Pumpkin is an extremely tasty and healthy product. But for some reason, it is customary to mainly heat this vegetable, while raw pumpkin is rarely used. The benefits and harms of this product are determined by its composition, which is rich in vitamins, various trace elements and fiber. Low calorie pumpkin allows you to use it in the diet and children's menu.
What is a product like pumpkin?
This product belongs to
the Pumpkin family. The human body assimilates well both boiled and raw pumpkin. The benefits and harms of the latter are evaluated by specialists in different ways. Some categorically do not recommend eating this vegetable in its raw form, while others believe that the cooking process destroys healthy vitamins and minerals of pumpkin.
The birthplace of this vegetable is North America. It is known that Indians fried slices of pumpkin on fire or baked it in ash.
Now there are many recipes for cooking this vegetable. But many are concerned about whether raw pumpkin is eaten. Which vegetable is healthier: boiled or raw?
Useful composition of raw pumpkin
This vegetable is rich in nutrients:
- beta carotene;
- vitamins: K, tocopherol acetate, ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin;
- trace elements: potassium, phosphorus, cobalt, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium, iron.
In addition, pumpkin contains fiber. Its calorie content is 100 g. only 22 kcal. Therefore, it is a welcome dish on the diet table.
Raw pumpkin: benefits and harms
This vegetable has the following beneficial properties:
- is an easy dietary product;
- slows down the aging process in the body;
- strengthens blood vessels and prevents the occurrence of edema in people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- normalizes the digestive tract and the entire digestive system;
- has a choleretic effect;
- prevents pathological degeneration of cells;
- perfectly removes toxins from the body;
- actively fights cholesterol;
- lowers blood sugar;
- contributes to maintaining male strength in a reliable form;
- calms nerves;
- favorably affects sleep.
In addition, experts note that pumpkin charges the body with positive energy due to its sunny color.
The use of raw pumpkin
In many branches of alternative medicine, raw pumpkin is used. The benefits and harms of this vegetable are determined based on its composition. Therefore, pumpkin is used by dietetics and cosmetology.
Dietetology. Digestive system diseases, high blood sugar and cholesterol, obesity and other situations force people to resort to various diets. Pumpkin, due to its high fiber content, is an indispensable ingredient in the diet menu. Fiber is known to activate the stomach. It also prevents the absorption of excess harmful fatty substances.
For people with a stomach ulcer and gastroduodenitis, doctors insistently recommend eating pumpkin dishes, since it contains substances that promote scarring of wounds.
In addition, this raw vegetable has the ability to cleanse the liver of harmful toxins and remove stones from the body.
Cosmetology. Raw pumpkin is actively used in beauty salons. It is used as a wellness and rejuvenating face mask, which also smoothes shallow wrinkles.
Raw Pumpkin and Overweight
The second direction of pumpkin application in cosmetology is its use as an excellent dietary product, the use of which contributes to weight loss. Nutritionists believe that people who are on a pumpkin diet are able to lose about 4 kg of excess weight per week. And these are only the most optimal numbers.
What is useful pumpkin losing weight to people:
- it contains a lot of useful and nutrients, while it is characterized by low calorie content (only about 22 kcal per 100 grams);
- this vegetable actively removes excess water from the body;
- contributes to weight loss;
- pumpkin takes part in the process of cleansing the body, eliminating cholesterol and harmful substances.
Pumpkin diet lasts only 12 days and consists of 4 phases, that is, every four days the diet of a losing weight changes. During the period of such intensive care, the patient is able to lose up to 10 kg.
Ideal for diet pale yellow flesh pumpkin.
Sample menu
1st day:
1. Pumpkin porridge with rice, oatmeal or millet, raw pumpkin salad, tea (preferably without sugar) - this is for breakfast.
2. Soup from this vegetable is for lunch.
3. Stewed pumpkin - this is for dinner.
2nd day:
- Raw pumpkin salad and porridge.
- Chops out a given vegetable or soup.
- Baked pumpkin with apples.
3rd day:
- Pumpkin porridge and raw vegetable salad.
- Pumpkin soup with meatballs.
- Raw vegetable salad with pineapple and croutons.
4th day:
- Pumpkin porridge, fresh salad.
- Borsch with pumpkin.
- Vegetable stew with pumpkin.
During snacks, you can eat raw pumpkin, carrots or apples.
Raw pumpkin: indications
Experts recommend using this vegetable in this form for the following diseases:
- problems with the digestive tract and the digestive system as a whole;
- violations in the work with the liver;
- heart disease and its system;
- stone disease;
- obesity;
- seasickness;
- tuberculosis;
- throat cancer;
- insomnia;
- skin diseases (acne, eczema);
- diseases of the genitourinary system.
In addition, experts note that raw pumpkin strengthens the immune system and improves mood. Do older people eat raw pumpkin? Of course! After all, it improves the regeneration (restoration) of tissues and strengthens bones.
Is it possible to give raw pumpkin to children?
Pediatricians say that a child’s diet should include raw vegetables. After all, they help improve digestion and prevent the formation of constipation. But are raw pumpkins allowed for children? After all, basically all mothers are used to thermally treating it before giving it to their child.
A child is allowed to give raw pumpkin if it is grown in environmental conditions. The vegetable that is sold in the store is stuffed with various pesticides. A child who eats such a pumpkin increases the risk of allergic reactions. In addition, digestive upset can occur.
For a child's body, homemade raw pumpkin is especially valuable. The benefits and harms of it are obvious, you just have to look at its composition. Fresh juice from this vegetable acts as a laxative and as a sedative for sleep disturbance. Raw pumpkin pulp improves bowel function. Fiber, which is contained in this vegetable, contributes to this.
Raw Pumpkin Salad Recipes
Dishes from this vegetable are not only very healthy, but also extremely tasty. You just need to cook them correctly. In cooking, lately, dishes where raw pumpkin is used are popular. Salad recipes are varied. Consider a few of them.
1. Salad of pumpkins and carrots, garnished with walnuts.
Ingredients:
- 100 gr. pumpkins, carrots and green apples;
- a handful of chopped walnuts;
- a handful of raisins.
For refueling: olive oil, honey.
Vegetables should be washed, peeled, cut into small strips. Then add raisins, olive oil and honey. Mix everything thoroughly.
Garnish with walnuts.
2. Pumpkin salad with seeds.
Ingredients:
- pumpkin and carrots in equal amounts;
- a handful of pumpkin seeds;
- olive oil for dressing;
- salt to taste.
Cut vegetables into large cubes. Peel pumpkin seeds from pulp and peel, wash and dry. Then put them on a baking sheet and put in the oven for half an hour (100 degrees Celsius).
Season the salad with olive oil, garnish with seeds.
3. Vegetable mix of sauerkraut and raw pumpkin.
Ingredients:
- 250 gr. sauerkraut;
- 150 gr. raw pumpkin;
- a pair of sour apples;
- a few tablespoons of mayonnaise;
- a teaspoon of sesame oil;
- a pinch of sugar and salt;
- greenery.
Salad is prepared as follows: cut the pumpkin into strips, mix it with sauerkraut, season with mayonnaise and spices.
Raw pumpkin dishes are extremely tasty and healthy. Eat and be healthy!
Contraindications to the use of raw pumpkin
Although this vegetable has a rich composition of vitamins and other substances, there is still a certain group of people who are not suitable for raw pumpkin. It can bring harm to patients who suffer from the following diseases:
- stomach ulcer;
- gastroduodenitis;
- decreased acidity of the stomach in combination with gastritis;
- diabetes.
People with symptoms of such diseases should refrain from using the above product.
Raw pumpkin has more benefits than heat treated. After all, it is known that during cooking many vitamins are destroyed. For excellent health, it is advisable to include the above product in your diet at least once a week.