The benefits and harms of pumpkin juice for men, women and children

Water is the basis of our body. Structured water with ordered intermolecular bonds is especially useful: it is what plant foods consist of. A tasty and healthy pumpkin drink contains vitamins, microelements and up to 90% structured water necessary for humans. The best varieties of pumpkin for making a drink include Honey, Parisian gold, Volzhskaya gray, Winter sweet.

Composition and properties of pumpkin juice

Let's consider what benefits and harm pumpkin juice can bring to the body.

This drink contains 30% beta-carotene, from which vitamin A is synthesized (an antioxidant that slows down the aging of the body), and 18% copper, a trace element necessary for the correct functioning of the immune and nervous systems. Copper stimulates the absorption of iron, proteins and carbohydrates, and helps saturate cells with oxygen. Calcium, magnesium, iodine and iron in pumpkin juice support the normal functioning of the body. Pectin and fiber improve intestinal function.

Pumpkin is a source of the following vitamins:

• IN - takes part in metabolic processes;
• WITH - increases immunity and protects against infections;
• E - has a positive effect on cholesterol balance, skin condition, muscle development;
• TO - improves blood clotting.

Per 100 g of drink there are 38 kcal, 0.1 g of fat, 1 g of protein, 9 g of carbohydrates, 2 g of dietary fiber and 91.8 g of water.

Beneficial properties of pumpkin juice:

• speeds up metabolism and helps reduce weight due to its low calorie content;
• eliminates excess cholesterol, cleanses the body of toxins;
• enriches with essential microelements and improves the functioning of all body systems.

Pumpkin juice is harmful in case of individual intolerance, low stomach acidity and some gastrointestinal diseases.

Why is it useful?

This drink is recommended for the prevention of heart and gastrointestinal diseases. It will also be useful for the treatment of the following diseases:

• gastritis and stomach ulcers - the juice has a mild effect on the mucous layer and digestion;
• high cholesterol - vitamins contained in vegetables dissolve cholesterol plaques;
• low hemoglobin - pumpkin, like apples, has a lot of iron, so if you have anemia, drink pumpkin or pumpkin-apple juice;
• in case of cardiac dysfunction, potassium in the juice supports the heart and blood vessels;
• the natural poison cucurbitin in pumpkin effectively and safely gets rid of parasitic worms;
• frequent colds - due to the large amount of microelements and vitamins, especially vitamin C, the drink is useful for those who often suffer from colds to strengthen the immune system. A mixture of pumpkin juice and honey reduces fever during colds;
• for insomnia - the juice is rich in magnesium, which has a calming and relaxing effect on the brain and muscles. You can add honey to a glass of freshly squeezed juice to taste;
• excess weight - a nutritious and low-calorie vegetable, which helps fight excess weight. On fasting days, it is recommended to drink a glass of pumpkin juice three times a day in addition to the vegetable menu. During a daily juice fast, drinks from other vegetables and fruits are added to the pumpkin: carrots, beets, spinach, cabbage, celery, apples.

Important! Add no more than 2 tbsp of freshly squeezed carrot and beet juice. spoons

Value for various body systems

A pumpkin drink will be useful in the following cases:

1. If you have been diagnosed with kidney or gallstones, it is recommended to drink half a glass of juice three times a day.
2. Beta-carotene restores vision and reduces the risk of developing cataracts, which is why pumpkin drink is recommended for people with low vision.
3. The vegetable restores damaged liver cells. The juice from it is taken as an additional remedy for treatment. Drink half a glass four times a day half an hour before meals.
4. In case of inflammation of the pancreas, a brewed pumpkin drink is introduced into the diet after therapeutic fasting.

Important! Raw juice is contraindicated for pancreatitis.

For women, men and children

The vegetable helps with prostate diseases in men due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Zinc contained in pumpkin is the most important component men's health. This trace element naturally increases the secretion of testosterone, has a positive effect on spermatogenesis, promotes hair growth and protects blood vessels from atherosclerosis.

Regular consumption of pumpkin juice also has a beneficial effect on women's health. Beauty vitamin E makes the skin smooth and radiant. During pregnancy, juice smoothes out mood swings, reduces nausea, and reduces muscle cramps.

Pumpkin drink is given to children from seven months as complementary food.

Attention! Check with your pediatrician before giving your child a freshly prepared drink.

Plant fiber gently improves intestinal motility and will be useful if a child is prone to constipation. If the baby does not like the taste of pumpkin, it is mixed with other vegetables and berries to taste. Apple, orange, grapefruit, currants, gooseberries are suitable.

How to cook properly

To prepare a drink from pumpkin, it is washed, peeled and seeded and cut into small pieces. To prepare, you will need a juicer or a regular grater. To get a glass of freshly squeezed juice without pulp, take 300-400 g of pumpkin and pass it through a juicer. If it is not there, cut the pumpkin into large pieces, grate it and squeeze it through several layers of gauze.

With pulp

The drink is made from boiled pumpkin, which increases shelf life.

Ingredients:

• pumpkin - 1.5 kg;
• sugar - 250 g;
• citric acid - 1 teaspoon;
• water - 1 l.

Preparation:

1. Peeled and chopped pumpkin is boiled in water for 10-15 minutes.
2. When the vegetable is cooked and becomes soft, cool it and beat it with a blender or rub it through a sieve.
3. Add sugar and acid and cook again, skimming off the foam.
4. When the foam stops appearing, the drink is ready.
5. The juice is poured into clean, dry jars, covered with lids and cooled at room temperature. Store in a cool place.

To obtain a more tasty and healthy drink, add carrot, beet, apple, orange, pear, lemon, currant or gooseberry juices to taste. You can get a delicious fresh juice with pulp if you add raspberries or bananas to pumpkin juice and blend with a blender.

With orange

Ingredients:

• pumpkin - 0.5 kg;
• sugar - 50 g;
• citric acid - 1/4 teaspoon (or juice from 1 lemon);
• half an orange.

Preparation:

1. Peeled and chopped pumpkin is poured with water and cooked over medium heat until tender.
2. When the vegetable becomes soft, it is crushed in a blender along with the water in which it was boiled, or rubbed through a sieve.
3. Squeeze the juice from half an orange and a lemon into the puree, add sugar and cook for another 10 minutes.
4. The drink is removed from the heat and cooled. Store in jars in the refrigerator.

With lemon

Ingredients:

• peeled pumpkin - 1 kg;
• juice from 1 lemon;
• sugar - 1 cup (250 ml);
• water - 2.5 l.

Preparation:

1. Peeled and chopped pumpkin is poured with water and cooked over medium heat until tender.
2. When the pumpkin becomes soft, grind it in a blender along with water or rub it through a sieve.
3. Squeeze lemon juice into the puree, add sugar and cook for another 10 minutes.
4. The drink is removed from the heat and cooled. Store in jars in the refrigerator.

With apple

Ingredients:

• peeled pumpkin - 1 kg;
• apples - 1 kg;
• sugar - 200 g;
• citric acid - 10 g.

Preparation:

1. Peeled and seeded vegetables and fruits are cut into cubes and boiled until tender. You can add a little water to the bottom of the pan to prevent the mixture from burning.
2. Soft vegetables and fruits are cooled to room temperature and crushed with a blender or rubbed through a sieve.
3. Add sugar and citric acid to the puree and cook for another 10 minutes.
4. The finished drink is stored in glass jars under lids in the refrigerator.

With dried apricots

Ingredients:

• peeled pumpkin - 1 kg;
• large carrots - 1 pc.;
• dried apricots - 200 g;
• sugar - 500 g;
• citric acid - 5 g;
• water - 3 l.

Preparation:

1. Vegetables are peeled and cut into cubes.
2. Dried apricots are poured with hot water, washed after an hour and finely chopped.
3. Combine vegetables with dried apricots and 1 liter of water and cook for 2 hours over medium heat.
4. After cooling, the mixture is pureed with a blender, sugar, citric acid and the remaining 2 liters of water are added to it. Cook over medium heat for another hour.
5. Hot juice is poured into jars sterilized in the oven and covered with boiled lids for 10 minutes.
6. The jars are turned upside down and wrapped in a blanket until they cool completely. Store in the refrigerator or cellar.

How to use juice

The drink is drunk one to three times a day 20-30 minutes before meals.The recommended daily amount is 0.5-1 glass of juice. You should not drink more than two glasses a day, otherwise the body simply will not absorb everything. For any gastrointestinal diseases, it is better to first consult a doctor.

Depending on the purpose of drinking the drink, average dosages vary:

• for the treatment and prevention of liver and gall bladder diseases - 1/4 glass three times a day (course up to 10 days) or a glass on an empty stomach;
• for urolithiasis - 1/2 glass three times a day (same duration);
• for the prevention of male diseases - 1/2 cup 2-3 times a day;
• during pregnancy - 1/2 glass in the morning.

Attention! The raw, freshly prepared drink is drunk immediately.

Contraindications

Pumpkin juice is contraindicated for:

• exacerbation pancreatitis;
• acute cholecystitis;
• diabetes in a severe stage;
• low stomach acidity.

Attention! At stomach ulcer and other severe forms of gastrointestinal disorders, pumpkin juice can be drunk only after consultation with your doctor. Improper use can worsen the patient's condition.

The drink can be harmful if you have an allergy of unknown origin.

When adding vegetables to your child’s diet, you should also first consult with a pediatrician, nutritionist or gastroenterologist.

Reviews

The juice is popular due to its valuable composition, ability to strengthen the functioning of many body systems and taste characteristics.

Daria, Omsk: “I knew that pumpkin was very healthy. I found a recipe for pumpkin juice, and it’s very simple. You need pumpkin, citric acid, a large saucepan and a blender. One caveat - it’s better to take the Honey variety. The juice turns out awesome, and most importantly, there’s a lot of it.”

Anna, Samara: “As a child, every summer I was sent to a sports camp where they gave me pumpkin juice for lunch. More than 10 years have passed since then, and so I decided to make juice at home. I’ll say right away: I’m not a fan of pumpkin, but you need to make juice like this from time to time. Very healthy and tasty."

Arthur, Sochi: “I just love pumpkin juice, my mother taught me to drink it since childhood. In the fall we drink freshly squeezed and prepare it for the winter. I’ve come across the fact that many people don’t even know that such juice exists, they’ve never tried it, they had no idea that such a delicious thing exists.”

Conclusion

A drink made from pumpkin alone or in combination with the juices of other vegetables and fruits is very useful: it activates the immune system, promotes the absorption of vitamin E, and gets rid of parasites. The vitamins and microelements contained in it are well absorbed by the body, unlike synthetic additives. Making the drink is very simple: it takes a little time and just a few ingredients, the main one being pumpkin.