Many consider it food of the gods. Previously, pumpkin recognized as a food product, then gradually excluded from the diet. Meanwhile the vegetable is useful in its vitamins and trace elementsthat are needed for the normal operation of the human body. In this review we will talk about the beneficial properties and contraindications of pumpkin for the human body.
Table of contents
Description and characteristics of pumpkin as a vegetable
Everyone knows that pumpkin is eaten since ancient times. America is considered the birthplace of the vegetable; it came to our country in the sixteenth century, caught on quickly, with no special requirements for care and climate, it bore excellent fruit and remained for a long time.
Pumpkin pulp is considered light food, as it does not entail strong stomach excretion of juice and benefits people suffering from high acidity.
Today, many gardeners grow this vegetable in their plots. There are even countries that cultivate this vegetable on an industrial scale, including Russia, Asia, the CIS countries, Africa, and America.
Beneficial features
The pulp of this vegetable contains a huge amount of iron. In addition, it can detect carotene, which helps the body to develop and is recommended by doctors for vision problems.
In addition, the pumpkin contains:
- Vitamin C - strengthens the immune system, helps with colds, prevents many diseases;
- Vitamin B and E;
- nicotinic acid;
- starch;
- trace elements;
- sugar;
- cellulose;
- pectin;
- calcium;
- enzymes and proteins.
The presence of pectin pumpkin removes excess cholesterol from the body, slags and toxins, prevents the development of atherosclerosis.
Vegetables are diuretics, as it contains a large amount of water and potassium salts, which contributes to the dissolution of stones in the kidneys and bladder.
Raw pumpkin is recommended for constipation. with renal failure, inflammation of the bladder. Vegetable is useful for aspiring to lose weight, as it perfectly removes slag accumulations, stabilizes material exchange, is a low-calorie product (22 kcal per 100 grams).
It is in the pumpkin contains a rare but very useful vitamin T, which is responsible for the formation of platelets and blood clotting.
We should also talk about the benefits of pumpkin seeds. They contain a lot of vitamins, minerals and trace elements.Many have heard that the seeds help get rid of worms. In addition, seeds are an excellent tool for the prophylaxis of prostatitis, kidney and liver disease. It is from the seeds that oil is made that is considered useful for tuberculosis and diarrhea.
Has found its application in cosmetology. It is used to make shampoos, balms, soaps, lotions, creams and masks, which help in rejuvenating the skin of the face.
Many people believe that pumpkin improves tone, gives strength, relieves insomnia and nervous system disorders.
Harm and contraindications for use
The acids contained in the seeds harm the enamel coating of the teeth, so after using them, rinse the mouth with water.
Use in traditional medicine
Taking two gelatin capsules and five hundred milligrams of pumpkin extract in dry form along with food, you can treat constipation, improve the function of the prostate gland, stabilize urination.With the same purpose, you can drink one and a half hundred drops of alcohol tincture of seeds added to a glass of water every day.
The following recipes are available for the treatment of prostate adenoma:
- one hundred - one hundred fifty drops alcohol infusion a glass of water daily;
- up to ten seeds need to chew and eat every day.
Use during pregnancy and lactation
It should be said that the pumpkin is useful for pregnant women. It is recommended to use it in the second week, so that the fetus develops normally.
If a nursing mother has iron deficiency anemia, then she should eat several pumpkin slices raw each day.
Pumpkin puree it is already allowed to give to the six-month-old baby in the form of complementary foods.
Pumpkin Recipes
Millet porridge with pumpkin pulp
Vegetable must be peeled, cut, pour hot milk, cook until softened. Millet is washed, poured into a saucepan with pumpkin puree, add sugar, salt, boil for another fifteen minutes. After that, the porridge is sent to the oven for about thirty minutes;
Rice porrige
It is an excellent breakfast not only for adults, but also for children. It will take three hundred grams of pumpkin, seven tablespoons of rice, water, salt and sugar. Rice before use should be soaked overnight. The vegetable is cut into pieces, put into the pan and filled with water. Rice is added, everything is cooked for about twenty minutes on medium heat. After letting it cool, they all beat in a blender. You can add some milk or water. Then the pan is put on the fire again, sugar is added, and the porridge is salted. It should be heated, stirring constantly with a spoon.
Juices
№ 1. Peeled vegetable puree is passed through a juicer, for each liter should be added about five spoons of sugar. The juice is put on the fire and cooked for five minutes. Then it is poured into the banks and rolled up.
№ 2. Juice is squeezed, boiled, bottled. They must be pasteurized at a temperature of ninety degrees for at least ten minutes, then rolled up.
№ 3. Pumpkin tinder on a grater, completely filled with water, sent to the fire. It is necessary to cook until complete softening. Add peel or lemon juice to the mass, grind it with a blender, add water, boil for ten minutes and roll it into jars.To taste you can add sugar.
Conclusion
Many call the pumpkin a first-aid kit. And nothing strange about it. Vegetable contains everything that is necessary for the human body.