turn, I find pumpkin spice products stretching as far as the eye can see.

For those who don’t know what pumpkin spice is, I have to ask, “Where have you been for the last ten years?” Pumpkin spice hit America like a tsunami about 15 years ago and has really taken hold. Pumpkin spice is a mix of the same things you use when baking a pumpkin pie; things like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger or clove. Somehow, when these ingredients are mixed they make a taste that feels like a warm-blanket feels.

Experts say pumpkin spice seasoning actually involves some “incredible chemistry” that can produce a nostalgic aroma as well as a comfortable feeling. That is most likely why so many of us hanker for anything with Pumpkin Spice in it as the weather cools.

You can order a pumpkin spice latte just about any way you want it, with skim milk, soy milk, almond milk, the choices are endless. You can order it iced or extra hot. You can order it with whipped cream or without. But no matter how you order it, each cup also comes served up with a heaping dose of feel-good nostalgia.

“It’s really the smell, not the flavor that most people love,” offered my friend Linda Culpepper of Dripping Springs. “I always buy at least one pumpkin spice latte at the beginning of the autumn weather. Then, as I drink it I remember that I don’t like the super sweet taste as much as the wonderful aroma.”

The pumpkin-spiced craze is about 15 years old and has seen an acceleration in popularity since its earliest days. In 2003, Starbucks introduced their now famous pumpkin spice latte, “Nobody knew back then what it would grow to be,” said Peter Dukes, the Starbucks product manager who led the development of the pumpkin spice latte, in a statement before the 2017 pumpkin spice latte return. “It’s taken on a life of its own.”

Before the coffeehouse conglomerate introduced their famous fall concoction, the seasonal scent was primarily used for candles and home fragrances. Now, however, pumpkin spice flavorings are in almost every type of food you could imagine, from Cheerios to Oreos, crackers, pancake mixes, powdered drink mixes, and protein bars to dog treats! If you think this pumpkin spiced insanity is a prime example of marketing done right, well, there’s also some science to explain why we’re all lining up around the corner the day Starbucks drops their first cup of pumpkin spice latte.

“Spices alone do not create the ‘pumpkin spice latte’ magic,” said Dr. Kantha Shelke, a food science communicator with the Institute of Food Technologists, “The almost addictive taste and aroma develops only when these spices are cooked or baked with pumpkin, cream, butter, and sugar. It is this flavor combination that companies have replicated in the popular pumpkin spice latte using extracts and flavors.

Companies know people pay for comfort and nostalgia in food, and they’re more than happy to deliver it in the form of pumpkin spiced goods. “The human brain is adept at identifying aromas quickly in terms of when they were last encountered. In American culture, the aroma of a baking pumpkin pie immediately transports people to all the warm and friendly times associated with pumpkin pie — holiday gatherings, families, celebrations, treats, sweets, things that childhood memories are made of,” Shelke explained.

Kristen Hovet, a Vancouver-based science journalist, said the addictive nature of pumpkin spice also goes to a biological reaction we have when we eat these foods, “The pumpkin spice ingredients all have warming properties and increase circulation,” Hovet explains, “this is perfect for cooler or cold weather, when our circulation slows down. A reduced flow of oxygen can make you feel tired and lethargic, but after having a pumpkin spice latte or another pumpkin-spice flavored food or beverage, our blood vessels expand and we feel warmer and more energized.”

I believe it’s this pleasure sensation, as well as the memories the flavors evoke, that have us reaching for every pumpkin-spiced food we can find. The warmth of the mixture is an ideal comfort during cooler weather, too. That, and the fact that sometimes these foods really are just plain tasty! But you know what? There really are some health benefits to Pumpkin Spice that we can all enjoy, too.

If you don’t have the five bucks to offer the green apron-clad baristas, that’s OK. I have a few ideas for enjoying the benefits of the spices without shelling out major cash. For example, I love sprinkling pumpkin spice into my oatmeal on cold mornings or making pumpkin spice cookies.

According to a study done by the Journal of Medical Foods, pumpkin spice’s mix of components offers more medicinal benefits combined and working synergistically, than theses very potent spices provide individually. A quick look at some health benefits of pumpkin spice ingredients reveals:

Cinnamon - Cinnamon has a history of being used to spice up both food and medicine. It keeps the body healthy and strong. It possesses anti-clotting agents, plus it has a measurably positive effect on the blood and in and some circumstances can be used to prevent unwanted clumping of blood platelets. It also helps lower cholesterol, so arteries remain healthy, and can even aid in managing blood sugar levels.

Ginger - Ginger is a natural remedy for nausea and is used to help improve the absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients in the body, not to mention that it is often used as an anti-inflammatory agent. According to some research, ginger also has some cancer preventative measures, similar to chemotherapy!

Nutmeg – While it aids in digestion, nutmeg also has the added benefit as a sleep aid, reducing the effects of insomnia. One positive health benefit is that it processes the oils, myristicin and macelignan, which have been proven to reduce the degeneration of neural pathways and cognitive function in the brain; something that usually afflicts those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Allspice – Not a combination of spices, Allspice originates from an evergreen in Central America and the Caribbean islands that ironically smells like a combination of black pepper, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. Traditionally this spice was used to treat and prevent infections. It can also help with colds, chills, and bronchitis, as it aids in opening the airways and inhibits the over-production of mucus. While holding some digestive benefits, as well as a mild pain reliever, allspice has in some cases exhibited antioxidant properties and helped in fighting depression.

So yes, buried beneath the deluge of lattes, limited-edition snack foods and baked goods, the autumn spice blend known as “pumpkin spice” has a nutritious foundation. And while it’s wise — for the sake of our waistlines — to back off on those pumpkin spice Frappuccino’s (400 – 650 calories per 16oz serving – ouch!), ‘tis the season to take advantage of the health benefits of this ever-popular fall flavor combination. So, go for it!

Wimberley View

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Wimberley, TX 78676
Phone: 512-847-2202
Fax: 512-847-9054