What is good about pumpkin seed flour and how to use it for health, beauty and delicious recipes

The benefits of pumpkin flour were known back in Ancient Egypt. In those days it was used as a medicinal supplement. This product is classified as a mineral complex that saturates the body with microelements and helps fight various diseases. Pumpkin flour gets its beneficial properties from the pumpkin seeds from which it is produced.

Composition of pumpkin flour

Pumpkin flour is a gluten-free product. In its composition, it is a unique protein-mineral complex, saturated with useful substances. It includes:

• alimentary fiber;
• vitamins of groups A, B, C, F, H, K and PP;
• amino acids;
• compounds of iron, phosphorus, zinc, potassium and copper;
• vegetable proteins;
• bioflavonoids;
• Cucurbitin is a rare amino acid;
• chlorophyll;
• folic acid.

It is also a valuable source of omega-3 fatty acids.

100 g of product contains:

• 40 g proteins;
• 10 g fat;
• 9 g carbohydrates;
• 6 g dietary fiber;
• 5 g of water.

Energy value is 286 kcal, which is 20% of the daily requirement.

Areas of use

This product has been widely used. Due to its beneficial properties, pumpkin flour is used in home cosmetology, in the treatment of various diseases, during dieting and in cooking.

In home cosmetology

The vitamins and amino acids contained in pumpkin flour affect the skin's production of collagen, and zinc affects the activity of the sebaceous glands.This helps maintain skin elasticity and reduces the risk of developing acne and inflammation.

To make a rejuvenating face mask, you need to mix egg white with 2 tbsp. spoons of pumpkin flour. Mix thoroughly and apply to face, avoiding the area around the eyes. After 10-15 minutes, rinse with warm water.

Important! To make the cosmetic effect of using this mask last longer, eat dishes made from pumpkin flour. This will not only strengthen internal organs, but will also have a beneficial effect on the condition of nails and hair.

For medicinal purposes

Pumpkin seed powder helps maintain bone density in osteoporosis, relieves inflammation in arthritis, prevents the formation of kidney stones, and helps normalize hormonal levels in men and women.

Pumpkin flour is recommended for use in cases of exhaustion, stress, and decreased immunity in the autumn-winter period. It contains natural antidepressants and has a beneficial effect on overall well-being and mood, and increases libido.

To maintain immunity, make a cocktail: dissolve 3 teaspoons of powder in a glass of any fermented milk product and take for 2-3 weeks. Repeat the course of treatment 3-4 times throughout the year.

For insomnia, it is recommended to eat 1 teaspoon of seed powder before bed. For liver diseases and irritable bowel syndrome, dissolve 2 teaspoons of flour in 200 ml of water. Treatment lasts at least a month.

To combat helminths

Pumpkin seed powder is one of the popular folk methods of treating the body from parasites. Cucurbitin, which is part of pumpkin seeds, is highly toxic to the larvae and adults of many types of helminths, but is absolutely harmless to humans.

Nematodes and tapeworms are especially sensitive to it. It does not cause negative reactions and does not have side effects. Thanks to this property, pumpkin flour is an effective antiparasitic agent that is used even during pregnancy.

Let's look at how to prepare and take medicines based on pumpkin flour:

1. Garlic mixture. In 200 g of pumpkin seed powder, add 5 cloves of garlic, crushed in a blender, and 2 tbsp. spoons of honey. Stir the mixture and let it brew for 10-12 hours. Take 1 tbsp in the morning, 3 hours before meals. spoon for 3 days.
2. Mixed with honey. Mix 300 g of flour with 50 ml of water and 2 tbsp. spoons of honey. Take on an empty stomach in small portions for an hour. After 2 hours, take a laxative and give a cleansing enema 30 minutes after taking the drug. They begin to eat only after bowel movements.
3. Recipe with milk. Dilute 200 g of the product in raw milk to form a liquid paste. Use on an empty stomach. After an hour, drink a glass of warm still water twice (with an interval of 60 minutes) and take a laxative. After this, eating begins.

Attention! For greater efficiency, pumpkin seeds are taken along with the peel to make the powder.

These recipes have a strong antiparasitic and anthelmintic effect. Therefore, they are used after consultation with a doctor for laboratory confirmation of helminthiasis.

During the diet

Dishes based on this product are included in low-carbohydrate diets. A large amount of protein with a minimal fat content in pumpkin flour is a successful combination that affects the speed of metabolic processes and helps burn fat deposits, reduces the level of “bad cholesterol”.

For weight loss, there is a recipe for a three-week course using pumpkin seed powder. Dilute a certain amount of flour in 100 ml of kefir or yogurt:

• 1 week - 1-2 teaspoons;
• 2 week - 3 teaspoons;
• Week 3 - 4 teaspoons.

Take once a day, in the morning.

This method is based on accelerating metabolism in the human body. Metabolism goes faster, fat deposition and fluid accumulation in subcutaneous fat are reduced.

In cooking

Pumpkin seed flour is an excellent thickener for sauces, porridges, first courses and jelly. It is added to wheat flour (2 tablespoons per 1 kg of product) to increase the shelf life of the product and improve the taste of baked goods.

In combination with various spices, it is used for breading cutlets. Pancakes, pancakes, bread, dishes made from dried fruits and nuts acquire an original taste when pumpkin flour is added to them.

Read also:

A tasty and healthy treatment with natural ingredients - pumpkin and honey for the liver.

How and in what quantity to consume pumpkin seeds for weight loss.

How to properly cook pumpkin baked in the oven.

Recipes with pumpkin flour

Thanks to its unique properties and composition, pumpkin flour is the basis of many dishes that are not only tasty, but also healthy (they are part of the diet menu).

Austrian cake

To prepare this dish you will need:

• pumpkin flour - 2 cups;
• eggs - 4 pcs.;
• sugar (powdered sugar) - 1 cup;
• vanilla extract - 1.5 teaspoons;
• baking powder - 1 tbsp. spoon;
• cinnamon - 1 pinch.

Preparation:

1. Separate the whites from the yolks. Beat the whites until stiff, adding ½ cup of sugar or powdered sugar.
2. Mix the yolks with ¼ cup sugar and grind thoroughly.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together remaining dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and cinnamon.
4. Add vanilla extract to the mixture, pour in the mashed yolks, stir.
5. Carefully fold in the beaten egg whites.
6. Place the resulting dough in a baking dish, pre-greased with vegetable oil.
7. Bake in an oven preheated to 180°C for about half an hour until golden brown.

Before serving, garnish with cashew cream, hazelnut cream, or your favorite recipe.

Reference. If there are no restrictions, you can replace vanilla extract with rum in the amount of 1 tbsp. spoons.

Banana buns

This is a delicious, aromatic and tender pastry. If you show your imagination and give the buns an unusual shape, you can also surprise your guests with the beauty of your dish.

For the test you will need:

• flour - 650 g;
• water - 50 ml;
• kefir or yogurt - 200 ml;
• egg - 1 pc.;
• banana - 2 pcs.;
• butter - 20 g;
• sugar - 3 tbsp. spoons;
• dry yeast - 1.5 teaspoons.

To grease the buns:

• egg yolk - 1 pc.;
• milk - 1 tbsp. spoon.

Preparation:

1. Stir the yeast in 50 ml of warm water and leave for 10-15 minutes in a warm place.
2. Make a puree from peeled ripe bananas.
3. Add egg, sugar, suitable yeast and cooled melted butter to kefir at room temperature. Then add banana puree. Mix everything thoroughly.
4. Add sifted flour to the resulting mixture and knead the dough.
5. Cover the finished dough with a towel and leave in a bowl in a warm place for an hour and a half.
6. After this time, transfer the dough to the table, sprinkle with flour and knead well.
7. Divide the mass into 10-12 parts. Roll each part into an oval using a rolling pin, not thinly.Make 5-6 cuts on the resulting “pancakes” without cutting the dough to the edge.
8. Dust the dough with flour and roll it loosely into a rope at an angle. Roll the resulting flagellum into a spiral into a “snail”.
9. Grease a baking sheet with vegetable oil. Place the resulting buns on it at a distance from each other and leave them for 30 minutes in a warm place.
10. Beat the egg yolk with milk. Grease the surface of the buns with the mixture, place the baking sheet in an oven preheated to 200°C and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Delicious casserole

To prepare the dessert you will need:

• low-fat cottage cheese - 0.5 kg;
• pumpkin flour - 200 g;
• fruits, nuts or raisins;
• chicken eggs - 3 pcs.

Preparation:

1. Mix the ingredients until you get a paste.
2. Add chopped fruits, nuts or seedless raisins to it. For flavor, add vanilla or cinnamon sugar to the resulting dough to taste.
3. Grease a baking dish with vegetable oil. Spread the dough evenly over the pan and cover with foamed yolk or sour cream.
4. Bake in the oven at 150°C until a thick golden crust appears.

Contraindications

Not everyone is equally allowed to eat this product. It is necessary to first determine the balance of benefit and harm for a particular person.

The high content of dietary fiber in pumpkin flour, which accelerates the activity of intestinal microflora, not only helps to gently cleanse the body, but can also lead to digestive disorders (especially in people who are not accustomed to foods rich in fiber): causing diarrhea, flatulence or constipation.

According to research, the product can increase headaches in people suffering from migraines.

If you have cholelithiasis and cholecystitis, you should not include dishes with pumpkin flour in your diet without first consulting your doctor.

In rancid flour, unsaturated fatty acids form toxic compounds that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular, cancer and other diseases.

Attention! If an allergy to pumpkin is detected, it is necessary to exclude both the vegetable itself and all its derivatives from the diet.

Production and storage

You can prepare pumpkin seed flour yourself at home. This product is as useful as possible, since it contains no industrial impurities. The process of making powder (flour) from seeds does not take much time:

1. Rinse raw pumpkin seeds under running water.
2. Dry them in the oven so that the weight of the seeds decreases by 2-3 times.
3. Grind in a blender or coffee grinder.
4. While grinding, periodically check the flour by touch.
5. Sift the flour using a sieve into a clean, dry container.

The product should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for no more than two months.

Conclusion

The unique properties of pumpkin flour have been noted for several centuries. Positive reviews about it concern both the taste of dishes with its participation and the beneficial effect on the body.

Pumpkin flour, properly prepared and stored, does not contain ingredients hazardous to human health and is suitable as a source of protein for vegetarians, vegans and raw foodists.