Raw pumpkin: benefits and harms to the human body

Raw pumpkin is a vitamin product that is often used for weight loss and to improve the body. To understand how great the benefits of a raw vegetable are, you need to study the composition and understand how the product affects the body.

Composition and value of raw pumpkin

An orange vegetable that has not been subjected to heat treatment contains a huge amount of nutrients. The pulp contains:

• cellulose;
• ash and organic acids;
• ascorbic acid and tocopherol;
• thiamine and beta-carotene;
• potassium, phosphorus and sodium;
• magnesium, iodine and iron;
• vitamins B6 and B9;
• calcium and chlorine;
• pantothenic acid and fatty acids;
• pectins and vitamin A.

In terms of nutritional value, the composition is represented mainly by carbohydrates, they contain about 6,5 g. Proteins are present in a volume of 1 g, and the amount of fat is only 0,1 g.

Raw pumpkin calories

An orange vegetable is not just the basis of the most effective weight loss diets. The calorie content of raw pumpkin per 100 g is only 23 kcal, it is impossible to get better on the product.

Glycemic index of raw pumpkin

The glycemic indexes of raw and boiled pumpkin are not the same. So, for an unprocessed vegetable, it is 25 units – this is a low figure, so diabetics can consume pumpkin pulp without fear.

As for the glycemic index of a boiled vegetable, it is as much as 75 units – it is necessary to use processed pulp with great care.

Vitamin content in raw pumpkin

The benefits of raw pumpkin for the human body are largely determined by the presence of a significant amount of vitamins in it. They deserve more detailed consideration.

• Most of all, an orange raw vegetable contains vitamin A – about one and a half daily norms per 100 g. Vitamin A is responsible for vision, youthful skin and healthy hair, so the vegetable prevents the development of eye diseases and premature aging.
• The pulp also contains vitamins of the B subgroup, namely, about 0,5 mg of vitamin B3, about 0,4 mg of vitamin B5 and about 0,1 mg of vitamin B6. Another 14 micrograms in the pulp is vitamin B9. All of these substances are extremely important for the healthy functioning of blood vessels, muscles and the nervous system, and protect the human brain and heart from degenerative processes.
• Vitamin C in the composition is present in an amount of 8 mg. Eating a vegetable is useful for the prevention of colds, it is of particular value in the fall, when there are especially many of it on the shelves.
• The vegetable contains 0 mg of vitamin E. This component is responsible for the regeneration processes in the body, for cell renewal and the beauty and youthfulness of the skin. Eating a vegetable is very useful for women interested in preserving youth.

Vitamins D, PP, F and T are present in small amounts. With regular use of the product, such a vitamin mixture contributes to the normal functioning of digestion, and also normalizes brain activity and serves as a prevention of sclerotic changes.

Which pumpkin is healthier: raw or boiled

Both raw and processed, the vegetable brings great benefits to the body.

• Raw pumpkin contains a maximum of useful components – vitamins, minerals, natural acids. Due to the high content of dietary fiber, it is a natural laxative, with the help of a vegetable, you can quickly get rid of constipation. The advantages include low calorie content and low GI of raw pumpkin – you can use it both on a diet and with diabetes.
• At the same time, a boiled vegetable also retains a high amount of valuable substances; during heat treatment, only some vitamins, such as ascorbic acid, are destroyed in it. There is still a lot of fiber in the product, and boiled pulp is used to cleanse the body, but its laxative effect is not so pronounced.

In terms of low calorie content and percentage of vitamins and minerals, a raw vegetable is definitely healthier. But at the same time, boiled pumpkin can be consumed in large quantities, since it does not provoke bouts of diarrhea.

What is useful raw pumpkin for the human body

The benefits of raw pumpkin are quite large. With regular use in the diet, this product:

• helps to improve bowel function and get rid of chronic constipation;
• allows you to quickly cleanse the body of toxins and achieve significant weight loss in a few days;
• strengthens blood vessels and serves as a preventive measure for the development of atherosclerosis;
• normalizes blood pressure;
• protects the liver from diseases and has a choleretic effect;
• improves the condition of the skin and hair;
• helps fight beriberi.

The use of raw vegetables has a beneficial effect on the state of the nervous system. Orange vegetable helps to get rid of insomnia, raises the tone of the body and improves performance.

For men

Raw pumpkin is good for men, it promotes the production of testosterone and improves potency. Also, a raw vegetable protects against destruction and restores the liver, and also helps fight inflammation in the body.

The use of the product prevents the development of prostate tumors, which is especially important for men after reaching middle age.

For women

The benefits of raw pumpkin for a woman’s body are primarily in the dietary properties of the pulp. In less than a week on a pumpkin diet, you can lose several kilograms and the body will not receive any harm.

Also, a useful product helps to get rid of insomnia, strengthens nails and hair follicles, improves skin tone and elasticity. Since the vegetable speeds up metabolic processes in tissues, it can be used to reduce cellulite. It is useful to use the pulp during menopause – it improves overall well-being and helps to even out hormonal levels.

Is raw pumpkin good for pregnancy?

During the period of bearing a child, pumpkin can bring enormous benefits. First of all, it helps to cope with bouts of toxicosis and helps to remove excess fluid in the event of edema. Useful pumpkin pulp helps to get rid of constipation, which often affects pregnant women.

The vitamin composition of the raw product is valuable not only for the woman, but also for the developing fetus. Useful substances in the composition contribute to the proper formation of the nervous system and brain of the baby.

Can children eat raw pumpkin?

Children can eat raw pumpkin after 1 year of life, before the baby’s intestines will not be able to cope with a large amount of fiber. You need to introduce a vegetable into the diet in small portions, carefully monitoring the reaction of the child’s body, sometimes orange pulp can provoke allergic reactions.

If the baby’s body perceives the unprocessed vegetable well, the healthy product will serve as a reliable home remedy for childhood constipation and strengthen the child’s immune system.

For what diseases you need to eat raw pumpkin

The benefits of raw pumpkin on an empty stomach will be with many ailments, it supports the strength of the body and helps fight chronic diseases.

• The benefits of eating unprocessed raw pulp will be in diabetes. Unlike a boiled vegetable, raw pumpkin has a very low glycemic index and does not lead to a spike in sugar levels. The product helps diabetics maintain normal digestion, but, of course, it should be consumed in moderation.
• The raw product effectively detoxifies the liver. It benefits not only as a preventive measure, but also in severe diseases of this organ – hepatitis and cirrhosis. The product promotes cell renewal and helps the liver recover faster and return to normal functions.
• Raw pumpkin is one of the best foods for weight loss. Due to the low calorie content and powerful cleansing properties, healthy pulp contributes to effective and very rapid weight loss, and it also saturates well even on very strict diets.
• The vegetable brings benefits for colds and weakened immunity. For flu, colds and coughs, you can use raw pumpkin with honey, the combination of these products will have a double effect. A useful product will quickly reduce the temperature, stop inflammation and activate the body’s defense system to fight the disease.

Eating raw pumpkin is recommended for eye diseases, it contains a lot of beta-carotene, vitamins A and E. These substances are very beneficial for the health of the retina and help strengthen it. Raw vegetable prevents the development of cataracts and myopia, helps to eliminate chronic eye fatigue, relieves dryness and burning in the eyes during constant work at the computer.

Another useful property of raw pumpkin is a strong diuretic effect. A raw vegetable will be of great benefit with a tendency to edema and will remove excess fluid from the tissues. At the same time, potassium, which is present in large quantities in the composition, will contribute to the dissolution of sand and small stones in the kidneys and bladder. The product in its raw, unprocessed form is recommended for use even with such a serious illness as kidney failure.

Benefits of raw pumpkin for weight loss

Raw pumpkin on an empty stomach starts active metabolic processes in the body. The beneficial effect is that the digestion of food is faster, and intestinal motility works more actively. Thus, when eating raw pulp on a diet, the processes of cleansing the body start – accumulated toxins and liquids come out, toxic substances that interfere with the healthy functioning of the body are removed from the tissues.

There are a lot of diet options – some diets are designed for 7 and 10 days, according to others, you only need to eat a vegetable for 3-4 days. You can also take advantage of fasting days on raw pulp – this is an option for instant and noticeable weight loss, since up to 2 kg can go per day.

On average, the daily amount of a vegetable is about 500 g, if you eat too much raw pulp, this will lead to stool disorder.

Can raw pumpkin harm?

The benefits and harms of raw pumpkin depend not only on the caution of eating the vegetable, but also on the state of the body. Orange vegetable has some contraindications, which include:

• gastritis and ulcer during the period of exacerbation;
• pancreatitis – in the acute phase of the disease, pumpkin pulp will harm the pancreas and cause increased pain;
• intestinal colic – useful laxative properties in this case will turn into harm to the body;
• allergy – in the presence of individual intolerance to an orange vegetable, it is better to refuse completely.

With caution, untreated pumpkin should be approached with diabetes. Despite the fact that the glycemic index of the product is low, healthy pulp in excess can still harm the body.

Also, pumpkin can be harmful for caries and sensitive tooth enamel. Organic acids in its composition have an irritating effect, and after eating the pulp, rinse your mouth thoroughly.

Conclusion

Raw pumpkin is a product with pronounced beneficial properties, which is of high value not only for adult men and women, but also for children. Pumpkin pulp pleases with a pleasant taste and helps to lose weight, helps with chronic ailments and loss of strength – but it should be consumed in moderation so as not to cause accidental harm to health.