Pumpkin

To date, fierce disputes about the place of origin of the pumpkin have not subsided. Some researchers call it the homeland of China, where pumpkin has been cultivated at the imperial court since ancient times. Other sources call America, where pumpkin was distributed almost everywhere. The first American settlers cut off the top of the pumpkin and baked it with milk and honey, and the Indians, without wise cunning, fried slices of pumpkin on an open fire.

These days, pumpkin is the main symbol of Halloween. It symbolizes the end of the harvest, a terrible mask carved into a pumpkin and a candle burning inside, according to legend, means an evil spirit and has the ability to scare away evil spirits. How the pumpkin ended up in Russia is also unknown. Obviously, only one thing is that now it is an extremely popular and common vegetable in our country.

Pumpkin benefits

Pumpkin not only has amazing taste qualities, but also has an amazing impact on the human body. Many hostesses refuse pumpkin, motivating this with the complexity of its processing. Indeed, pumpkin fruits are much harder than other vegetables. And the weight of one pumpkin can reach 9 (! ) Kg. However, because of this, depriving yourself of all nutrients, all the benefits of pumpkin are not entirely reasonable.

The composition of the pumpkin includes carotene, which has an extremely positive effect on vision, and also serves to prevent cancers, B vitamins, which have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, having a calming effect, improving sleep and memory. The presence of copper, phosphorus and iron in the pumpkin contributes to the normalization of the hematopoietic process, the use of pumpkin is desirable for the prevention of low blood and atherosclerosis.

The beneficial properties of pumpkin are confirmed by a unique combination of potassium and magnesium, which contributes to the elimination of unnecessary fluid from the body, so pumpkin is indicated in people with diseases of the urinary system. Pumpkin perfectly restores the work of the gastrointestinal tract, has a mild laxative effect. The daily consumption rate of pumpkin is 500 gr. or 100 gr. freshly squeezed pumpkin juice.

Pumpkin seeds in folk medicine are widely known as the remarkable wormwood. The benefits of pumpkin in the content of valuable proteins are almost greater than, for example, chicken eggs. The vegetable contains very few calories. The calorie content of the pumpkin is only 22 kcal. 100 gr. It is perfectly absorbed, so many diets are created on its basis. Pumpkin helps not only in the fight against overweight, but also with the supply of harmful cholesterol.

Another advantage of pumpkin is that it's a great nutrient for the skin. Pumpkin masks are easy to cook and use, and the benefits of pumpkin in this case are truly striking. In addition, they are suitable for any type of skin.

Pumpkin harm

Contraindications to pumpkin consumption are as follows. This vegetable cannot be included in the diet of patients with peptic ulcers, gastritis with reduced acidity, as well as diabetes mellitus. If the acid-base balance is disturbed, it is also possible that most likely the harm of pumpkin will manifest itself.