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

Water is the foundation of our body. Structured water with an ordered intermolecular bond is especially useful: it is from it that plant food consists. 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

Consider what benefits and harms 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, helps to saturate cells with oxygen. Calcium, magnesium, iodine and iron in pumpkin juice support the normal functioning of the body. Pectin and fiber improve bowel function.

Pumpkin is a source of the following vitamins:

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

100 g of the drink accounts for 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.

Useful properties of pumpkin juice:

• accelerates metabolism and helps to reduce weight due to 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 for individual intolerance, low stomach acidity and some gastrointestinal diseases.

What is 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 a stomach ulcer - the juice has a mild effect on the mucous layer and digestion;
• high cholesterol - vitamins contained in the vegetable dissolve cholesterol plaques;
• low hemoglobin - in the pumpkin, as in apples, there is a lot of iron, therefore, with anemia, they drink pumpkin or pumpkin-apple juice;
• in case of violations of the heart - potassium in the juice supports the heart and blood vessels;
• natural poison cucurbitin in pumpkin effectively and safely gets rid of parasitic worms;
• frequent colds - due to the large amount of trace elements and vitamins, especially vitamin C, the drink is useful for often sick with colds to strengthen the immune system. A mixture of pumpkin juice with honey reduces the temperature in case of a cold;
• 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 your taste in a glass of freshly squeezed juice;
• excess weight - a nutritious and low-calorie vegetable that helps to 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. With daily fasting on juices, drinks from other vegetables and fruits are added to the pumpkin: carrots, beets, spinach, cabbage, celery, apples.

Important! Freshly squeezed carrot and beetroot juices add no more than 2 tbsp. spoons.

Value for various body systems

Pumpkin drink will be useful in the following cases:

1. If kidney stones or gallstones are diagnosed, it is recommended to drink half a glass of juice three times a day.
2. Beta-carotene restores vision, reduces the risk of developing cataracts, therefore 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 treatment. Drink half a glass four times a day half an hour before meals.
4. With inflammation of the pancreas, a boiled pumpkin drink is introduced into the diet after medical 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 action. Zinc in pumpkin is an essential ingredient male health... This trace element naturally increases testosterone secretion, has a positive effect on spermatogenesis, promotes hair growth and protects blood vessels from atherosclerosis.

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

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

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

Vegetable fiber mildly improves intestinal motility and will be useful if the child is prone to constipation. If the baby doesn't like the taste of pumpkin, mix it with other vegetables and berries to taste. Apple, orange, grapefruit, currant, gooseberry are suitable.

How to cook properly

To make a pumpkin drink, it is washed, peeled and seeded, and cut into small pieces. For cooking, you need a juicer or ordinary grater. To obtain a glass of freshly squeezed juice without pulp, take 300-400 g of pumpkin and pass it through a juicer. If not, the pumpkin is cut into large pieces, grated and squeezed through several layers of gauze.

With pulp

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

Ingredients:

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

Preparation:

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

For a tastier and healthier drink, juices of carrot, beet, apple, orange, pear, lemon, currant or gooseberry are added to taste. Delicious fresh with pulp will turn out if you add raspberries or banana to pumpkin juice and beat 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. Pour the peeled and chopped pumpkin with water and cook over medium heat until tender.
2. When the vegetable becomes soft, it is chopped in a blender along with the water in which it was cooked, or rubbed through a sieve.
3. Squeeze the juice from half an orange and a lemon into a 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 liters.

Preparation:

1. Pour the peeled and chopped pumpkin with water and cook over medium heat until tender.
2. When the pumpkin is soft, grind it in a blender along with water or rub it through a sieve.
3. Squeeze lemon juice in mashed potatoes, 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. Vegetables and fruits, peeled and seeds, are cut into cubes and boiled until tender. You can add a little water to the bottom of the pot to prevent the mixture from burning.
2. Soft vegetables and fruits are cooled to room temperature and chopped 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. The vegetables are peeled and cut into cubes.
2. Dried apricots are poured with hot water, washed in 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 puréed 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 cans sterilized in the oven and rolled up with lids boiled for 10 minutes.
6. Banks are turned upside down, wrapped in a blanket until they cool completely. Store in a refrigerator or cellar.

How to drink juice

The drink is drunk one to three times a day, 20-30 minutes before meals. The recommended daily volume 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 diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is better to first consult a doctor.

Average dosages vary depending on the purpose of the drink:

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

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

Contraindications

Pumpkin juice is contraindicated for:

• exacerbation pancreatitis;
• acute cholecystitis;
• severe diabetes;
• low acidity of the stomach.

Attention! When 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 for allergies of unknown origin.

When adding a vegetable to a 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 work of many body systems and taste characteristics.

Daria, Omsk: “I knew that pumpkin is very useful. I found a pumpkin juice recipe, and a very simple one. You need pumpkin, citric acid, a large saucepan, and a blender. One caveat - it is better to take the Honey variety. The juice is awesome, and most importantly, a lot. "

Anna, Samara: “As a child, every summer I was sent to a sports camp, where pumpkin juice was given for lunch. More than 10 years have passed since then, and so I decided to make the juice at home. I will say right away: I am not a fan of pumpkin, but this juice should be made periodically. Very healthy and tasty. "

Artur, Sochi: “I just love pumpkin juice, my mother taught me to use it from childhood. In the fall we drink freshly squeezed and cook for the winter. I was faced with the fact that many people do not even know that there is such a juice, they have never tasted it, they had no idea about the existence of such a tasty treat ”.

Conclusion

A drink made from one pumpkin or in combination with juices of other vegetables and fruits is very useful: it activates the immune system, promotes the absorption of vitamin E, and eliminates parasites. Vitamins and trace elements contained in it are well absorbed by the body, in contrast to synthetic supplements. Making a drink is very simple: it takes a little time and only a few ingredients, the main of which is pumpkin.