Why is pumpkin seed flour good and how to use it for health, beauty and delicious recipes

The benefits of pumpkin flour have been known since ancient Egypt. In those days, it was used as a medicinal supplement. This product is considered to be one of the mineral complexes that saturate the body with trace elements and help fight various diseases. Pumpkin flour received its beneficial properties from pumpkin seeds, from which it is produced.

Pumpkin flour composition

Pumpkin flour is a gluten-free product. By its composition, it is a unique protein-mineral complex, saturated with useful substances. It includes:

• alimentary fiber;
• vitamins of groups A, B, C, F, H, K and PP;
• amino acids;
• compounds of iron, phosphorus, zinc, potassium and copper;
• vegetable proteins;
• bioflavonoids;
• Cucurbitin is a rare amino acid;
• chlorophyll;
• folic acid.

It is also a valuable source of omega-3 fatty acids.

100 g of the product contains:

• 40 g protein;
• 10 g fat;
• 9 g carbohydrates;
• 6 g dietary fiber;
• 5 g of water.

Energy value - 286 kcal, which is 20% of the daily value.

Areas of use

This product is widely used. Due to its beneficial properties, pumpkin flour is used in home cosmetology, in the treatment of various diseases, during diet and in cooking.

In home cosmetology

Vitamins and amino acids that make up pumpkin flour affect the production of collagen by the skin, and zinc - on the activity of the sebaceous glands. This helps maintain skin elasticity and reduces the risk of acne and inflammation.

To make an anti-aging face mask, you need to mix egg white with 2 tbsp. spoons of pumpkin flour. Stir well and apply to face, avoiding eye area. After 10-15 minutes, wash off with warm water.

Important! For the cosmetic effect of this mask to last longer, eat pumpkin flour dishes. This will not only strengthen the internal organs, but also have a beneficial effect on the condition of the nails and hair.

For medicinal purposes

Pumpkin seed powder helps maintain bone density in osteoporosis, relieves inflammation in arthritis, prevents the formation of kidney stones, helps to normalize hormones in men and women.

Pumpkin flour is recommended to be consumed with exhaustion, stress, decreased immunity in the autumn-winter period. It contains natural antidepressants and has a beneficial effect on general well-being and mood, increases libido.

To maintain immunity, make a cocktail: dissolve 3 teaspoons of the powder in a glass of any fermented milk product and take within 2-3 weeks. Repeat the course of treatment 3-4 times during the year.

For insomnia, it is recommended to eat 1 teaspoon of seed powder before bedtime. For liver diseases and irritable bowel syndrome, 2 teaspoons of flour are dissolved in 200 ml of water. The treatment lasts at least a month.

To combat helminths

Pumpkin seed powder is one of the popular folk remedies for treating parasites. Cucurbitin, which is part of pumpkin seeds, is highly toxic to the larvae and adults of many types of helminths, but it is absolutely harmless to humans.

Nematodes and tapeworms are especially sensitive to it. It does not cause negative reactions or side effects.Thanks to this property, pumpkin flour is an effective antiparasitic agent, which is used even during pregnancy.

Let's look at how to prepare and take pumpkin flour-based medicines:

1. Mix with garlic... In 200 g of pumpkin seed powder, add 5 cloves of garlic, chopped in a blender, and 2 tbsp. spoons of honey. Stir the mixture and let it brew for 10-12 hours. Take in the morning, 3 hours before meals, 1 tbsp. spoon for 3 days.
2. Mix with honey. Mix 300 g of flour with 50 ml of water and 2 tbsp. spoons of honey. Take on an empty stomach in small portions for an hour. After 2 hours, take a laxative and give a cleansing enema 30 minutes after taking the drug. They begin to eat only after bowel movement.
3. Milk recipe... Dissolve 200 g of product in raw milk so that a liquid gruel is obtained. Consume on an empty stomach. In an hour, two times (with an interval of 60 minutes), drink a glass of warm still water and take a laxative. After that, the meal begins.

Attention! For greater efficiency, pumpkin seeds are taken along with the peel to make the powder.

These recipes have a strong antiparasitic and anthelmintic effect. Therefore, they are used after consultation with a doctor for laboratory confirmation of helminthiasis.

During the diet

Meals based on this product are included in low-carb diets. A large amount of protein with a minimum content of fat in pumpkin flour is a good combination that affects the rate of metabolic processes and helps burn body fat, and reduces the level of "bad cholesterol".

For weight loss, there is a recipe for a three-week course using pumpkin seed powder. Dilute a certain amount of flour in 100 ml of kefir or yogurt:

• 1 week - 1-2 tsp;
• 2 week - 3 tsp;
• 3 week - 4 tsp.

Take once a day, in the morning.

This method is based on accelerating the metabolism in the human body. The metabolism is faster, the deposition of fat and the accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous fat are reduced.

In cooking

Pumpkin seed flour is an excellent thickener for sauces, cereals, first courses and jelly. It is added to wheat flour (2 tablespoons per 1 kg of product) to increase the shelf life of the product, improve the taste of baked goods.

In combination with various spices, it is used for breading cutlets. Pancakes, pancakes, bread, dried fruit and nut dishes acquire an original taste when pumpkin flour is added to them.

Read also:

Delicious and healthy treatment with natural ingredients - pumpkin and honey for the liver.

How and in what quantity to use pumpkin seeds for weight loss.

How to properly cook oven baked pumpkin.

Pumpkin flour recipes

Due to its unique properties and composition, pumpkin flour is the basis of many dishes that are not only tasty, but also healthy (they are part of the dietary menu).

Austrian muffin

To prepare this dish you will need:

• pumpkin flour - 2 cups;
• eggs - 4 pcs.;
• sugar (powdered sugar) - 1 glass;
• vanilla extract - 1.5 tsp;
• baking powder - 1 tbsp. the spoon;
• cinnamon - 1 pinch.

Preparation:

1. Separate the whites from the yolks. Whisk the whites into a stiff foam, adding ½ cup sugar or powdered sugar.
2. Combine yolks with ¼ cup sugar, mash thoroughly.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and cinnamon.
4. Add vanilla extract to the mixture, pour in the crushed yolks, mix.
5. Add whipped egg whites gently.
6. Put the resulting dough in a baking dish, previously greased with vegetable oil.
7. Bake in an oven preheated to 180 ° C for about half an hour until golden brown.

Garnish with cashew nut cream, nut cream, or your favorite cream before serving.

reference... If there are no restrictions, you can replace vanilla extract with rum in the amount of 1 tbsp.spoons.

Banana buns

These are delicious, aromatic and tender pastries. If you show your imagination and give the buns an unusual shape, you can also surprise your guests with the beauty of your dish.

For the test you will need:

• flour - 650 g;
• water - 50 ml;
• kefir or yogurt - 200 ml;
• egg - 1 pc .;
• banana - 2 pcs.;
• butter - 20 g;
• sugar - 3 tbsp. spoons;
• dry yeast - 1.5 tsp.

To grease buns:

• egg yolk - 1 pc .;
• milk - 1 tbsp. the spoon.

Preparation:

1. Stir the yeast in 50 ml of warm water and leave for 10-15 minutes in a warm place.
2. Puree the peeled, ripe bananas.
3. Add the egg, sugar, suitable yeast and cooled melted butter to kefir at room temperature. Then add the banana puree. Mix everything thoroughly.
4. Add sifted flour to the resulting mixture, knead the dough.
5. Cover the finished dough with a towel, leave in a bowl in a warm place for an hour and a half.
6. After this time, transfer the dough to the table, sprinkle with flour and rinse well.
7. Divide the mass into 10-12 parts. Roll each part with a rolling pin into an oval, not thin. Make 5-6 cuts on the resulting "pancakes" without cutting the dough to the edge.
8. Sprinkle the dough with flour and roll loosely into a slanting flagellum. Roll the resulting flagellum in a spiral into a "snail".
9. Grease a baking sheet with vegetable oil. Place the resulting buns on it at a distance from each other and leave them in a warm place for 30 minutes.
10. Whisk the egg yolk with milk. Grease the surface of the buns with the mixture, place the baking sheet in an oven preheated to 200 ° C and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Delicious casserole

To prepare dessert you will need:

• low-fat cottage cheese - 0.5 kg;
• pumpkin flour - 200 g;
• fruits, nuts, or raisins;
• chicken eggs - 3 pcs.

Preparation:

1. Mix the ingredients until a paste is obtained.
2. Add chopped fruits, nuts, or seedless raisins to it. For flavor, add sugar vanilla or cinnamon to your dough to taste.
3. Grease a baking dish with vegetable oil. Spread the dough evenly over the mold and cover with frothed yolk or sour cream.
4. Bake in the oven at 150 ° C until a thick golden crust appears.

Contraindications

Not everyone is equally allowed to eat this product. It is necessary to first determine the balance of benefits and harms for a particular person.

The high content of dietary fiber in pumpkin meal, which accelerates the activity of the intestinal microflora, not only promotes gentle cleansing of the body, but can also lead to digestive disorders (especially in people who are not used to foods rich in fiber): cause diarrhea, flatulence or constipation.

According to research, the product is capable of exacerbating headaches in people suffering from migraines.

With gallstone disease and cholecystitis, you cannot include dishes with pumpkin flour in the diet without first consulting a doctor.

In rancid flour, unsaturated fatty acids form toxic compounds that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular, oncological and other diseases.

Attention! If an allergy to pumpkin is detected, it is necessary to exclude both the vegetable itself and all its derivatives from the diet.

Manufacturing and storage

Pumpkin seed flour is prepared independently at home. Such a product is as useful as possible, since it does not contain industrial impurities. The process of making powder (flour) from seeds does not take much time:

1. Rinse raw pumpkin seeds under running water.
2. Dry them in the oven to reduce the weight of the seeds by 2-3 times.
3. Grind in a blender or coffee grinder.
4. Periodically feel the flour as you grind.
5. Sieve flour using a sieve into a clean, dry container.

Store the product in the refrigerator in an airtight container for no more than two months.

Conclusion

The uniqueness of the properties of pumpkin flour has been noted for several centuries.Positive reviews about her relate to both the taste of dishes with her participation, and the beneficial effect on the state of the body.

Properly manufactured and stored, pumpkin flour does not contain ingredients hazardous to human health and is suitable as a protein source for vegetarians, vegans and raw foodists.