How to use pumpkin for medicinal purposes for stomach ulcers?
Due to the peculiarities of the pathology, patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are forced to adhere to a special diet. Medicines are only part of the therapy. The main thing in the treatment of such diseases is adherence to a special diet. Many foods should not be consumed as they aggravate the condition.
Let's figure out why pumpkin is useful, how and in what quantity you should eat it, and whether you can eat pumpkin if you have a stomach ulcer.
Chemical composition
Pumpkin is 91.8% water. It contains practically no fat (0.1 g per 100 g of product), but is rich in proteins (1 g) and carbohydrates (4.4 g). Calorie content is 22 kcal in raw form, 25 kcal after heat treatment.
The pulp of the fruit also contains other biologically active components necessary for the body:
- pectin;
- cellulose;
- enzymes;
- B vitamins;
- vitamin A (retinol);
- vitamin C (ascorbic acid);
- vitamin D (calciferols);
- vitamins E, H, K, PP;
- trace elements: zinc, iron, cobalt, copper, fluorine, manganese, iodine;
- macroelements: sulfur, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, potassium, phosphorus, sodium.
What is the effectiveness of pumpkin for peptic ulcers?
Stomach ulcer is a chronic disease. It occurs when the protective components of the gastric mucosa cease to cope with traumatic factors - these include gastric juice and the microbe Helicobacter pylori. Smoking and alcohol increase the risk of developing ulcers. The mucous membrane is injured, causing pain in the epigastric region after eating, nausea, vomiting, and heartburn.
Patients are prohibited from taking products that will irritate the mucous membrane due to their physical or chemical properties. The former include, for example, raw vegetables with coarse fiber, nuts and seeds, and dried fruits. The second includes acidic foods, as well as those that cause increased secretion of gastric juice.
Pumpkin, with its soft texture and neutral pH balance, is one of those foods that an irritated stomach can digest easily and without pain.
Pumpkin has a beneficial effect on the body:
- soothes irritated mucous membranes;
- accelerates the healing process of ulcerative lesions in the stomach;
- prevents the destruction of living cells by free radicals;
- participates in the formation of new cells;
- removes waste, toxins, chloride salts from the body;
- improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- prevents the formation of fatty deposits in the body;
- reduces cholesterol and excess fluid;
- has a laxative effect, facilitates the process of defecation;
- normalizes the motility of the stomach and intestines.
The vegetable is especially useful for bleeding stomach ulcers. The potassium present in the composition stimulates hematopoiesis, prevents the development of anemia, and removes sodium ions that irritate the gastric mucosa. Minerals and trace elements, in turn, have a beneficial effect on the immune system.
Contraindications for use
Absolute contraindications include individual intolerance to the vegetable. The pulp of the fruit should be prescribed with caution to patients with diabetes mellitus. gastritis with low acidity, duodenal ulcer.
It is recommended to limit or completely exclude the product from the diet if you are prone to diarrhea, during periods of exacerbation of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
How to properly use pumpkin for medicinal purposes
Fruit pulp is used as medicinal raw materials. seeds. The vegetable is consumed fresh or steamed, boiled, baked, stew. During heat treatment, pumpkin does not lose its beneficial properties, and the amount of vitamins, micro- and macroelements, and other components important for the body remains practically unchanged.
It is not recommended to fry fruit pulp with the addition of butter and fats, as this releases harmful carcinogens and increases the calorie content of the dish.
Important. Some nutritionists advise eating pumpkin in stewed form: this way it is absorbed faster, easier to digest, without causing heaviness in the stomach.
For stomach ulcers, begin to consume fruits at a rate of 20-30 g per day. Gradually, the daily norm is increased to 150-200 g. The portion can be adjusted, taking into account the severity of the disease. You should not take pulp, seeds and juice — choose one option to make it easier to calculate the dosage of the product.
The course of treatment lasts from 10 days to 2 months. More precise dates are determined by the doctor, taking into account the body’s reaction to the treatment. If necessary, after a break, a repeat course is prescribed.
Top 5 recipes
Nutritionists have developed many recipes to ensure that the diet for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is varied. Let's look at a few popular recipes.
Pumpkin puree soup
Ingredients:
- pumpkin pulp - 500 g;
- medium carrots - 1 pc.;
- medium onion - 1 pc.;
- olive oil - 2 tbsp. l.
Recipe:
Peel the pumpkin from seeds and peel, cut into small cubes. Place pumpkin, chopped onions and carrots in a saucepan with water or low-fat broth, add olive oil.Cook covered over low heat for 30-40 minutes from the moment it boils.
Depending on the type of pumpkin, it may take longer to cook. Blend the cooled soup with a blender until pureed. Serve with herbs and croutons, bread.
Pumpkin salad
Ingredients:
- pumpkin - 250 g;
- apple - 2 pcs.;
- kiwi - 1 pc.;
- orange juice - 1 tbsp. l;
- walnut 70-100 g;
- honey to taste.
Wash vegetables and fruits, peel them, cut into small cubes, and place in a dish. Add chopped walnuts on top. In a separate container, prepare a dressing from orange juice and honey. Pour over the salad and stir. If desired, you can add other fruits, raisins, sesame seeds.
Pumpkin porridge
Pumpkin goes well with oatmeal, millet, and brown rice. It is better to eat porridge in the morning - to enrich the body with energy for the whole day. It is prepared with water or skim milk.
Ingredients:
- pumpkin - 500 g;
- water (milk) - 500 ml;
- cereal - 1 tbsp.;
- butter - 20 g.
Recipe:
- Remove the skin from the pumpkin and cut into small cubes.
- Rinse the cereal several times under running water. Dry.
- Place the pumpkin in a saucepan with water and cover with a lid. 10-15 minutes after the water boils, add the cereal, a little sugar and salt. For those who like soft porridge, mash the pumpkin pieces with a fork before adding the cereal.
- Cook over low heat, covered, until done. Melt butter in hot porridge. If desired, add prunes, dried apricots, raisins. Wrap in a towel and leave in a warm place for 15-30 minutes to infuse.
Pumpkin casserole
Ingredients:
- pumpkin - 500 g;
- apples - 200 g;
- semolina - ½ tbsp.;
- eggs - 2 pcs.;
- vanillin;
- sugar - 1 tbsp;
- soda - ½ tsp;
- butter - 100 g;
- a pinch of salt.
Recipe:
- Peel the vegetable, remove the seeds, cut into small pieces. Place in a metal pan, add water, cook over medium heat for 15-25 minutes. Readiness to check with a fork.
- Remove the remaining water using a colander, mash the pumpkin with a masher, and add salt. Leave to cool.
- Grate apples without peel on a coarse grater.
- In a separate container, beat eggs with sugar using a mixer or blender.
- Combine cooled pumpkin, apples, vanillin, butter at room temperature, mix. Gently fold the whipped whites into the dough.
- Line a baking pan with parchment paper, grease with olive or butter, and lay out the dough.
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Bake the pie for half an hour. It may take more or less time depending on your oven. Check readiness with a toothpick.
Transfer the cooled pie to a plate. Serve with sour cream, low-fat cream, honey.
Pumpkin dessert with honey
Ingredients:
- pumpkin pulp - 400 g;
- light sesame - 2 tbsp;
- honey - 2 tbsp. l.;
- orange juice - 2 tbsp. l.;
- refined oil - 1 tbsp. l.
Preparation:
- Cut the pumpkin pulp, cleared of seeds and peel, into oblong pieces.
- In a dry container, combine honey, oil, orange juice. Mix.
- Place pumpkin slices into the sauce so that they are completely covered with the mixture. Leave under the film for 5-15 minutes.
- Line a heat-resistant pan with parchment and place the pumpkin.
- Bake in a preheated oven at medium temperature for 45 minutes. Sprinkle hot slices with sesame seeds.
Conclusion
Regular consumption of pumpkin can improve your overall health, reduce the severity of symptoms of stomach ulcers, and speed up recovery.Despite all the positive properties, pumpkin can cause complications and aggravate the course of concomitant diseases.
To prevent this, it is important to first discuss the advisability of consuming pumpkin with a gastroenterologist, identify and exclude possible contraindications.