The benefits and harms of raw pumpkin: using a fresh vegetable with maximum effect

Everyone is familiar with such a vegetable as pumpkin. The oldest pumpkin seeds discovered by scientists are seven thousand years old. The color palette of the vegetable is simply amazing: plain, spotted, striped, green, yellow, orange, pink and even white or black! Its forms are also different. It is known all over the world because it is very easy to care for and can grow in almost any climate.

But most of all, the beneficial properties of this plant are amazing. It fills the body with the power of vitamins and minerals and heals many diseases. Pumpkin was a frequent guest on the table of our ancestors, but in recent years it has been undeservedly forgotten. Now the fashion for it is returning. But what is the best way to use it? Is it safe to eat pumpkin raw and what does it do? Detailed answers to these and other questions are in our article.

Is it possible to eat raw vegetables?

Pumpkin is consumed in different forms:

• pumpkin honey;
• boiled;
• baked pumpkin;
• pumpkin juice;
• pumpkin seeds;
• raw pumpkin.

The last type is considered the most useful. Why? Read about it below.

About the benefits and composition

Why is the raw product optimal for consumption? It contains a maximum of nutrients and fiber. But it is important to take into account diseases (if any) and the individual characteristics of each organism (propensity to allergic reactions, etc.). Raw pumpkin is eaten by washing and grating or cutting into pieces.Single-component salads are also prepared from pumpkin with the addition of other healthy products, for example, apples.

What vitamins are in pumpkin?

As we have already said, the yellow “fat” is a storehouse of useful substances:

• it contains B vitamins, vitamin E, C, H, K, PP, A, beta-carotene (provitamin A);
• trace elements: vanadium, boron, iodine, aluminum, iron, cobalt, manganese, chromium, selenium, rubidium, fluorine, zinc;
• carbohydrates – dextrins and starch, glucose, fructose, sucrose, monosaccharides, disaccharides;
• polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6.

What are the benefits of this vegetable?

Let's consider what benefits and harms the red vegetable brings. Pumpkin treats many diseases and has a beneficial effect on almost all body systems:

1. Improves the functioning of the digestive system, helps food be absorbed better and in less time.
2. The vegetable is often used in dietary nutrition, as it is low in calories, since most of its composition is water.
3. Pumpkin effectively fights hypertension if consumed regularly. Blood pressure gradually normalizes and, as a result, headaches go away.
4. “Fat” is rich in vitamins that have an antioxidant effect. Removes toxins, thus prolonging the youth of the body.
5. Pumpkin masks are also good in the fight against age-related changes. Those who use them regularly note a significant lifting effect. In addition, they are excellent for whitening and fighting acne and inflammation, since the vegetable has antibacterial properties.
6. The nervous system also “loves” our heroine, because the B vitamins it contains are simply necessary for her.
7. Solves the problem of iron deficiency and has a positive effect on blood composition.
8. Strengthens the walls of blood vessels, which prevents diseases such as varicose veins and thrombophlebitis.
9. The vegetable is also extremely useful for eye diseases.
10. Regular consumption of melons strengthens the immune system, and its anti-inflammatory effect promotes a speedy recovery from bronchopulmonary diseases, as mucus that accumulates in the lungs is removed.
11. Being an excellent remedy for thickening of bile, pumpkin improves the functioning of the liver - the “chemical plant” of the body.
12. The benefits of the vegetable are invaluable for the genitourinary system, as well as for men's health.

Do no harm

Are vegetables and berries always healthy? Almost all products have their pros and cons. Pumpkin also has them. It is contraindicated or should be used in extreme moderation:

• for individual intolerance, allergic reactions;
• if you have diabetes, it is undesirable to consume varieties related to dessert;
• during exacerbations of diseases such as gastritis with low acidity, ulcers, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis and urolithiasis with large stones (stones can begin to move and block the ducts).

Exacerbation of liver diseases is also a reason to postpone the use of the product until the condition normalizes.

Be careful! If you have health problems, be sure to consult your doctor before consuming pumpkin for dietary or medicinal purposes.

Calorie content and BZHU

Pumpkin has low calorie content. Per 100 g of product there are only 30.45 kcal, or 127 kJ.

The next item in the BZHU is proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Or rather, their quantity in a particular product.

BJU per 100 g of product:

• proteins – 1.20 g;
• fat – 0.27 g;
• carbohydrates – 6.98 g.

As a percentage, pumpkin contains 82.6% carbohydrates and 17.4% proteins and fats.

The yellow doctor in the garden - and there are no diseases among the people

Fresh pumpkin is useful for many diseases.

Suitable for the whole family

As you know, the same products act differently depending on who, when and at what age takes them. The norms and purposes for using the product also vary depending on gender and age.

For men's health

Pumpkin has a positive effect on the functioning of the genitourinary system, eliminating inflammation in it. Therefore, it is especially useful for men as a preventive or therapeutic agent. The prostate gland is located next to the urinary system, and for its health it is necessary that there are no infections or inflammations around it. The benefits have long been known pumpkin seeds and fresh juice for men's health and elimination of prostatitis.

In addition, the rich vitamin composition helps maintain health and longevity and fills the body with elements important for the male reproductive system, such as zinc and phosphorus. And linoleic and folic acids, which are part of the vegetable, promote the production of testosterone - the main male hormone.

Beneficial for women too

If a girl dreams of beautiful, soft skin and attractive curls, she should definitely include pumpkin in her diet. Regular consumption of the vegetable helps rejuvenate the body, cleanses it of waste and toxins, which has a beneficial effect on the skin of the hair and scalp. The tone of the face becomes even, without acne and inflammation, the hair splits less, and dandruff disappears.

Orange beauty is also useful for the female reproductive system. Just like men, it helps ladies get rid of unpleasant diseases, such as cystitis.

Children can

When deciding whether or not to give pumpkin to a child, first of all take into account the individual characteristics of his body and consult with a pediatrician. If there are no individual intolerances or allergies, you can introduce red “fat” into the diet - just a little at a time, like any new product. At the same time, carefully monitor the body’s reaction.

There are many different opinions about the age at which children should be given pumpkin. It is generally accepted that vegetable juice can be gradually introduced into the diet from four months, purees from six months, and soups from eight months.But pumpkin is a strong allergen and, according to many pediatricians, until six months old, babies do not need any products other than mother’s milk. Therefore, it is better to postpone introducing the product into the diet until the baby is 6 months old.

In general, eating orange vegetables has only benefits, as it serves as an excellent prevention of iron deficiency and vitamin deficiency in the baby.

"Fat" for weight loss

For those who want to lose weight, pumpkin is useful not only because of its low calorie content. Regular intake of the product activates metabolism and normalizes the digestive process. Saturation occurs faster thanks to natural fiber; as a result, the portion of food on the plate decreases.

Pumpkin activates motor activity, as it increases endurance and serves as a natural energy booster. They spend fasting days with pumpkin - there are a lot of pumpkin diets. All this together contributes to weight loss. And if you continue to eat pumpkin after losing weight, you can keep it stable at the same level.

Cooking pumpkin is tasty and healthy

Pumpkin is eaten boiled, steamed, baked, but the raw product retains the greatest amount of nutrients. To make your dishes as healthy as possible, you need to choose the right vegetable.

The fruit is chosen to be ripe, without rot or spoilage. This is determined as follows: the stalk is completely dried out, the sound when knocking is dull, the pattern on the peel is clear, and if you press on the peel with your finger, there will be no traces left.

So, you have chosen a pumpkin, you need to wash it thoroughly, dry it, and only then eat it. This way we will avoid getting microbes from the peel inside. Now you can cook.

Important! When choosing a pumpkin, take a closer look at the longitudinal stripes.They should not be tortuous or interrupted - this indicates a high nitrate content in the fruit.

Raw pumpkin, so delicious

There are many recipes with raw pumpkin, although most often it is used for making salads, and sweet pumpkin for desserts. Not only healthy fruits and vegetables are added to pumpkin, but even meat products. You can experiment endlessly here, changing traditional recipes with new ingredients.

Pumpkin porridge"

This dish can be called porridge very conditionally, because it does not contain cereals (neither boiled nor raw). But the dish turns out healthy and tasty.

You will need pumpkin pulp and carrots in equal parts, a sweet apple to taste, or half the weight of vegetables. We peel the ingredients, grind them with a blender - the porridge is ready! You can add nuts, seeds, honey, dried fruits to it if desired.

Pumpkin salad

You will need 100 g of raw pumpkin and carrots, 2 apples (sour or sweet, depending on taste), nuts and/or seeds, cinnamon on the tip of a knife, 1 spoon of honey, olive oil. Finely chop the vegetables, cut the apple into strips, season everything with butter and honey, sprinkle with seeds and nuts. A delicious and healthy dessert is ready.

Salad with cheese

For the salad you need 0.5 kg of pumpkin pulp, 100 g of any hard cheese and feta cheese, 1 apple, 1 bell pepper, 1-2 cloves of garlic, your favorite herbs, several walnuts, sour cream or mayonnaise. Finely chop the ingredients, mix, salt to taste, season with mayonnaise or sour cream, sprinkle with chopped nuts.

When not to

Unheated pumpkin is not recommended for use during periods of exacerbation of chronic diseases. Contraindications are gastritis with low acidity, colic, gastrointestinal ulcers, large stones in the gall bladder and kidneys, allergic reactions, individual intolerance.

Pregnant and lactating

Pregnant women and nursing mothers should be especially careful in their diet and use of any, even folk, medicines. Therefore, before introducing pumpkin into your diet, it would not be superfluous to consult a specialist, because pumpkin has a number of contraindications, and in addition, it is considered a powerful allergen.

Nursing mothers should carefully monitor the baby's condition. If a child develops colic, allergies, stool disorders, or carotenemia (expressed as yellowing of the skin), you should immediately stop taking the product and try to return to it after a while.

If there are no contraindications, pumpkin will be a godsend for pregnant girls and young mothers. After all, it is not only low-calorie and rich in nutrients, but also a real home doctor. The vegetable’s ability to gently relieve swelling is very valuable, and this, especially in late pregnancy, is important for many. In addition, pumpkin has a positive effect on the composition of a nursing mother’s milk and helps restore the body after childbirth or eliminate toxicosis during pregnancy.

To help! If the mother or baby’s body does not respond very positively to raw pumpkin, try replacing it with stewed, boiled (in porridge) or baked.

Some tips

Simple recommendations will help you get the most out of the product:

1. It is optimal if the pumpkin is grown on your own plot or purchased at the market from a trusted seller, because a vegetable overloaded with nitrates will not be beneficial.
2. In its raw form, pumpkin is the healthiest, but also the most capricious to use, as problems with the gastrointestinal tract or allergies often arise. You can avoid unpleasant side effects by dividing the intake of the product into equal small doses.
3. Start introducing pumpkin into your diet with small portions and only then gradually increase it.
4. Pumpkin juice has a powerful cleansing effect when taken in the morning. Start taking it too with the minimum dose.

Conclusion

Pumpkin is a healthy and valuable product. A person who cares about his health and dreams of beauty and longevity should definitely add it to his diet. The effectiveness of vegetable treatment has been tested for more than one generation. Those who want to maintain their figure or lose extra pounds should also pay attention to the “fat one”. It is low-calorie, rich in fiber, and when consumed correctly, triggers cleansing and fat burning processes in the body.

Lastly, this product is delicious. There are many recipes with raw or heat-treated pumpkin; you can find them for any, even the most demanding taste. And almost all dishes are prepared very simply. Many people have already fallen in love with this healthy melon plant, and it has become a frequent guest on their table. Try its healing power and exotic taste.