Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog on September 1, 2026
Pumpkin spice season is here and I couldn’t be more pleased. When the mornings start cool nothing hits the spot like that first hot pumpkin spice coffee to begin a hectic day. Throw in some pumpkin spice donuts, pumpkin spice cereal, pumpkin pie, pumpkin rolls, okay you get the point and this is starting to sound like Bubba and Forrest Gump talking about all of the things that they could do with shrimp. I am sure I just dated myself too.
It can be. We’re not saying it’s OK to chug a pumpkin spice latte every day or make a pumpkin spice doughnut a part of your morning breakfast routine, though.
Many of the food and drink items that contain pumpkin spice also tend to have added sugar and are high in calories (we’re looking at you, pumpkin pie jelly beans and pumpkin spice sandwich cookies). For example, a large pumpkin spice latte comes in around 400 calories and has more than 60 grams of sugar. Yikes!
But when you smartly use the pumpkin spice mixture that you find in your spice drawer (for example, sprinkled on top of your coffee or overnight oats), you may reap certain benefits like a reduction in inflammation and cholesterol.
The popular spice — which is made from the bark of a cinnamon tree — contains vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc, calcium, chromium, manganese and magnesium.
Cinnamon also boasts anti-inflammatory properties (thanks to the antioxidant compound called cinnamaldehyde), and may help reduce blood sugar levels and even help reduce cholesterol.
“Research on cinnamon shows that it may reduce inflammation due to its high levels of salicylic acid and also can help with reducing levels of bad cholesterol and increasing good cholesterol,” says Zumpano.
When it comes to ginger, the spice can aid in joint pain, improve blood sugar regulation and may help lower cholesterol.
Ginger — which has been used in Eastern medicine since the 9th century — may be known mostly for its ability to help with your gut health.
“Ginger can help with nausea, vomiting and constipation. It helps settle an upset stomach,” adds Zumpano. “It also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that protect you from oxidative stress and damage.”
You may turn to nutmeg to add a little nutty flavor to your recipes, but your health may also benefit from it (there are claims that it may boost your libido).
But it may take us some time to fully understand how nutmeg benefits us — many of the studies were conducted on animals, explains Zumpano, who says that more research is needed.
What we do know? Research shows that like many of the other spices in pumpkin spice, nutmeg contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds.
“Nutmeg adds a great nutty flavor to pumpkin spice, which makes it appealing for sweet and savory dishes,” notes Zumpano.
Have a toothache? You may have heard that clove oil can help soothe toothaches and prevent gum disease. In fact, the popular herb has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine.
But it’s important to note that while some scientific studies have been done, the results have been mixed. And there’s a caveat — most of the studies use clove oil versus ground clove (which is found in pumpkin spice).
“Cloves can have a strong flavor, but in pumpkin spice, its punch is neutralized well by the other spices,” explains Zumpano. “For a more subtle taste, use cloves whole.”
All of this being said overindulging in your favorite spice can include extra calories, salt intake and other not so good health issues. Some people are even allergic to it, typically not the spice mixture but a combination of the spices together.
For more seasonal related content keep an eye on Make Food Safe.