Pumpkin: properties and benefits of the autumn vegetable par excellence!
Pumpkin, with its cheerful orange color and its sweet and velvety flavor, is the queen of autumn vegetables. It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and arrived in Europe in the 16th century, and then spread to Italy especially in the north and became the " main ingredient of many traditional recipes.
You already know that pumpkin is really tasty. But are you sure you know all of its incredible properties and multiple benefits? Pumpkin is a real panacea for our body: it has many nutrients and few calories. It can be consumed in a thousand different ways (not to mention the goodness of its flowers and seeds!) ...
Before starting to list its many qualities, here is the video recipe to prepare a really excellent pumpkin soup:
How many calories does pumpkin have? Does it make you fat?
The first undisputed quality of pumpkin is this: it has very few calories and does not make you fat! Don't be fooled by its sweet taste: pumpkin contains only 26 calories per 100 grams!
This tasty vegetable is in fact also recommended for diabetics and in low-calorie diets, and all thanks to its reduced amount of carbohydrates and fats. For 90%, in fact, it is made up of water only! To be added immediately, therefore, to your food plan even if you are on a diet.
The benefits of pumpkin: the antioxidant properties
Among the different nutrients of the pumpkin there are many vitamins, from A to B to C. In particular, as perhaps its orange color will let you imagine, it has a lot of beta-carotene, the precursor of Vitamin A, a very powerful antioxidant.
Thanks to its quantity of beta-carotene, pumpkin is an antioxidant par excellence, limiting the formation of free radicals and also helping to prevent cancer.
The laxative properties of pumpkin, to combat constipation
In addition to a high quantity of vitamins, pumpkin also has a very high number of fibers that improve intestinal transit, rebalancing the flora.
Pumpkin is therefore particularly suitable for those suffering from constipation, colitis and hemorrhoids. In addition, the fiber (as well as its large water content) helps you feel full faster, a great way to avoid overeating and therefore lose weight faster.
Properties and benefits of pumpkin in preventing cardiovascular diseases
Pumpkin has the very famous Omega-3, a good fat that helps reduce blood cholesterol, lowering blood pressure and improving circulation, thus avoiding the onset of strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.
Consuming pumpkin pulp, with its load of excellent antioxidants, is a guarantee to prevent heart diseases. Also excellent is the extract of its seeds, which decreases the cholesterol level.
The benefits of pumpkin against water retention and intestinal parasites
Pumpkin is a valuable aid against water retention thanks to its very high quantity of water. In fact, it promotes diuresis and helps the body get rid of toxins and deflate.
At the same time, it improves the health of the urinary tract and eliminates intestinal parasites, against which it represents a real miraculous and natural medicine! Try it in case of parasites, but also of simple cystitis: you will see the results!
Antidepressant properties of pumpkin: its benefits against anxiety and insomnia
Yes, pumpkin also helps to get rid of anxiety and stress. This is because it contains magnesium, a natural muscle relaxant that brings immediate psycho-physical benefits. It also contains tryptophan, a substance that helps in the production of serotonin, useful against insomnia. and depression.
Pumpkin is especially recommended if you suffer from sleep disorders or hormonal imbalances, such as those that can affect women in menopause.
Benefits of pumpkin: nourishing, emollient and protective properties
It is certainly no coincidence that pumpkin is used so frequently in beauty products: its soothing and antioxidant properties are excellent for keeping skin young and smooth. Its emollient and purifying effect makes it the perfect ingredient for do-it-yourself face masks.
It is also excellent as a nutrient for the body and fortifying particularly fragile hair and nails.
What about pumpkin seeds? Here are their beneficial properties!
Because you don't want to discard the seeds, do you? They too are full of benefits! In particular, they are indicated among the most effective superfoods for lowering bad cholesterol in the blood. Here in this video, also the other foods on the list useful for fighting and preventing cholesterol.
In addition, pumpkin seeds are good for the heart due to their high magnesium content, thanks to which they also offer a relaxing effect.
They contain Omega3, zinc and anti-inflammatory properties; as already mentioned, they help to lower the level of cholesterol in the blood and improve the health of the intestine thanks to their fiber content. Finally, they are natural regulators of the body's pH. Plus, they're great to be eaten roasted as a snack!
What are you waiting for, then, to prepare a nice cream soup?
