You can talk a lot about the benefits and harms of pumpkin for the body. But it has much more useful properties, therefore, when used correctly, it has a beneficial effect on human health. By content useful substances it can be called a natural vitamin-mineral complex.

Pumpkin: benefits for the human body

In Europe, a plant with large orange fruits was brought by the Spaniards back in the 16th century. Nowadays, pumpkin is grown both in household plots and on huge plantations on an industrial scale. It contains no more than 25 kcal per 100 g of raw product, so it is often used as a tasty, healthy and low-calorie dish for different diets that promote weight loss. Approximately 90% of the total mass of the pumpkin is water.

With regular use, this vegetable has a positive effect on the entire body:

• improves eyesight;
• normalizes the water-salt balance;
• improves the work of the digestive tract;
• lowers blood pressure;
• cleanses the intestines from toxins and hardened waste products;
• strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
• reduces elevated level acidity in the stomach;
• normalizes sleep;
• gives energy;
• raises immunity;
• reduces swelling and removes excess water from the body;
• improves metabolism;
• renews cells and improves tissue regeneration.

The fruit contains all the elements necessary for eye health. Pumpkin contains a lot of carotenoid, a substance on which visual acuity depends. The vegetable contains a lot of fiber, which is so necessary for normal operation intestines. Pumpkin does not cause bloating and increased gas formation, so it can be eaten without fear. The vegetable is often used in traditional medicine for cleansing the liver and gallbladder. One unloading day on raw pumpkin gruel is enough to noticeably improve the condition of the organs.

The fruit is good for both men and women. The substances contained in it increase stamina and strengthen the immune system. In men, pumpkin normalizes work prostate, helps women slow down aging, preserve the beauty of hair and nails.

Beneficial features pumpkins are also known in cosmetology. Masks from it help to restore freshness and a radiant appearance to the face, get rid of inflammation, smooth out fine wrinkles. The main thing is to do these procedures regularly, at least 1 time in 2-3 days. The duration of the course is 7 weeks.

Which pumpkin is healthier: raw or processed?

The benefits of raw pumpkin are undeniable, so it is best to use the fruit in this form. True, many still doubt whether it is possible to eat a vegetable raw. Nutritionists say that salads and mashed potatoes raw vegetable very useful for digestion, besides, they help get rid of excess fat. After festive feast it is useful to eat a few pieces of raw vegetables - this will facilitate the work of the stomach. The main thing is that the pumpkin is fully ripe. Eating a raw, unripe vegetable can harm the body.

Heat treatment reduces the amount of vitamins and minerals. However, even in this form, it brings even a smaller, but noticeable benefit. Baked pumpkin removes toxins, reduces the load on the heart. It is especially good to eat processed pumpkin for young children and the elderly. The raw fruit is too hard for old people and heavy for the stomach of babies. Therefore, processed pumpkin is the best choice for these categories of people.

The benefits and harms of pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds are rich in vitamins, minerals and beneficial acids. They are very high in calories, so in some situations you should not abuse them. The seeds can be eaten raw or dried. It is better to refuse frying or baking seeds, as this loses most of the useful properties.

It is necessary to mention the benefits of pumpkin seeds for the stronger sex, as they contain a lot of zinc. And just this element plays a big role in the development male hormone- testosterone. If a man eats 10 seeds every day, this will protect him from diseases of the urogenital area. In general, seeds can be eaten by everyone: children, adults, old, pregnant and lactating women.

Pumpkin milk can be made from seeds, which helps well with kidney diseases. You need to take 1 tbsp. pumpkin seeds, grind in a mortar, from time to time adding boiled and chilled water (300 ml). Strain the liquid, sweeten with honey to taste and drink 1-2 tbsp. l. during the whole day.

For kidney disease, you can make tea. For 1 st. l. seeds, you need to take 200 ml of boiling water, insist at least ½ hour. You need to drink at least 3 tbsp per day. drink.

What is useful and harmful pumpkin juice?

9 parts by weight of this large orange vegetable is water. But this is a little misunderstood, in fact it is not water, but a healthy, nutritious and well-structured liquid. It contains a lot of pectin and vitamin A. These substances improve blood circulation, reduce the level of bad cholesterol, and have a beneficial effect on vision. Such a drink good remedy from colds, insomnia, heart disease. Juice removes excess fluid, so it is recommended to drink it with dropsy and swelling. The duration of such treatment is 2 weeks, while every day you need to drink 4 times 3 tbsp. l. juice.

Juice should only be drunk freshly squeezed. The longer it sits, the less useful substances remain in it.

It is better to make such a drink with your own hands. Manufacturers often add preservatives, colors, and flavors to store-bought products. At home, you can add sugar, honey or lemon to improve the taste.

100 ml of juice before bedtime eliminates insomnia, calms nerves and provides good vacation. Regular consumption of this drink strengthens the immune system and makes it able to resist colds and infectious diseases. For this purpose, it is recommended to drink 100 ml of fresh juice daily 30 minutes before breakfast.

This juice is good to give to young children. You need to start with a small dose so as not to provoke an allergy, gradually increasing the dosage. If children refuse to drink in pure form, it can be diluted with apple juice.

Pumpkin oil: benefits and harms, how to take

Pumpkin seed oil, made from pulp and seeds, has a high nutritional value. It contains at least 50 useful elements and lots of vitamins. It is used to cleanse the body, treat many diseases of the genitourinary, digestive and nervous systems.

To get rid of excess weight it is useful to drink oil 3 times a day for 1 tsp. For the entire course, you need to drink about 500 ml.

In spring and autumn, to strengthen immunity, it is recommended to drink 1 tsp. funds per day. Oil can be instilled into the nose with a runny nose, lubricate the throat with a sore throat, rub the chest when coughing.

Pumpkin oil has strong bactericidal and regenerating properties. It contains a lot of antioxidants that slow down the aging process, rejuvenate and protect cells. Therefore, cosmetics based on it have a good effect on the condition of the skin and curls.

Healthy Pumpkin Dishes: Top 5 Recipes

You can use everything except the peel, as it is too tough. The main thing is to choose the right main ingredient. Do not choose the largest fruit. It is better that the pumpkin is medium in size, weighing no more than 5 kg, with a dried brown tail. The peel must be whole, without defects, spots and cracks. When pressed with a finger, there should be no dent.

Anything can be made from pumpkin. Most often, soup-puree, porridge, casserole, pancakes, mousse, soufflé, jam are prepared.

Porridge

Delicate milk porridge with pumpkin will appeal to many children.

Ingredients:

• fruit pulp - 500 g;
• apple - 1 pc.;
• milk - 700 ml;
• cereals (optional) - 60 g;
• honey, cinnamon, vanillin.

Cut the apple and pumpkin into cubes. Boil milk, add cereals, cook on minimum heat for ¼ hour. Add diced fruits, cook until soft. Before serving, sweeten with honey, season with oil and spices.

Salad

It is best to eat the vegetable raw in the form of a salad.

Ingredients:

• pulp - 200 g;
• apple - 4 pcs.;
• lemon - 1 pc.;
• honey - 2 tsp;
• walnuts - a handful.

Grind the fruits on a coarse grater. Remove the zest from the lemon and add to the salad. Refuel lemon juice and honey. Grind the nuts with a rolling pin, and decorate the dish.

Soup puree

Pumpkin makes delicious tender puree soups.

Sweet Soufflé Ingredients:

• pulp - 200 g;
• flour - 2 tbsp. l.;
• eggs - 2 pcs.;
• sugar - 25 g;
• butter- slice.

Cut the pulp into large cubes and cook for 10 minutes. Separate the yolks from the whites. Beat the last until fluffy foam. Rub the yolks with sugar. Drain the pumpkin in a colander and puree. Add yolks and flour. Gently fold in the whipped egg whites. Put in pre-oiled forms and bake ½ hour at a temperature of 190 degrees. Serve with jam or jam.

Contraindications and possible harm from use

Do not eat pumpkin for people with such diseases:

• gastritis with low acidity;
• stomach ulcer;
• intestinal colic;
• diabetes.

It should be clarified that diabetics should not get carried away only with heat-treated pumpkin, as it has an increased glycemic index. Raw vegetable dishes are very useful.

People with gallstones need to take pumpkin very carefully. It has a strong choleretic effect, and if in gallbladder there are big stones, everything can end badly.

After snacking on pumpkin seeds, it is advisable to rinse your mouth with water, as they contain acids that destroy tooth enamel.

Feb-7-2017

What is a pumpkin?

What is a pumpkin, the benefits and harms of pumpkins for the human body, what does it have medicinal properties, all this is of great interest to those who lead healthy lifestyle life, looks after his health, and is interested in folk methods treatment, including with the help of fruits and berries. So we will try to answer these questions in the following article.

Pumpkin is probably familiar to everyone. It is distinguished by high productivity, unpretentious, well and long stored. Let's talk today about its beneficial properties. Many of us underestimate it, but in vain.

Pumpkin - ancient culture originating from the regions of Central America, Persia, Asia Minor. It was brought to Russia in the 19th century. Currently, pumpkin is common in almost all regions of our country, with the exception of the Far North. For cultivation, three types of pumpkin are used - large-fruited, hard-barked and nutmeg.

At the same time, varieties of large-fruited and nutmeg pumpkins are mainly grown in the south, and hard-barked varieties are grown in the central regions.

Pumpkin is an annual, monoecious, dioecious herbaceous plant. root system it is very powerful, consisting of the main tap root, penetrating to a depth of 1–1.7 meters, lateral, adnexal and small suction roots. Their main part is located at a depth of 40-50 cm, and individual roots penetrate to a depth of 4-5 meters. Horizontal lateral branches of the roots extend from the stem within a radius of 4–5 meters or more. The total length of the roots of one plant reaches 25 kilometers.

The stem is creeping, long, reaching 4-5 meters. Shoots of the first order depart from the main stem, shoots of the second order depart from them, and so on.

The leaves are large (reach 25 centimeters in diameter), with long petioles. In the axils of each leaf, tendrils and flowers are formed.

More resistant to heat and drought varieties have a strongly dissected leaf blade. In some forms, air-bearing tissue can form under the epidermis - aerenchyma, which protects the leaves from overheating (sometimes gardeners mistakenly take areas of aerenchyma on the leaf surface as traces of the spread of diseases).

The flowers are large, solitary, yellow or orange. female flowers come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, depending on the type and variety.

Most often, the flowers are unisexual, solitary, there are hermaphroditic. The total number of male flowers per plant is 20–25 times greater than the number of female flowers. The male flowers of the pumpkin are located on the main stem, and the female flowers are more often on the lateral branches of the 1st order.

Most of all, a pumpkin is valued, of course, for its fruits.

The pumpkin fruit is a multi-seeded false berry (pumpkin), reaching enormous sizes. The shape (from round to serpentine) and the color of pumpkin fruits are very diverse. The seed cavity of the pumpkin is partially or completely filled with placentas with seeds. Flesh color ranges from pure white and cream to orange and reddish yellow.

The fruits of most varieties reach 4–10 kilograms, for large-fruited pumpkins - up to 100 kilograms. Seeds are ellipsoid, skinned or naked, of various sizes and colors depending on the species and variety. They remain viable for 4–5 years.

Beneficial features:

Pumpkin fruits - the most valuable product nutrition.

By content healing substances pumpkin is superior to many other vegetables. It contains sugars, carotene, vitamins C, B1, B2, B5, B6, E, PP and such rare vitamin T conducive to acceleration metabolic processes in the body, vitamin K, necessary for blood clotting, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, cellulose, pectin, minerals, including potassium, calcium, iron.

Carotene in pumpkin is five times more than in carrots and three times more than in beef liver. For this reason, ophthalmologists recommend that people with visual impairments consume pumpkin and pumpkin juice.

What is useful pumpkin:

• The use of pumpkin will improve our metabolism, increase immunity, cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, and also help to lose weight.
• The healing vegetable helps well with heart diseases, fights with cardiac arrhythmia, reduces high blood pressure, saves from coronary disease, atherosclerosis, anemia.
• Pumpkin therapy is recommended for diseases of the liver, pancreas, gallbladder and biliary tract various etiologies, in particular with hepatitis, dyskinesia of the biliary tract and gallbladder; pumpkin helps with gallstones and nephrolithiasis has been successfully used in chronic kidney disease.
• Baked and boiled pumpkin pulp and juice from it are wonderful diuretic, choleretic and laxative agents.
• Pumpkin pulp with an almost neutral environment helps the healing of gastric and duodenal ulcers.
• Doctors recommend using pumpkin for those who have bronchial problems, in particular for chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma; pumpkin is also shown in tuberculosis.
• A decoction of a pumpkin flower helps to heal purulent wounds. Raw pumpkin pulp treats boils, burns, skin rashes.
• pumpkin improves functional activity intestines, recommended for constipation and hemorrhoids; with diseases of the genitourinary sphere; for the prevention and treatment of prostatitis and inflammation of the prostate gland.
• The pumpkin is shown diabetes, gastritis with hyperacidity, colitis, enterocolitis, dysbacteriosis.
• Pumpkin removes excess cholesterol from the body and prevents blockage of blood vessels. This is the prevention of atherosclerosis and memory impairment.
• Pumpkin fights obesity, edema of any origin.
• The orange fruit helps with gout and osteochondrosis.
• Regular consumption of pumpkin will restore strength, remove insomnia, and help both the female and male bodies.
• Pumpkin juice calms the nervous system.
• Pumpkin - a cure for skin diseases, a remedy for strengthening hair and nails, ambulance with chapped lips, acne, dandruff, conjunctivitis.
• Pumpkin oil is a medicine and prevention for many diseases: it improves metabolism, strengthens the immune system, has a beneficial effect on blood composition, improves the functioning of the intestines, stomach, liver, kidneys, and bladder.

Contraindications:

Pumpkin should not be consumed:

• For gastritis with low acidity
• In violation of the acid-base balance.
• With intestinal colic.
• Raw pumpkin is not recommended for high blood sugar.
• Various acids contained in pumpkin seeds adversely affect tooth enamel. After using them, rinse your mouth with water.

Of course, the pulp, juice and pumpkin seeds should be consumed with a sense of proportion.

How to choose a pumpkin?

First of all, you need to decide on the variety. Pumpkins are divided into decorative, fodder and table. Table pumpkins are suitable for food, it is about them that we will talk today.

How to choose the right variety?

Varieties of pumpkin are also divided into winter and summer, winter - those that are eaten ripe, summer - not ripe.

• Winter pumpkins: firm flesh and skin, best for pie fillings and roasts.
• Summer pumpkins: the pulp and peel are softer, suitable for boiling, frying, stewing.

How to choose a pumpkin in appearance?

First of all, let's decide what the perfect pumpkin should look like.

Shape - round or elongated (oval), size - medium (pumpkins are especially large size although they look impressive, most often they turn out to be excessively dry or, on the contrary, watery, and their taste is bitter). The optimal weight of a pumpkin is 3-5 kg, no more. Attention! Always use a scale, don't pick pumpkins by eye, good mature pumpkins can weigh much more than they first appear. The color of the pulp of the pumpkin should be rich yellow or even orange. Remember that the color of pumpkin pulp depends on the amount of vitamin A it contains - the more vitamin, the richer the color - and has nothing to do with the color of the peel. The peel should be dense, but not "wooden".

Now we give a few rules that must be followed when choosing a pumpkin.

• Always pay attention to the tail. It must fall off on its own! If you see that the tail of the pumpkin is cut off, this most likely means that it was picked ahead of time and the vegetable simply did not have time to ripen.
• The skin of the pumpkin should be tight. Many housewives recommend pressing on it with a fingernail, if it was not possible to push through the skin, then the pumpkin is ripe.
• If the pumpkin peel is dense and covered with natural wax (it protects the pumpkin from premature drying out), such a fruit will be stored much longer.
• Pumpkin varieties with small fruits are best suited for cooking various dishes. The color of the skin of such pumpkins is usually bright, rich, with a slight bluish tint, and the taste is sweet and mild.
• It is better not to buy a cut pumpkin, if the fruit is too large, ask the seller to cut it in front of you. A pre-cut pumpkin may be dried out or rotten.
• If you still decide to buy a chopped pumpkin, there is a little trick - if there are seeds left in the pulp, take one of them and taste it. Seeds should be ripe (which also indicates the ripeness of the pumpkin itself) and large, which means that they have absorbed a lot of useful properties.

Pumpkin preparations for the winter:

Pumpkin puree:

Peel a well-ripened pumpkin from the peel and seeds, cut into slices, dip in boiling water for 3-4 minutes and rub through a sieve. Heat pumpkin puree to 80-90 ° C, put into jars and sterilize:

With a capacity of 0.5 l - 35 minutes,

1 liter capacity - 45 minutes. Store in a cool place.

Pumpkin-apple puree:

• 1 kg pumpkin
• 1 kg apples

Prepare a puree from a well-ripened pumpkin with intensely colored pulp.

cook applesauce, mix with pumpkin in a ratio of 1:1, heat to 80-90 ° C, pack in jars and pasteurize at 90 ° C:

With a capacity of 0.5 l - 8–10 minutes,

1 liter capacity - 12-15 minutes.

Pickled pumpkin:

• 1 medium pumpkin
• 500 ml 9% vinegar
• 200 g honey

Remove skin and seeds from pumpkin and cut into small pieces. Boil water, dip the pumpkin into boiling water, let it boil once, put it on a sieve and cool.

Do this 2 more times. Then mix the vinegar and honey, boil and put the pumpkin into it and cook until it becomes soft. Then pour everything into a bowl, let cool, put in a jar and cork.

Pumpkin Apple and Lemon Jam:

• 200 g pumpkin
• 300 g apples
• 1 lemon
• sugar
• cardamom
• cinnamon

Boil the pumpkin, make a puree, add the apples cut into slices, mix. Cut the zest from the lemon, add it along with sugar to the pumpkin and apples. Mix and put on fire. Cook covered for 10 minutes.

Cut half a lemon into cubes, add to the jam, put cinnamon and ground cardamom in the same place.

Cook uncovered for 5 minutes over low heat.

Pour hot jam into jars and seal tightly.

Cold pumpkin jam:

• 2 kg pumpkin
• 2 oranges
• 2 lemons
• 1.7 kg sugar

Peel the pumpkin, orange and lemon from the skin, orange and lemon from the grains. Turn everything through a meat grinder.

Add granulated sugar, mix everything thoroughly.

Let stand at room temperature until all sugar has dissolved. Divide into jars and refrigerate.

Pumpkin Jam with Cranberries:

• 600 g pumpkin
• 500 g cranberries
• 700 g sugar

Cut the pumpkin into small cubes, put in a saucepan, pour water to cover the pumpkin. Bring to a boil (without closing the lid), reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. During this time, the water is almost completely absorbed into the pumpkin. Rinse the cranberries, crush with a wooden crusher, add to the pumpkin, mix.

Add sugar. Stir, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and cook without closing the lid and stirring occasionally for 25-30 minutes.

Pour into sterilized jars and seal tightly.

Pumpkin marmalade:

• 3 kg pumpkin
• 1.5 kg sugar
• 150 ml vinegar
• 4 cloves
• cinnamon
• 2 liters of water

Sliced ​​pumpkin boil with cinnamon and cloves until soft. Pass through a meat grinder or sieve, add sugar and continue to cook, 15 minutes before cooking, add vinegar or citric acid. If a drop of marmalade does not spread on a plate, then it is ready.

Arrange marmalade hot in jars and seal tightly.

Frozen Grated Pumpkin:

Wash the pumpkin well, cut off both ends and cut off the peel. Cut the pumpkin lengthwise into two (or four) parts and remove the seeds with the core. Wash the pumpkin, put it on a sieve and grate.

Fill prepared container and freeze.

What is useful pumpkin?

For women:

Women who regularly consume pumpkin get a healthy skin tone and a light tan due to the content of a substance called carotene in the product. Vegetable pulp suitable for cooking cosmetic masks. Some say that pumpkin removes oil from the face, helps cleanse pores and prevents the formation of blackheads.

Pumpkin for a woman's body can be an indispensable product for weight loss. By energy value the product is three times inferior to potatoes, and it can be consumed fried, baked and stewed, while the calorie content of pumpkin is minimal. The vegetable is rich in vitamin T, which helps digest heavy meals. Pumpkin is also rich in vitamins B, D, E and PP, and the pectins present in it help to remove bad cholesterol and slag.

For men:

Pumpkin seeds are very beneficial for men. The acids they contain (alpha-lipoic, linoleic, folic), as well as polyunsaturated fatty acids, have a great impact on men's health.

In addition, the seeds contain zinc. This element is required for normal state, prostate health. Therefore, in order to prevent prostatitis, men are advised to eat a handful of pumpkin seeds every day.

Seed components such as zinc, phosphorus improve the work digestive tract, contribute good eyesight, restore reproductive function. Fresh juice, if you drink a glass of it a day, improves male sexual power.

Cardiovascular diseases overtake modern men even at a young age. The use of pumpkin seeds healthy juice with pulp significantly strengthens blood vessels, improves heart health - thanks to vitamin F.

Scientists from the University of Chicago have found that the aroma of fresh pumpkin and pumpkin pie awakens strong half humanity's sexual desire.

For children:

pumpkin for kids indispensable product. Nutritionists recommend giving it to children when they have problems with the intestines. Raw pulp improves its functioning - this is greatly facilitated by the fiber and organic acids that it contains.

• With constipation and colitis, freshly squeezed pumpkin juice is prescribed.
• Pumpkin juice with honey has a calming effect. If the child is overexcited and can not sleep, give him half a glass of delicious drink.
• Pumpkin dishes for children with anemia should be on children's table everyday.

For the elderly:

Elderly people are very useful and another representative of orange vegetables - pumpkin, which does not require much care during cultivation, storage, can reach a weight of up to 100 kg. It contains a lot of sugar (12–20%), salts of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, B vitamins, vitamins C, E, as well as carotene (provitamin A), which gives the pumpkin a yellow color, indoles.

For older people, it is very important that pumpkin is easily digestible and does not irritate the gastrointestinal tract. It contains more pectin than apples and beets. Due to the high content of potassium, it has a diuretic effect, therefore it is recommended in the diet of elderly people with diseases of the heart and blood vessels. A significant content of iron in the pumpkin contributes to its use in dietary nutrition for anemia.

You can include many pumpkin dishes in the diet: soups, fried, baked pumpkin, pancakes, puddings, casseroles, pumpkin broth, compote, jellies, jams, marshmallows, candied fruits. Suitable for eating and raw pumpkin (in the form of snacks and salads, finely chopped or chopped, mixed with other vegetables or fruits).

The seeds and pulp of pumpkin fruits are widely used for medicinal purposes. A decoction and powder are prepared from the seeds of this plant. Pumpkin seeds are rich in oil (up to 50%), contain vitamins B1, C, carotene, proteins and sugars, were used in folk medicine for liver diseases and as an expectorant. Currently pumpkin seeds(after removal of the husk, but while maintaining a grayish-green skin on the surface) are used in the treatment helminthic invasions- tape and round worms, roundworms and pinworms.

Elderly people are advised to use pumpkin pulp to improve metabolism, as a diuretic, mild laxative and anti-inflammatory agent. Pulp boiled with honey is eaten for diseases of the bladder, liver, kidneys, as well as cardiovascular diseases causing edema. It is also used externally - applied for burns, eczema, rashes to inflamed areas skin.

Porridge on honey from the pulp of pumpkin and millet as a means of cleansing the body

Porridge on honey from millet and pumpkin pulp improves bowel function, increases diuresis, enhances the release of chlorides from the body. It is especially useful in colitis with insufficient bowel movements. as a diuretic and cholagogue eat raw (0.5 kg per day), boiled, baked pumpkin (1.5–3 kg per day for 3–4 months). Pumpkin is shown 2 times a day, 50 g in the form of porridge, also for pyelonephritis, acute and chronic cystitis and some forms of urethritis.

Decoction of pumpkin flowers for wound healing

A decoction of pumpkin flowers is used to heal wounds, and from cuttings - as an effective diuretic. A decoction of the stalks is used for diseases of the liver, kidneys and heart, for the treatment of gastritis with high acidity, as well as peptic ulcer stomach and duodenum.

Medicinal properties of pumpkin:

Pumpkin from pressure:

• 200 g pumpkin pulp
• 50 g seedless raisins
• 50 g wheat germ
• 50 g honey

1. Finely chop steamed raisins, grind wheat grains with a coffee grinder, grate pumpkin pulp.
2. Combine the prepared ingredients, add honey and mix thoroughly.
3. Take 200–250 g of the mixture for breakfast for 1 month with hypertension.

Edema treatment:

• 10 g pumpkin cuttings
• 5 g pumpkin flowers
• 10 g blackcurrant leaves
• 400 ml water

1. Mix the crushed vegetable raw materials, add water, bring to a boil and keep on low heat for 10-15 minutes.
2. Cool the medicine, strain and take 80 ml 2-3 times a day as a diuretic for high blood pressure.

Prevention of atherosclerosis:

• 15 g pumpkin flowers
• 100 fresh hawthorn fruits
• 550 ml vodka

1. Pass hawthorn fruits through a meat grinder, crush pumpkin flowers.
2. Put the prepared raw materials into a dark glass bottle, pour vodka and insist for 1 week.
3. Strain the medicine and take 20 drops with 30 ml of water 2 times a day to cleanse and strengthen vascular walls, as well as the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Treatment of prostatitis:

• 15 ml pumpkin seed oil

Take 15 ml of pumpkin seed oil 3-4 times a day before meals for 1 month to improve the condition of prostate adenoma, prostatitis and reduce potency.

Liver cleanse:

• 1 pumpkin
• 300 ml liquid acacia honey

1. Cut the top off the pumpkin and remove the seeds.
2. Fill the resulting hole with honey, place the top on top, cover with dough and leave in a dark place for 1.5 weeks.
3. Ready honey to take 20 g 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals for 3 weeks to cleanse the liver.

Recipes from the book by I. Zaitseva “Pumpkin is a cure for 100 diseases. Affordable miracle doctor of the body.

Is pumpkin good for weight loss?

The main difficulty for losing weight is that they cannot stop eating in time. Experts recommend getting up from the table with a slight feeling of hunger, drinking more purified (but not boiled) water. You should not sit at the table for the company, while watching TV or reading. It is important to understand that proper nutrition It is a habit that is developed once and is observed constantly. It is impossible to maintain health and harmony, periodically breaking down and returning to the previous way of life.

You can lose weight with the pumpkin diet. It also promotes rejuvenation, as it helps the body to cleanse itself of toxins and toxins. Following the rules of the pumpkin diet allows you to lose 3-4 kg per week without the painful feeling of hunger and exhausting exercises. Of course, physical activity is mandatory, but they must be feasible and not cause overwork. It is enough to do exercises for the press and muscles of the buttocks daily, as well as do push-ups (20–25 repetitions, 2 trips for each muscle group). It is better to practice in the morning, immediately after waking up.

One of the advantages of the pumpkin diet is the variety of the menu, which includes cereals, soups, mashed potatoes, puddings, pumpkin cakes and salads. Zucchini and squash are vegetable variety pumpkins, so they can also be used to prepare low-calorie dishes.

The daily caloric content of the diet is 1000-1200 kcal. In this way, stable weight loss can be achieved without compromising health. The exit from the diet should be gradual: you need to enter into the menu not a large number of fat-free or low-fat cottage cheese, lean meat, seafood and fish.

It is desirable that breakfast, lunch and dinner during the pumpkin diet take place at the same time. As snacks, coffee without sugar and cream, unsweetened green tea, mineral water and low-calorie fruits (grapefruit, green apples, etc.).

In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, before starting a diet, a consultation with a gastroenterologist is necessary.

Not everyone knows that South America is the birthplace of the pumpkin, and the cultivation of the plant was started by the Indians more than five thousand years ago. The indigenous people of the continent used pumpkin pulp for cooking variety of dishes, the seeds were used to produce oil, and the peel was suitable for making dishes.

On the territory of Russia, the cultivation of pumpkin has been practiced since the 16th century. Today, the "sunny" vegetable is very popular, as an indisputable fact is the undeniable benefits of pumpkin for human health.

The benefits and harms of pumpkin for the body, composition, nutritional value of the vegetable, indications, contraindications for its use are analyzed below.

Delicious, beautiful pumpkin, the benefits and harms of which have been studied by scientists for quite some time. long period, is considered a real "storehouse" of valuable substances, vitamins, minerals. The distribution of mass components in a vegetable is as follows: 75% of the weight falls on the pulp, 10% on the seeds, 15% on the peel.

Hard pumpkin skin is not suitable for food, but in cooking, medicine, the pulp and seeds of the culture are actively used. Often, flowers, stalks of a plant are used for medicinal purposes.

Scientific analysis nutritional value gave pumpkins interesting results. In 100 gr. vegetables are present: fats (1 gr.), Proteins (1 gr.), Water (91.8 gr.), Carbohydrates (4.4 gr.). The calorie content of the vegetable leaves 22 kcal / 100 gr.

The unique beneficial properties of pumpkin are largely due to the presence in its composition of an impressive amount of substances that have a beneficial effect on the human body.

Scientists note a significant content of vitamin C in the vegetable, which contributes to raising immunity, which is a "salvation" from seasonal colds.

When studying information about how pumpkin is useful, you should pay attention to the presence of vitamin T in its composition, which is very rare in other vegetables. Vitamin T has positive influence for easier absorption junk food, which is very important for those who suffer from overweight. Also, it counteracts anemia, helps in the formation of platelets, improves blood clotting.

Pectins, a large number of yellow, orange types of carotene, exceeding those for carrots, were found in the composition of the pumpkin. Pumpkin contains the most valuable vitamin K, which is absent from other vegetables. It is necessary for the implementation of the process of protein synthesis, the formation of bone tissue.

In addition, the pumpkin contains: vitamins A, B, D, E, F, PP; macro-, microelements; phosphorus, potassium, calcium, cobalt, iron, copper, magnesium; cellulose; vegetable sugar; other valuables. You can read more about the varieties of pumpkin.

An overview of the beneficial properties of pumpkin

The unique benefits of pumpkin for the human body are explained by its wonderful healing abilities. The vegetable has wound healing, anti-inflammatory, vasodilating, cleansing properties.

The pulp of the culture contains substances that affect calming nervous system, normalization of the gastrointestinal tract, improvement of metabolic processes, bile, urination. Scientists have discovered in the plant a substance that has an overwhelming effect on the development of tubercle bacilli.

Information: how pumpkin is useful for the human body, speaks of the ability of the pulp to remove excess water, toxins, cholesterol. Since ancient times, the antiemetic properties of a vegetable, its ability to slow down the aging process, have been known.

The vegetable is effective for constipation, intestinal infections, hemorrhoids, obesity, skin diseases, dandruff, seborrhea, nervous disorders oh, colds, tonsillitis, caries, cardiovascular diseases.

Pumpkin is often used in agriculture as a vitamin supplement to the diet. poultry, animals. An inexperienced farmer may be worried about the question: “Can rabbits have a pumpkin?” - the answer to which will be positive. When deciding whether to give rabbits a pumpkin or not, you need to know that a boiled or raw vegetable is very useful for eared animals. Often it is issued along with compound feed.

How to use pumpkin?

What is the best way to take pumpkin? Modern people use pumpkin pulp in different forms: raw, boiled, baked, dried. Often the vegetable is frozen. Naturally, the benefits of raw pumpkin for the body are considered the greatest. The frozen pulp retains a maximum of useful substances, which leads to its use almost all year round. In addition, seeds and inflorescences of culture are considered valuable.

raw pumpkin

Many people enjoy drinking Fresh Juice squeezed from pumpkin pulp. Whole slices of raw vegetables are used to prepare side dishes, salads. If you are interested in the question: what is the use of raw pumpkin, you should know that its use contributes to the loss extra pounds; tissue regeneration; improvement of vision; getting rid of insomnia, nervous disorders; removal of excess fluid, toxins; strengthening immunity; normalization of pressure, work of the gastrointestinal tract,

In a person who has thoroughly dined and ate at last raw pumpkin the digestion process is much faster. noted therapeutic effect pumpkin juice at kidney disease, anemia, constipation. Its use stimulates the processes of removing cholesterol, increasing hemoglobin, and improving blood coagulation.

baked pumpkin

Having received information: what is the use of raw pumpkin, it is also worth learning about positive properties baked vegetable. An oven-roasted pumpkin contains the maximum amount of potassium, which is essential for normal functioning of cardio-vascular system. Baked pumpkin cleanses the body. It has a good effect on the cleansing of the kidneys, bladder, elimination of toxins. Steamed pumpkin is often recommended for people suffering from cystitis, pyelonephritis, kidney stones.

Doctors quite often advise the use of baked pumpkin as a restorative remedy for people who have had hepatitis, cholecystitis. Pumpkin baked with sugar is considered an effective remedy for insomnia, nerve disorders. Often a vegetable that has undergone heat treatment, for example, fried pumpkin, is being introduced into weight loss programs.

boiled pumpkin

Even our distant ancestors knew the benefits of pumpkin boiled in water for the body. In particular, boiled pumpkin is indicated for chronic cough, lung diseases. Modern cosmetologists actively use moisturizers, nourishing masks based on boiled chopped pumpkin.

boiled pumpkin

dried pumpkin

Dried pumpkin retains many valuable qualities. Studying the question: the health benefits and harms of pumpkin, you need to pay attention to the ability of a dried vegetable to restore strength during physical activity, strengthen memory, have a positive effect on the improvement of digestion, the removal of bile, mucus from the body.

dried pumpkin

Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds are rich in proteins, zinc, proteins, organic acids, vitamins, oils, carotene. Raw or dried seeds are edible. Flour from pumpkin seeds is also in demand, which is also useful.
Physicians warn against overuse seeds, as overeating can cause nausea, vomiting. Frying in a pan, baking seeds in the oven are not welcome due to the loss of most of the useful properties. Maximum term storage of dried seeds is 2 years.

Pumpkin seed is considered an excellent preventive measure for diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Greatest Benefit for the body of a man represent raw seeds ripened pumpkin with a green shell. Seeds contain a lot of zinc, valuable trace elements that affect longevity, male power.

pumpkin flowers

Pumpkin flowers are an effective cough remedy (therapeutic, preventive). The flowers of the culture, wrapped in dough, are baked in the oven. Eating such cakes is recommended during severe attacks cough. Also, healing decoctions are prepared from the flowers.

pumpkin flowers

In what cases is pumpkin contraindicated?

Doctors have determined the benefits and harms of raw pumpkin for the human body, including the intestines. Doctors strongly do not recommend eating vegetables for people who have acid-base imbalances and diabetes. Do not include pumpkin in the diet of those who suffer from peptic ulcer digestive organs, gastritis. Also, the reason for refusal may be individual intolerance product.

Pumpkin on the men's menu

Men will certainly be interested in the beneficial properties of pumpkin and contraindications, tips for its use. Representatives of the stronger sex are recommended to include juice, seeds, baked vegetables in the menu. This will normalize cardiac activity, will be an excellent prevention of atherosclerosis, adenoma, prostatitis.

Ripe pumpkin is considered an excellent tool that supports male sexual tone. The vitamins present in the vegetable help the body produce testosterone, healthy sperm.

Pumpkin on the woman's menu

The huge benefits of pumpkin for a woman's body are obvious. The fair sex can eat raw, baked, boiled pumpkin, seeds. Properly prepared dishes with pumpkin contribute to weight loss, elimination of cholesterol, compounds heavy metals, help with gynecological diseases(cervical erosion, infertility, vaginitis, inflammation).

Often, a vegetable is recommended for women during menopause, as well as for pregnant women. future mother can include dishes with pumpkin in the diet. This will ensure the completion of the body's needs for calcium, magnesium, iron, and prevent anemia.

Cosmetologists know the benefits and harms of raw pumpkin for women's skin. Vegetable-based oil will help get rid of wrinkles, make the skin supple, elastic, remove acne, and clean pores. Such masks are not suitable for women prone to allergies.

Pumpkin in the children's menu

Before introducing a baby pumpkin into the menu, it is advisable to consult a pediatrician. In the absence of contraindications, the mother can safely include a variety of dishes from this vegetable in the child's diet.

Pumpkin will positively affect children's health, help improve sleep, calm the nervous system. Pumpkin juice has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and kidneys. Since the vegetable is rich in fiber, it will be extremely beneficial for the baby's stomach.

The use of pumpkin by a child will be the key to the normalization of digestion, better assimilation nutrients to support the immune system. Many doctors are sure that pumpkin contains a maximum of valuable vitamins, elements that contribute to normal growth, development of children. In addition, the use of pumpkin seeds will help to easily cope with a common childhood problem - worms.

Vitamin "treasury"

Pumpkin is not in vain called a vitamin "treasury".

A sunny vegetable is rich not only in the most valuable vitamins, but also in a variety of useful substances.

A pumpkin can be called a record holder not only in terms of size, but also in terms of healing properties. Man began to actively use it more than 8 thousand years ago. This is evidenced by the seeds found by archaeologists in Africa and America.

Ancient Indian tribes made drinking vessels from ripe specimens. Thus, calabash was born. A little later the inhabitants South America began to eat pumpkin pulp. This vegetable was popular in ancient Greece and Rome. And our Slavic ancestors began to grow pumpkin from the 16th century.

Today, this melon culture has more than 20 varieties that differ in shape, color and size. The most popular garden pumpkin, which has a lot of useful properties.

pumpkin has high content vitamins C, B1, B2, B5, B6, E, PP and even vitamin T (rare). Vitamin T is responsible for the acceleration of metabolic processes and improves blood counts.

Pumpkin pulp contains a lot of vitamin C and vitamin E, as well as beta-carotene (in terms of carotene content, it surpasses carrots and beef liver). All these are powerful antioxidants that prevent the aging of every cell in your body, fight against pigmentation disorders and smooth out even the smallest wrinkles. By the way, the vegetable itself is 90% water.

Another pumpkin is rich in sugars, contains cellulose and a large amount of pectin (removes harmful substances from the body), potassium, iron and calcium. An impressive percentage of iron - reliable protection from anemia.

What is useful

1. The low calorie content of pumpkin made it a very tempting product. diet food. Dishes from it are recommended in the treatment of diseases of the kidneys, hypertension and the cardiovascular system. Helps lower blood sugar in diabetics.
2. At chronic constipation, hemorrhoids, disorders of the nervous system, doctors strongly recommend taking fresh. Useful drink and to increase potency, and for the prevention of prostatitis in men.
3. Pumpkin, like ginger, is an effective remedy for nausea with toxicosis. If you suffer from insomnia, pumpkin juice will come to the rescue.
4. The decoction has an antipyretic effect and quenches thirst. The pulp and juice are used as prophylactic from caries.
5. The anthelmintic properties of pumpkin and pumpkin seeds, discovered in the last century, have gained loud fame.
6. related useful qualities endowed with oil and seeds of this gourd. They are advised to take with a lack of zinc in the body, with dandruff, seborrhea and other skin problems.

Pumpkin is baked, soups are made from it, used as a filling for pies, and stewed. It is combined with many products and enjoys well-deserved popularity in the world of healthy eating.

Be sure to try it as soon as possible. It is not only delicious, but also incredibly healthy for your heart, blood vessels and gastrointestinal tract.

cosmetic effect

Pumpkin smoothes and relieves inflammation in case of problematic skin. It is especially effective to use it on all fronts at once - eat and regularly wipe your face with a fresh, slightly chilled piece of pulp.

In late summer, a beautiful bright orange pumpkin appears in the gardens and markets of grandmothers. It is impossible not to notice her. But she is not a frequent guest on our tables, although she surpassed the same pumpkin in terms of carotene content. And it contains more iron than any other vegetable. What is the reason? Do you know what is the use of a beautiful pumpkin? And, of course, there is harm - just start eating it, you won’t stop.

Pumpkin is useful for kids and adult uncles, aunts, pumpkin is useful, the calorie content of which is only 23 kcal, for those who follow the figure and who are not concerned about it. But not only the pulp itself is so positive. , about which we have already written, and the juice from the pumpkin is also not a bad idea. And some eat this vegetable (or maybe fruit) along with the skin - they say that the healing effect is stronger. But about everything in more detail and in order.

Such a useful gourd

Pumpkin is the content champion various substances among vegetables, fruits and berries.

• Carotene, also known as vitamin A, is more in pumpkin than in carrots. It turns out that for vision it is better to eat a pumpkin.
• Pumpkin is rich, and therefore can serve as a snack, be part of the diet. It will help you digest a hearty lunch without causing a feeling of overeating - a couple of pieces will help.
• The pectin fibers contained in the product remove toxins and waste products from the body. And this normal pressure, adjustment of the work of the heart, purification of blood vessels.
• On the basis of pumpkin, scientists from India created the anti-tuberculosis drug Pepozin, with which doctors successfully get rid of the harmful bacillus.
• A pumpkin contains almost 90% water. Like watermelon, pumpkin has a diuretic effect. Eat pulp regularly, drink juice, and pyelonephritis, cystitis, bladder and kidney stones do not threaten.
• Vitamin C protects against viral bacteria during the cold season. And, importantly, the content does not decrease during the entire period of storage of the pumpkin.
• Vitamin T maintains normal blood clotting, stimulates metabolism.
• Calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium also have a beneficial effect on our organs. It is not for nothing that pumpkin (and not just oatmeal) is called a beauty vegetable.

Pumpkin, whose beneficial properties are described above, among other things, fights against insomnia, osteoporosis, cancer, skin problems, age-related pigmentation, and youthful acne. Pumpkin improves mood by its very appearance, and if gruel from its pulp is applied to a wound or burn, the pain will subside, and the wounds will heal quickly.

But pumpkin is known not only in medicine. Many manufacturers cosmetics add pumpkin extract to their products: masks, shampoos, soaps, balms, creams, tonics, lotions. She, along with, relieves inflammation on the skin, smoothes wrinkles, reduces pigmentation, freckles.

Here she is, a beautiful pumpkin. Its beneficial properties and contraindications have not yet been fully studied. But something is still known. So, you need to be careful in the absorption of pumpkin for those who suffer from gastritis or intestinal colic, who low acidity in the stomach or the level of sugar is elevated. And yes, everything is good in moderation. The pumpkin also has laxative effect. Therefore, if you often have diarrhea, you should not eat pumpkin either.

pumpkin and diet

The benefits of pumpkin for a woman's body are incredible. She will help the ladies if they want to lose weight. There is even a pumpkin mono-diet, consisting of pumpkin pulp, apples, and carrots. Weight loss occurs due to low calorie content and fiber. You can lose up to 8 kilograms in a couple of weeks. The main thing is to hide away flour and fatty, sweet and fried, salt, alcohol (it should be hidden forever), sugar and smoked meats. The components of the mono-diet contain a sufficient amount of vitamins and amino acids to support the body and not spoil it and the skin of the face. But you can sit on a pumpkin mono-diet no more than 1 time in three months.

We present indicative list diet products. They can be boiled, steamed, baked, steamed. Make soups, casseroles, mousses, cereals from them.

• Pumpkin, carrots, onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, herbs, cucumbers.
• , sweet and sour apples, lemon, .
• Rice, hercules, buckwheat, millet.
• An egg (one a day, if you want), vegetable oil, a couple of slices of rye bread.

You can eat until 6 pm. During the day, drink clean water without gas. After 21:00 it is better not to drink (remember, pumpkin is a diuretic).

Mono-diets can be followed if there are no problems with the stomach: ulcers, gastritis, diabetes.

Pumpkin seeds

We wrote a separate article about, but you can talk about such a good thing again. For even doctors recognized pumpkin seeds and prescribe them to men as natural “Viagra”, because of their testosterone content. For the same reason, pumpkin seeds are considered. Where are the strawberries and. Seeds in reasonable quantities really affect potency, help cure adenoma and prostatitis.

But it is worth remembering that the seeds are very high in calories and therefore a large number of them will settle in a fat belt at the waist.

pumpkin juice

If pumpkin, consisting of 90% water, is healthy, then pumpkin juice is no worse. Its benefits and harms are almost the same as those of a whole vegetable.

IN pumpkin juice Vitamin A is preserved, useful for our eyes. also not destroyed. If you want to cleanse the body of toxins, drink juice.

Pumpkin juice helps to break stones in the gallbladder, strengthen the heart and blood vessels. It is drunk for obesity and colds, and the juice mixed with honey eliminates insomnia.

Juice can harm even healthy people if you drink more than half a liter a day.

pumpkin in our kitchen

Pumpkin, of course, is not only healthy, but also tasty. So let's get it ready. It usually stops that the skin of the pumpkin is tough and hard to peel. But if it is baked or boiled, thoroughly washed before that, then the skin is removed easily. Although you can eat with the skin. The second way to make it softer is to pierce it with a toothpick and heat it in the microwave oven at a maximum for a couple of minutes.

But what to cook?

• Traditionally, we cook pumpkin porridge. It cooks for 20-30 minutes. Grains are put into the porridge. It can be millet, corn grits and even semolina. Honey or sugar is added to taste.
• If you bake pumpkin slices in the oven with sugar, you get candied fruit. If sugar is replaced with honey, the sweets will turn out to be tender, melting and more useful. Baking time 40-50 minutes.
• Do you knead the dough for pies? Grind some pumpkin into it. The pies will turn out to be more fragrant and beautiful - the pumpkin will give up its pigment.
• Pumpkin is delicious and like a sauce. Fry medium pieces fragrant oil, seasoned with spices, a couple of minutes. Add tomatoes and lightly simmer everything. This sauce goes well with meat, spaghetti,. It can also be used on pizza.

Ragout with pumpkin

Cut into rings 2 onions. Cut the fillet into cubes, sprinkle with spices. In a cauldron or saucepan, heat the butter and quickly fry the meat in it. Add onion and 4 chopped cloves of garlic, a couple of leaves, a couple of teaspoons of sugar and cinnamon on the tip of a knife.

After 5-8 minutes, add the pumpkin, cut into large cubes, mix, pour the stew with 0.5 liters of broth or just hot water and simmer for about an hour and a half.

The next day, if you don’t eat everything at once, the stew becomes even tastier.

Pumpkin manti

Incredibly tasty manti with the addition of pumpkin minced meat. Manti are a kind of dumplings, only they are steamed. The dough for manti is made very steep so that it does not tear when rolled out. Manti “steam” in a pressure cooker for about 45 minutes. Drizzled with melted butter and sour cream. Try it, it tastes great.

Here is a pumpkin!

Pumpkin is the fruit of a long-term dispute. Pumpkin is a vegetable or a fruit? It is neither one nor the other. This is a pumpkin or a multi-seeded berry, like a cucumber. Botanists will argue that pumpkin is a berry. Agronomists - argue that it is a vegetable. But for us culinary specialists, it doesn’t matter if it’s a vegetable, fruit or berry, it doesn’t become less tasty from this.

There are so-called technical varieties of pumpkin. Of some they make musical instruments: yu, sheng, kabasa, bark (stinky gourd), drinks (fig-leaved gourd), sculptures (giant gourd). The Indians made utensils and rugs from gourds.

In total, more than 50 varieties and varieties of pumpkin are known. Among them there are not only orange specimens, but also beige, white, green and even blue.

Pumpkin is an amazing product. In America, they even compete to see who will grow the largest pumpkin, photos on the Internet prove this. So far, the beauty has a palm weight of 821 kg. And the winner is also paid a cash prize - for each pound of weight (450 grams) for 6 dollars. Nice prize, right?

In Germany every year in September the Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival is held. The main event is racing on the water. Moreover, the watercraft is pumpkins weighing about 85-90 kg, peeled from the pulp.

We have known the pumpkin since childhood. Fairy-tale heroes ride on pumpkin carriages - remember Cinderella? Chipollino from the fairy tale of the same name protects his friends - godfather Pumpkin and godfather Pumpkin. And Ukrainian brides refuse grooms by presenting them with a pumpkin (garbuz). The groom who receives the pumpkin is forever deprived of the lady's favor and becomes the object of jokes for her girlfriends and her friends.

Pay attention to the pumpkin, and she will thank you by correcting your health.