Pumpkin is popular in many countries. It is grown since ancient times. Many plant loved by its unpretentious care and rich harvest. At the same time, the plant has a large number of medicinal properties. From the article you will learn what chemical elements the fruit consists of, what pumpkin has healing properties and contraindications for use.
Pumpkin: chemical composition and nutritional value
Pumpkin - an annual or perennial plant of the genus melons. Despite the fact that the pumpkin is completely unpretentious in care, it is resistant to adverse climatic conditions, diseases and pests, it grows in every garden and gives a big crop, the plant is a storehouse of useful elements.
Pumpkin fruits contain such useful elements:
- glucose;
- starch;
- carotene;
- cellulose;
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- iron;
- pectin;
- calcium;
- zinc;
- iodine;
- manganese;
- organic acids;
- squirrels.
Did you know? Pumpkin does not contain cholesterol at all, and the amount of fat per 100 g of the product is only 0, 1 g. Thus, the fruits of the plant are valuable not only with a huge amount of useful trace elements, but also because it is a dietary low-calorie product. 100 g of fruit contains 22 Kcal, of which only 0.9 Kcal is fats.
The fruits of the plant contain a rich vitamin complex:
- A;
- B;
- E;
- C;
- PP;
- K;
- T.
In view of such a rich vitamin content, a pumpkin favorably affects almost all organs and functions of the human body: vision, immunity, nervous system, urinogenital sphere, liver, stomach, intestines, skin, blood clotting, digestion. No wonder the pumpkin belongs to natural antibiotics.Nutritional value of 100 g of product:
- calories - 22 Kcal;
- water - 91, 8 g;
- carbohydrates - 4, 4 g;
- dietary fiber - 2 g;
- proteins - 1 g;
- fat - 0. 1 year
Pumpkin must be included in the diet of dietetics, as it, on the one hand, contains very little fat, and on the other, it will replenish the body with the necessary vitamins, strengthen the immune system.Important! The described complex of elements and vitamins have table pumpkin varieties. Ornamental and fodder pumpkins have a different chemical composition and do not contain medicinal properties.
Pharmacological properties of pumpkin, preparations based on pumpkin in modern medicine
Pumpkin is perfectly absorbed by the body. The process of digesting the product is about two hours. Excreted through the intestines and urinary system. Pumpkin does not contain any harmful substances, does not clog the body with slags. On the contrary, one of the beneficial chemical properties of a pumpkin is that it actively promotes the elimination of salts and toxins.
Young pumpkin goes well with almost all food products. Later fruits are not recommended to be used together with meat, fruits, cauliflower, green peas.
The medicinal properties of pumpkin for the human body are actively used in traditional and traditional medicine. In pharmacies you can see a lot of drugs based on pumpkin, among them:
- Tykveol;
- Peponen;
- Pumpkin;
- Pumpkin seed oil;
- Prostonor;
- Prostamed
These drugs mainly have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, sedative, diuretic effects. They are used for prostatitis, urogenital diseases, gastrointestinal tract, liver. Pumpkin seed oil is also used to maintain and restore visual acuity.In addition, there is a huge amount of nutritional supplements based on pumpkin, which are used as a sedative, for the prevention of neoplastic diseases.
Important! A very common type of food with pumpkin is pumpkin porridge with milk. However, pumpkin is poorly compatible with milk and fruit. Therefore, such porridge, contrary to the long-established opinion about its benefits, is poorly absorbed by the body, heavy on the stomach, and milk prevents the absorption of pumpkin and its beneficial substances by the body.
The healing properties of pumpkin are widely used in traditional medicine. On its basis, decoctions, juices, cereals, ointments are prepared. Ordinary pumpkin seeds are very useful, which you just need to dry - and the drug is ready for many ailments.
Why is a pumpkin useful?
Due to the content of a huge amount of useful ingredients and vitamin groups, pumpkin has many beneficial properties. If you are interested in what properties a pumpkin has, here is a list of the main ones:
- soothing;
- diuretic;
- laxative;
- antioxidant;
- helps to improve blood circulation;
- strengthens the vascular walls and muscles of the heart;
- improves eyesight;
- choleretic;
- anti-inflammatory;
- antiseptic;
- normalizes the formation of blood cells;
- helps to eliminate worms;
- improves material exchange;
- Beneficial effect on the skin.
Pumpkin can be baked, braised and roasted. When frying, the pumpkin loses most of its useful characteristics. But the pumpkin juice is a very valuable source of vitamins and essential elements for a person.
Useful properties of seeds
Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc. This explains most of the healing properties of pumpkin seeds. In addition, they are saturated with proteins, vitamins A, B, C, E, D, K, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, amino acids and fatty plant acids.
Recommended for use by vegetarians and people who are on a diet, as they replace the nutrients contained in meat and eggs.
Pumpkin seeds have the following therapeutic characteristics:
- promote immunity;
- strengthen nails, hair;
- prevent dry skin and wrinkles;
- normalize the secretion of sex hormones;
- help improve sperm activity;
- improve the functionality of the eggs;
- promote cleansing of blood vessels;
- accelerate the excretion of cholesterol from the body;
- improve memory;
- have a laxative effect on constipation;
- soothe nausea reflexes during toxicosis and motion sickness;
- wound healing agent.
Pumpkin seeds are widely used in the treatment of prostatitis. In this area, Prostoror and Prostamed are well known - pumpkin seed preparations that help to overcome prostatitis and improve potency.
Despite the wide range of therapeutic effects, pumpkin pulp and its seeds have some contraindications to use, which include:
- gastritis;
- acute ulcer or intestinal ulcer;
- with increased acidity of the juice of the stomach;
- intestinal obstruction;
- diabetes.
Important! The most useful seeds that have not been thermally treated. They are recommended to dry a couple of days in the sun and clean immediately before use.
Why is pumpkin pulp useful?
Pumpkin flesh can be eaten fresh, as well as baked, boiled, stewed. Frying is not recommended because the product loses many useful properties. The beneficial characteristics of the pulp include:
- adjusting the amount of cholesterol;
- promotes the healing of intestinal ulcers;
- diuretic;
- contains a large amount of folic acid;
- enriched with iron and has a beneficial effect on the formation of blood cells;
- helps to eliminate toxins from the body.
In addition, the healing properties of pumpkin for the liver are very valuable. The pulp of the fetus promotes the removal of toxic and toxic substances from the liver. Pumpkin pulp is also used for burns, eczema, dermatitis, as a wound healing agent.Did you know? Pumpkin pulp has a beneficial effect on the joints. The crushed fresh pulp is applied to the sore spot, and after a while the victim will feel a significant relief.
The benefits of drinking pumpkin juice
Pumpkin juice is a real well of useful substances, its healing properties can only be envied. Fruit juice is enriched with pectin, iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, beta-carotene, vitamins B, C, E. This product strengthens the immune system and has a beneficial effect on all organs.
Pumpkin juice has the following healing properties:
- anti-inflammatory;
- antipyretic;
- strengthens nails and hair;
- improves vision;
- cleans the gallbladder and liver of toxins;
- diuretic;
- improves blood circulation.
Important! Pumpkin juice has a strong diuretic effect. People with large stones in the kidneys or bladder should use this product with caution and only after consulting a doctor. Since the movement of large stones under the influence of a diuretic can lead to blockage of the urinary or choleretic pathways.
Pumpkin Applications
Due to the high content of vitamins and beneficial elements, the pumpkin has many medicinal properties and is widely used in traditional as well as traditional medicine, cosmetology.
The use of pumpkin in medicine is recommended for such diseases:
- with cystitis, nephritis, pyelonephritis;
- soothing with colitis;
- improves digestion and metabolic processes in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- for insomnia;
- as a sedative for depression;
- in hypertension and cardiovascular diseases;
- swelling;
- flu, acute respiratory viral infections as an anti-inflammatory and strengthening immunity;
- with reduced visual acuity;
- for the prevention of cancer;
- with liver diseases;
- thrombosis;
- inflammatory diseases.
In the field of cosmetology, pumpkin is used to combat such ailments:- allergic rash;
- eczema;
- eels;
- wrinkles;
- fistula.
Did you know? It has been scientifically proven that pumpkin seeds support sexual function in men and contribute to an increase in potency.
Can I use pumpkin pregnant
Pumpkin for pregnant women is very useful. Firstly, it promotes the removal of toxins and cholesterol, which greatly facilitates the metabolism of expectant mothers. Pumpkin juice helps with constipation and intestinal colic. In addition, this product is enriched with folic acid, which is necessary for the formation of a healthy fetus.
Pumpkin juice and pulp strengthen the immune system, which is certainly very important for the health of a pregnant woman. This is an excellent remedy for edema, inflammation of the kidneys and bladder. Pumpkin will save the future mother from painful vomiting during toxicosis, constipation.
Important! Some pregnant women may be allergic to carotene, which is rich in pumpkin. If you experience allergic reactions (itching, rash, upset stomach) should refuse to receive the product. Pumpkin seeds should not be used in case of constipation.
How to choose a pumpkin
Table pumpkin has rich medicinal properties. Its fruits are medium in size and have a bright orange color inside. To choose a good pumpkin, you should follow these recommendations:
- choose a small fruit (up to 5 kg), it will be more tasty and useful;
- the ripe fruit has a dried up tail, a dense skin with a clearly visible pattern;
- on the surface should not be rotten stains, dents and other damage;
- the orangeer the pulp of the pumpkin, the more useful it is;
- do not buy cut pieces, better ask to cut the right size slice with you.
Did you know? When buying a sliced piece, be sure to try the seed - it should be ripe, large, without putrid taste. The pulp should be fibrous. Such characteristics indicate that the piece was cut off from a ripe, good fruit.
Pumpkin: harm and contraindications
Despite the fact that pumpkin contains many nutrients and vitamins, is a dietary product, there are several contraindications to its use. These include personal intolerance and some diseases.
The list lists which diseases can not eat a pumpkin:
- diabetes;
- intestinal obstruction;
- hypertension;
- acute ulcer or intestinal ulcer;
- gastritis;
- increased acidity of gastric juice.
Thus, the pumpkin is a valuable source of vitamins and nutrients, has a wide range of therapeutic effects. However, overeating the product and its use, contrary to contraindications, only harm your health.
