In this article we will tell you what a vegetable like pumpkin is. Useful properties and contraindications for eating this product will also be described below.
Botanical Description
Pumpkin is a genus of herbaceous plants that belongs to the Pumpkin family. It has hairy or hard-rough stems creeping on the ground. Also, this plant has branched tendrils and large burdock-like leaves.
As you know, a pumpkin has large white or yellow flowers that can sit both singly and in bunches. It is on them that fruits are formed in the future.
Pumpkin, the beneficial properties and contraindications to the use of which we describe in detail below, is a large vegetable, covered with a solid outer layer. As a rule, its crust has an uneven surface. Numerous oblate seeds are present inside this vegetable.
The story of the vegetable
The benefits of pumpkin for human health are undeniable. After all, this vegetable began to be eaten as early as 5 thousand years ago. It was first seen in ancient Rome and Greece. In Mexico, she was presented to the table in 3000 BC. As for Egypt and Persia, as well as Indian tribes and eastern countries, they appreciated and loved pumpkin for their quick cooking and useful properties.
This vegetable was consumed by everyone. Pumpkin was eaten raw, stuffed, baked and fried. Moreover, many people used this product not only as food, but also made a lot of useful things from home for it (for example, jugs, bowls, baths for children, hats and musical instruments).
Calorie content of the product
Low calorie and the benefits of pumpkin allows you to eat it perfectly for anyone. As you know, its energy value is about 23 kilocalories per 100 g. This value is especially pleasing to those who love this vegetable very much, but at the same time carefully monitor their figure.
Not without reason, many nutritionists recommend regularly using this product to their customers. You can easily make various cereals, casseroles and desserts from it. It should be noted that for the preparation of the presented vegetable you will not need any culinary knowledge. After all, dishes are made from it easily and simply.
It is impossible not to say that the pumpkin becomes soft and suitable for consumption already after 15-18 minutes after the start of the heat treatment.
Pumpkin: useful properties and contraindications
The beneficial properties of this product are known to many. But if you do not have this information, then we will present it right now.
The main benefit of pumpkin for the body is that it contains a huge amount of useful elements. It has long been established that the said vegetable includes vitamins A, B2, B1, B3, B9, B6, C and PP. As for micro and macro elements, the pumpkin is very rich in iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine, copper, fluorine and zinc.
From the foregoing, we can safely conclude that the benefits of pumpkins for the human body are enormous. After all, she has a large supply of all useful vitamins and elements that are essential for humans.
It should also be noted that the pulp of this fruit helps to easily cope with irritability and fatigue. The substances contained in it improve sleep, soothe the nervous system and significantly increase attention.
Freshly squeezed juice made from pumpkin is recommended for use during stress and autumn depressions. Also, pumpkin is very useful for those people who constantly have weakened immunity. But this is only if they have no contraindications to eating it.
Contraindications to the use of the product
The benefits of boiled pumpkin, as well as raw, baked or fried, are undeniable. But if you think that this product can be used by everyone and in any quantities, then you are mistaken. Indeed, like any other fruit that is saturated with useful elements, pumpkin also has its contraindications. About them and will be discussed below.
So, eating pumpkin in any form is highly discouraged if you have the following health problems:
- individual intolerance to the product;
- allergic reactions to vegetables;
- gastritis with low acidity (especially during exacerbation);
- gastric and duodenal ulcer (especially during exacerbation);
- diabetes.
If you have one of the above health problems, then eating pumpkin is prohibited. Otherwise, you can significantly worsen your condition.
How does it affect the body?
In order to understand how this product generally affects human health, we decided to tell you about what changes you can observe in yourself after regular and, without fail, the correct use of this vegetable.
Vision improvement
As mentioned above, pumpkin contains a large amount of vitamin A (i.e. carotene). Of course, the present substance in this product is much less than in carrots. But, regularly eating vegetables as a food, you will definitely notice that it positively affects the organs of vision, protecting them from various ailments.
Digestion improvement
Pumpkin seeds, the benefits and harms of which are always a source of heated debate, should only be eaten raw. After all, after heat treatment, they lose almost all of their vitamins and minerals.
So what are pumpkin seeds good for ? The benefit and harm of seeds cause their lovers an ambiguous attitude. On the one hand, such a product contains a lot of substances that have a beneficial effect on the entire digestive system. On the other hand, pumpkin seeds abound in salicylic acid, which can easily cause stomach ulcers. That is why it is not recommended to consume such seeds in large quantities.
As for the orange pulp of pumpkin, it affects the digestive system only in a positive way. Using this fruit with meat, you can significantly facilitate the digestion process. It should also be noted that pumpkin contains a lot of fiber. Thanks to the latter, you can clear your digestive tract from the accumulated toxins in a short period of time.
The benefits for hypertensive patients
Baked pumpkin, the use of which is an indisputable fact, is often recommended for those who suffer from high blood pressure. Its regular use helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels, as well as normalize the water-salt balance.
We can not say that such a fruit is almost always indicated for those who have high cholesterol.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Pumpkin, the beneficial properties and contraindications to the use of which were described in detail above, is used not only as a food product. So, the orange fruit is often used as an external agent. This is due to the fact that pumpkin has anti-inflammatory properties. Shredded into gruel, it is applied to the skin with burns, acne, eczema and rashes. As practice shows, such a folk remedy in a short time reduces pain, and also contributes to the rapid healing of wounds.
What else is useful in an orange vegetable?
Many experts claim that pumpkin has an excellent diuretic effect. Such a fruit contains a lot of water (about 90%), as well as potassium salts. And therefore, actively contributes to the gradual dissolution of sand and stones in the bladder and kidneys.
If the patient has hemorrhoidal nodes inflamed, then he only needs to use a raw pumpkin.
It should also be noted that by regularly including such a vegetable in your diet, you are able to get rid of emotional stress and depression. Experts have noticed that pumpkin lovers have high spirits and significantly increased vitality.
Due to its special properties, this product helps with insomnia. Moreover, due to the high content of vitamin C, pumpkin helps fight viral diseases.
Application in cosmetology
Having learned about the beneficial properties of this vegetable, many companies began to make various balms, shampoos, lotions, creams, soaps and masks on its basis. Those cosmetics that are intended for application to the skin are famous for their anti-aging effect. As practice shows, they are able to smooth out not very deep wrinkles.
The benefits of pumpkin for men
According to experts, men should pay special attention to pumpkin seeds already familiar to us . After all, they are rich in a substance such as zinc, which is involved in the formation of testosterone.
Eating a few seeds every day, representatives of the stronger sex are able to protect their body from diseases such as adenoma and prostate prostate.
It should also be noted that pumpkin juice is also very useful for men . This is due to the fact that he very quickly restores physical strength after a hard working day.
By the way, it has long been proven that pumpkin significantly increases male potency. That is why she is among the ten best aphrodisiacs.
How to choose and store?
Before buying such a vegetable, you should pay attention to its size. Do not chase the big fruits. It is better to purchase an average pumpkin, which has a weight of 4-5 kg. In this case, you should pay attention to its peel. It should be without spots, bruises and cracks, as well as other damage.
To properly store a pumpkin, you need to know that she loves cool and dark places. The cellar is an ideal place for such a vegetable. By the way, a pumpkin must have a stalk. This is the only way to ensure its long and proper storage.