The benefits and harms of steamed pumpkin: steaming the vegetable and eating it right

According to scientists and nutritionists, pumpkin has a positive effect on the body, the state and functioning of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, heart and blood vessels. This most affordable vegetable contains a large amount of minerals, vitamins, essential micro- and macroelements, has versatile healing properties, and used to treat and prevention of a wide range of diseases. Steamed pumpkin is especially useful for the body. The chemical composition of the product after heat treatment remains practically unchanged, and the taste is significantly improved.

In the article, we will consider the benefits and harms of steamed pumpkin, find out how it works in certain diseases and how to cook it correctly.

Steamed pumpkin

Pumpkin is a valuable food product, the root vegetable of which combines vitamins, micro- and macronutrients, pectin, fiber, proteins, carotene, starch, nicotinic acid, enzymes. The fruit pulp contains vitamins A, B, C, E, copper, cobalt, zinc, manganese, chromium, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and other trace elements.

The chemical composition does not change after heat treatment, but the vegetable is better absorbed and breaks down faster without causing exacerbation of gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, urolithiasis.

Benefit and harm

With proper use and adherence to the rules of preparation, steamed pumpkin has a positive effect on the functions of various organs and systems.

When treating diseases, the following beneficial properties of steamed pumpkin are taken into account:

• promotes the normalization of metabolism, improves intestinal peristalsis;
• eliminates constipation;
• provides a quick and long-lasting feeling of fullness;
• due to the high fiber content, it removes toxins, metal salts, excess fluid;
• improves calcium absorption, which has a beneficial effect on the strength and elasticity of bone tissue;
• saturates the body with iron, reducing the risk of anemia;
• improves the condition of the walls of blood vessels of the heart and brain, preventing the formation of blood clots;
• has a calming effect on the nervous system, improves night sleep;
• increases endurance and working capacity;
• strengthens the immune system;
• protects the liver from the aggressive influence of external and internal factors, contributes to its recovery;
• eases the condition of pregnant women suffering from toxicosis;
• slows down the aging process, ensures the formation of new cells;
• inhibits the growth of cancer cells;
• stabilizes high blood pressure.

Advice... Traditional healers recommend using steamed pumpkin externally on the feet. Such a compress relieves fatigue, relieves pain.

Before consuming baked fruit pulp, make sure there are no allergies. With increased sensitivity to the product, itching of the lips and oral mucosa, shortness of breath, swelling of the lips and tongue, rashes, peeling on the skin.

The use of the product can aggravate the course of diarrhea, since the vegetable has a pronounced laxative effect. Caution use pumpkin with a tendency to diabetes. The consumption of melons and gourds daily in large quantities increases blood sugar, which is fraught with stroke, myocardial infarction, renal failure, and coma.

Calorie content and BZHU

The obvious benefit of pumpkin is its low calorie content. 100 g of baked product contains 20 kcal, raw vegetable 22 kcal. Fat is practically absent and is 0.5% of the norm of 100 kcal (0.07 g). But steamed pumpkin is rich in proteins, the percentage of which is 4.5% of the norm of 100 kcal (0.72 g), and carbohydrates - 9% (3.8 g).

Useful properties for various diseases

Traditional medicine recommends using steamed fruit pulp for the treatment and prevention of diseases such as:

• gout - reduces the concentration of uric acid, restores the regulation of purine metabolism, suppresses inflammation, relieves swelling and swelling, reduces the severity of pain;
• atherosclerosis - improves the condition of the vascular walls, prevents the proliferation of fibrous fibers, hemodynamic disorders, saturates the body with microelements necessary for the normal functioning of the heart;
• nervous disorders - has a sedative, sedative effect on the body, improves night sleep, eliminates irritability, causeless anxiety;
• obesity - improves digestion, speeds up metabolism, creates a feeling of fullness, has a laxative effect;
• renal / hepatic impairment - restores intracellular metabolism, prevents fatty degeneration of cells, the development of liver cirrhosis, stimulates protein synthesis and normalizes the energy metabolism of hepatocytes, lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood, promotes its excretion along with bile;
• diseases of the digestive tract and pancreas (pancreatitis) - restores and maintains the mucous membrane of the stomach, duodenum, improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, activates metabolism, has a regenerating effect;
• urological diseases - removes salt stones in the kidneys, maintains the functionality of the prostate, minimizes the risk of erectile dysfunction, early ejaculation, prevents the penetration of infections that cause inflammation of the upper genitourinary system (pyelonephritis, cystitis).

Steamed pumpkin is useful for people who often suffer from ARVI, ARI, colds. The vegetable stimulates the immune system, replenishes the deficiency of vitamins, minerals, micro- and macronutrients necessary to maintain natural homeostasis.

reference! In cosmetology, boiled and baked pumpkin is used to prepare masks. Such a remedy improves the condition and color of the skin, eliminates inflammation and rashes, tones, nourishes and moisturizes, smoothes fine wrinkles.

Contraindications

It is contraindicated to use steamed pumpkin in such cases:

• individual intolerance;
• exacerbation of stomach and duodenal ulcers;
• urolithiasis in the acute period;
• diarrhea;
• diabetes.

According to the WHO complementary feeding table, pumpkin in any form is prohibited for children under eight months of age.

Why steamed pumpkin is useful for men and women

Pumpkin is especially good for men of reproductive age, as it participates in the production of testosterone - the main male sex hormone. It plays an important role in the production of sperm, is responsible for mood, sexual health, sex drive, and affects the development of musculoskeletal tissue.

In boys, testosterone is responsible for the acquisition of masculine traits (timbre of voice, physique, male-pattern hairiness). Pumpkin on the menu of men reduces the likelihood of developing or alleviates the course of prostatitis, heart failure, and acts as an effective prophylactic agent for adenoma.

Steamed pumpkin is no less useful for women. It protects against urinary infections, helps in the treatment of gynecological diseases such as cervical erosion, inflammatory lesions, vaginitis, infertility. The pulp of the fetus during the menopausal period reduces the severity of the symptoms of anemia, soothes, improves mood.Steamed pumpkin pulp is widely used in cosmetology and dermatology due to its antioxidant, tonic, anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties.

Usefulness of pumpkin for pregnant women, including women breastfed, is to meet the increased need of the body for iron, to alleviate toxicosis. Also, vitamins and minerals in the vegetable provide normal nutrition for the embryo during fetal development, which is important for the normal formation of the fetus.

For kids

It is difficult to overestimate the benefits of pumpkin for a young growing body. A properly grown vegetable without the use of nitrates ensures the physiological processes of the child's growth and development.

In the composition of the product, even after heat treatment, a large amount of calcium and potassium is retained, which are necessary for the construction of bone tissue, the formation of teeth, the processes of coagulation, the implementation of muscle contractions, and the transmission of nerve impulses.

Iron deficiency anemia is common in newborns. Regular use of the product minimizes the risk of developing pathology, satisfies the body's needs for a trace element, and normalizes the level of hemoglobin.

The usefulness of a steamed pumpkin lies in the beneficial effect on the central nervous system: children become calmer, not capricious, attentive, sleep well, perceive, analyze and reproduce information better.

Steamed slimming pumpkin

Steamed pumpkin include in the diet menu... It contains practically no fat, but is rich in proteins and carbohydrates, thanks to which it is easily and quickly absorbed, creating a feeling of satiety.

Losing weight occurs due to plant fiber, which activates the digestive tract, metabolic processes, cleanses the digestive tract, removes excess fluid.

A one-day fasting day provides for the use of 1 kg of steamed fruit pulp per day in small portions. Such a diet is considered strict, therefore nutritionists advise to spend a fasting day no more than once every two weeks.

Advice! After the end of the fasting day, it is necessary to limit the use of salty foods in order to prevent fluid retention in the body.

The Long Term Pumpkin Diet is considered easy as it allows for a varied menu. Vegetables, fruits, berries, fish and seafood, lean meats, eggs, poultry, cheeses and cottage cheese are allowed in moderation.

How to cook steamed pumpkin properly

For baking, table varieties of vegetables are used, more often it is an ordinary pumpkin. To make the dish tasty and healthy, choose fruits grown without the use of nitrates.

Steamed pumpkin recipe:

1. Wash the vegetable, cut it lengthwise into four equal parts, remove the seeds.
2. Peel, cut into cubes or cubes of the same size, about 2 * 2 cm.
3. Put pumpkin in a deep saucepan, add 100 ml of water or milk, so that it does not cover the vegetable.
4. After boiling, simmer over low heat, covered until pumpkin pulp. On average, this is 20-25 minutes, depending on the type and size of the pieces.
5. During cooking, you can sprinkle with sugar, spices, salt, herbs. Consume hot or cold.

You can cook steamed pumpkin in the oven. Cover a baking sheet or baking dish with parchment paper, lay out the pumpkin cut into cubes, add a little water. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Advice... To improve the taste, pour the vegetable with natural honey before baking, mix with dried fruits.

The easiest cooking option is a slow cooker. Put pumpkin pieces on the bottom of the bowl, pour halfway with water or milk, at the rate of 70 ml of liquid per 500 g of product, add a few slices of butter, put on the "Baking" mode for 20-30 minutes. Serve with honey, sour cream, cream, cottage cheese, seasoned with sugar.

Tips & Tricks

There are general recommendations on how to choose and consume pumpkin correctly in order to avoid undesirable consequences:

• you can determine the ripeness of the pumpkin by the tail: it must be dry and dark;
• a high-quality vegetable has a firm, smooth skin without damage, sunflower seeds whole, without foreign smell;
• fruits with bright pulp are most useful, since they contain the greatest amount of carotene;
• pumpkin is well stored, it can be consumed all winter: cut the peeled fruit into small pieces, rinse under water using a colander to remove excess liquid, dry it, put it in plastic containers or tight bags with a lock. Store at a temperature of 18-23 degrees;
• the average daily rate of steamed pumpkin for an adult is 300-400 g, for children 150-250 g. With an excess of vegetables in the body, nausea, vomiting, exacerbation of diarrhea, development of complications from the digestive tract are possible;
• make sure there are no contraindications before use.

And the most important tip, pumpkin is not a panacea for all diseases. More often it is considered as a preventive measure or an aid in the treatment of diseases of the digestive, genitourinary, cardiovascular systems.

It facilitates the course of pathology, allows you to achieve positive dynamics in a shorter time, prevent new relapses, but if used incorrectly, it can harm the body. Therefore, the question of the advisability of using steamed pumpkin as a medicinal raw material should be discussed with your doctor.

Conclusion

Steamed pumpkin is not only tasty, but also healthy. The pulp of the fruit saturates the body with vitamins, micro- and macroelements that are necessary to maintain vital processes, activates metabolic processes, normalizes the gastrointestinal tract, acts as a mild laxative, strengthens blood vessels and the heart, protects against depression. Like all products, it has contraindications, which are important to consider before using pumpkin in cooking and traditional medicine recipes.