Contents
Pumpkin – the benefits and harms to the body of this vegetable are of concern to many people, since large orange fruits often appear on tables in the autumn. To appreciate the properties of pumpkin, you need to carefully study its composition and learn about the impact on health.
Nutritional value and chemical composition of pumpkin
Juicy orange pumpkin is a tasty and affordable vegetable with a lot of useful properties. The nutritional value of pumpkin is presented:
- carbohydrates – about 4,4 g;
- proteins – approximately 1 g;
- fats – only 0,1 g;
- water – up to 92% of the total volume of the product.
The composition of the vegetable contains many valuable substances. In addition to mineral salts and vitamins, the pulp contains a lot of fiber and natural sugars. At the same time, starch and cholesterol are completely absent, and this increases the beneficial properties of pumpkin for the human body.
Fresh pumpkin is a very low calorie product. In 100 g of pulp there are only 26 kcal, so the vegetable does not have any harmful effect on weight.
What are the beneficial properties of pumpkin
There are so many vitamins and minerals in a fresh vegetable that they should be studied in more detail. It is in them that the value of an orange vegetable is mainly contained.
Pumpkin contains:
- a huge amount of alpha and beta-carotene – up to 85% and 65% of the daily norm, respectively;
- vitamin A – about 42% of the daily requirement;
- subgroup B vitamins – an average of 5-10% of the recommended daily allowance;
- vitamins E and K, ascorbic acid, 5% of the daily norm of these substances can be obtained from pumpkin.
Minerals in the composition of the vegetable deserve attention:
- magnesium – a small portion of a vegetable is able to cover and exceed the daily requirement for this element;
- iron and phosphorus, pumpkin contains more than 5% of the daily value of these substances;
- manganese, potassium, calcium and zinc, due to the pumpkin, you can get from 2% to 7% of the daily intake of these elements.
Pumpkin is one of the best foods that prevent the development of beriberi. Regular consumption of vegetables helps to maintain the correct balance of valuable substances in the body and not experience a seasonal vitamin deficiency.
The benefits of pumpkin with regular use
Pumpkin brings the most benefits if you use it on an ongoing basis. In this case, the vegetable will be able to:
- improve vision and lower blood pressure;
- regulate bowel function and normalize the frequency of stools;
- equalize the water-salt balance in the body;
- strengthen the walls of blood vessels and increase their elasticity, thereby preventing the development of atherosclerosis;
- lower the acidity of the stomach and eliminate heartburn;
- strengthen immune resistance and reduce the risk of colds;
- normalize sleep and have a beneficial effect on the state of the nervous system as a whole;
- reduce swelling and promote the removal of excess fluid from the tissues;
- protect the liver from destruction and contribute to its recovery.
Also, the vegetable promotes cell renewal and helps to maintain youth and normal functioning of the whole organism for longer. It can be used as a prophylaxis of oncology, against the background of the use of a vegetable, the risk of developing malignant tumors is reduced.
What form to take
Pumpkin benefits the body, regardless of the form in which it is served on the table; after heat treatment, the vegetable remains useful. But the largest amount of valuable substances is present in a raw vegetable, therefore, for health, it is better to use pumpkin fresh. Raw pulp is very useful for digestion, heart and blood vessels.
As for baked or boiled pumpkin pulp, by definition it contains less vitamins and minerals. But on the other hand, the thermally processed vegetable has a milder effect on the intestines, therefore it is especially recommended for the elderly, young children and patients recovering from serious illnesses.
What is useful pumpkin for the human body
When eaten regularly, the vegetable brings the following beneficial effects:
- cleanses the body and balances the water-salt balance;
- stabilizes the metabolism and starts the processes of cell renewal;
- increases hemoglobin and relieves symptoms of beriberi;
- beneficial effect on the vascular and cardiac systems, brain function.
It is also worth considering the special effect of vegetables on the male and female body.
The benefits of pumpkin for men
Useful substances in pumpkin have a positive effect on the reproductive functions of men. Pumpkin prevents a decrease in libido, improves the quality of male genetic material and can help in the conception of a healthy child. The benefit also lies in the fact that the vegetable affects the hormonal system and promotes the production of testosterone – this increases stamina and strength in men.
The beneficial effect of a vegetable on the heart and blood vessels protects men from the development of dangerous ailments – strokes and heart attacks. You can take the product as a prophylaxis to prevent prostatitis and tumors of the genitourinary system.
What is useful pumpkin for a woman’s body
The beneficial properties and contraindications of pumpkin for women are very diverse; in a constant diet, this vegetable can have a valuable effect on women’s health. When using pumpkin, the body actively gets rid of toxins, harmful salts and heavy metals. With the help of pumpkin, you can fight edema, and the vegetable is also very useful as a prevention of gynecological inflammation.
The benefits of pumpkin for a woman’s body lies in the beneficial effect of a vegetable on external beauty. Vitamins in orange pulp improve skin condition, protect nails from brittleness and help strengthen hair.
Is it possible to pumpkin during pregnancy
During the period of bearing a baby, pumpkin brings a double benefit. First of all, it saturates the body of the future mother with valuable substances – magnesium and calcium, iron and folates, vitamins and organic acids. This ensures not only the healthy formation of the fetus, but also the well-being of the woman, vitamin deficiency often develops against the background of pregnancy, and the orange vegetable prevents its occurrence.
The vegetable relieves swelling and helps prevent constipation. Another valuable property of the product, effective help with toxicosis. The following remedy relieves nausea well:
- 200 g of raw pumpkin pulp cut into small pieces;
- pour a liter of water;
- insist for an hour.
You need to drink the remedy during the day, like tea, at the first symptoms of nausea.
At what age can children pumpkin
A vegetable can be introduced into a child’s diet quite early. Already at 4 months old, it is allowed to offer the baby juice squeezed from fresh pulp, from six months of life soft pumpkin purees are introduced, and from 8-10 months – pumpkin-based vegetable soups.
For the child’s body, the vegetable is especially useful due to the high content of vitamin A, which is responsible for healthy vision. Also, the vegetable strengthens the baby’s immune system and the musculoskeletal system, helps maintain healthy digestion.
The benefits of pumpkin for the elderly
The body of the elderly is highly sensitive and requires a careful approach to the diet. In old age, the digestive tract often begins to work worse, which causes constipation, but healthy pumpkin helps to normalize bowel function.
The use of an orange vegetable also lies in its anti-aging properties. Pumpkin stimulates cell renewal, supports the circulatory system. Therefore, older people later begin to feel the signs of aging and can maintain good health and vigor.
The benefits of pumpkin for the human body
With some ailments and conditions, an orange pumpkin can bring special benefits. Traditional medicine and dietetics offer proven ways to consume a vegetable for various diseases.
For diseases of the liver and kidneys
The diuretic and choleretic properties of the vegetable help to cope with kidney and liver ailments and prevent the occurrence of severe disorders.
- In case of malfunction of the kidneys, it is recommended to eat 500 g of grated fresh pumpkin daily or drink 100 ml of manually squeezed juice. You need to continue treatment for 3 months, then the pumpkin will help get rid of edema and remove small stones from the kidneys.
- For liver diseases, another recipe benefits – pumpkin pulp in a volume of 1 kg must be grated, mixed with 500 g of prunes, add 2 large spoons of buckthorn bark and pour the ingredients with 150 ml of rosehip syrup and 1,5 liters of pure water. The mixture is steamed for about half an hour under a lid, and then filtered. You need to take the medicine in a glass shortly before bedtime for a week. The recipe has powerful cleansing properties and therefore brings great benefits to the liver.
To protect the liver from hepatitis and cirrhosis, as well as to quickly remove toxins, you can simply consume 500 g of fresh vegetables throughout the week.
For the gastrointestinal tract
The high fiber content in pumpkin pulp brings invaluable benefits to the digestive system. The vegetable helps to normalize the stool and promotes the full absorption of valuable substances.
- With heaviness in the stomach, it is very useful to consume baked pumpkin daily. The vegetable will have a calming effect on the body, relieve irritation and facilitate easy digestion of food.
- With constipation, a vegetable with vegetable oil – sunflower, olive or castor will bring a valuable effect. In the morning you need to eat 200 g of pulp and drink it with a couple of tablespoons of oil, this will quickly cleanse the intestines.
If you eat pumpkin in small quantities every day, it will help solve the problem of sluggish digestion, intestinal motility will become more active, and chronic constipation will go away.
For the cardiovascular system
Minerals and vitamins in the composition of the vegetable contribute to blood thinning and help to equalize blood pressure. This not only eliminates problems with blood vessels, but also has a positive effect on cardiac activity – the risk of heart attacks and other heart diseases is reduced.
- For hypertension, it is recommended to use such a remedy – 200 g of pumpkin pulp is mixed with 30 g of raisins and the same amount of wheat germ, and then crushed in a blender. The mixture is consumed 1 large spoon at breakfast for 10 days.
- With cardiovascular ailments, freshly squeezed pumpkin juice is of great benefit, you need to use it in half a glass on an empty stomach. You can take such a remedy for a long time, not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of ailments.
A vegetable in the weekly diet will have a beneficial effect, if you often eat fresh or processed pulp, the condition of the vessels and heart will noticeably improve.
For the skin
The benefits and harms of pumpkin for the human body are manifested, including when the vegetable is used externally. Vitamins in pumpkin pulp help heal cuts, disinfect festering wounds and help heal burns faster.
- From solar and thermal burns, natural pumpkin juice helps well. It is necessary to squeeze out 100 g of raw pulp, and then moisten a cotton swab in the juice and wipe the affected areas several times a day.
- From festering wounds and eczema, gruel from pumpkin pulp will help – 300 g of raw vegetable should be chopped in a meat grinder, and then applied to a sterile bandage and fixed with a compress on a sore spot for 3 hours.
Gout
Since pumpkin has a powerful cleansing effect on the body, it is useful to use it when deposition of harmful salts in the joints.
- As a therapeutic and prophylactic remedy, traditional medicine recommends using baked pumpkin on an ongoing basis – three times a day, 1 large spoonful of pulp.
- You can also prepare a decoction that helps with the deposition of salts – chop the dried vegetable stalks in the amount of 1 large spoon, pour a glass of hot water, boil for a quarter of an hour and leave for 40 minutes under the lid. You need to take the remedy three times a day, a couple of large spoons on an empty stomach.
With gout, the vegetable improves mobility, eliminates pain and inflammation, and improves the condition.
With atherosclerosis
Pumpkin lowers blood cholesterol and therefore helps prevent atherosclerosis or mitigate its manifestations. Traditional medicine offers several recipes.
- Infusion on the peel to cleanse the vessels. About 40 g of dense pumpkin peel should be poured with 250 ml of hot water, insisted for half an hour, and then drink 100 ml at breakfast for a week.
- Pumpkin pulp to lower cholesterol. About 50 g of raw pulp just needs to be grated and taken half an hour before breakfast every day for a couple of weeks.
To maintain a good condition of the vessels, it is recommended to include raw or processed vegetables in the diet more often, this will only bring benefits.
With anemia
Pumpkin is one of the champions among vegetables in terms of the content of vitamins and valuable minerals. Therefore, with a deficiency of nutrients and a low level of hemoglobin, it must be included in the diet.
- The main recipe suggests simply using 150 g of raw pulp per day for anemia, until hemoglobin levels rise.
- You can also take baked pumpkin – up to 2 kg per day, along with cereals and other dishes. Such treatment should be continued for 5-7 days, so that there is no excess of useful substances in the body.
Eating an orange vegetable is recommended as a seasonal prevention of anemia. In the autumn period, many people suffer from a deficiency of valuable substances and face a drop in hemoglobin levels, but it is at this time that pumpkin can become the most affordable vitamin product.
How to eat pumpkin
In order for pumpkin to bring maximum benefit, when using it, you need to follow some rules.
- Adults are advised to eat no more than 300-400 g of pulp per day. In the treatment of ailments, portions can be increased in accordance with recipes, however, the active use of pumpkin should not continue for too long.
- For children, vegetable dosages must be significantly reduced. Until the child is 1 year old, he can be offered no more than 30 g of a vegetable per day and no more than twice a week. Subsequently, the daily rate can be increased to 50 g three times a week.
- It is preferable for older people to eat not raw, but processed pumpkin. Although there are slightly fewer vitamins in it, it is better absorbed by the stomach and does not lead to intestinal disorders.
Pumpkin should be handled with care if you are prone to diarrhea. Although the vegetable does not fall into the list of prohibited foods, its laxative properties can bring a negative effect, it is advisable to eat pumpkin in baked form and in reduced portions. Also, the dosage of the vegetable must be reduced for ulcers and low acidity of the stomach.
Exceeding the dosage of raw pumpkin is dangerous not only by the occurrence of diarrhea, but also by yellowing of the skin. The fact is that the vegetable contains a lot of carotene, and an excess of this substance in the body can change the color of the skin. For the same reason, it is better not to use pumpkin at the same time as taking vitamin A or with vegetables and fruits containing this element.
Pumpkin brings the greatest benefit in the diet in the morning – dietary fiber in the composition of the pulp awakens the intestines and the metabolic system to active work.
Limitations and contraindications
Useful properties and contraindications of pumpkin are inseparable from each other. So that the body does not receive harm, you should not eat a vegetable when:
- colitis and peptic ulcer;
- gastritis with reduced production of gastric juice;
- cholelithiasis with large stones;
- diarrhoea.
In diabetes, only heat-treated pumpkin is prohibited for consumption – raw vegetables are still allowed.
Conclusion
Pumpkin – the benefits and harm to the body from this vegetable accompany each other. However, if you use the product in the absence of contraindications and in small dosages, the vegetable will have a very positive effect on all systems and organs.
