Pumpkin

There are many good reasons to eat pumpkin: it strengthens the immune system and is recommended for pregnant women. It also reduces heart problems and cholesterol. Pumpkin contains many nutritional values ​​and still suffers from poor public relations.

How is pumpkin used as a medicine?

Pumpkin seeds contain minerals and high nutritional values. 100 g pumpkin contains 30% protein and mainly the amino acids lysine, about 50% polyunsaturated fatty acids and a high amount of zinc, iron and B vitamins. Eating pumpkin seeds is recommended in situations of anemia, asthma, for lactating and pregnant women, and they are also good for strengthening the memory.

The high zinc content strengthens the immune system, hair and nails and recommended for treatment against worms. The high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids helps to balance the hormonal system, and is good for those suffering from heart problems and cholesterol.

Intestinal worms: crush pumpkin seeds, mix with honey and eat 3 tablespoons a day. The high zinc content kills the worms.

Stones and gallbladder inflammation: crush a heaped teaspoon of pumpkin seeds, mix with boldo tea or dandelion tea and drink 3 cups a day. You can find more information on how to treat kidney stones naturally here.

Strengthening the bladder muscles: eat 3 heaped teaspoons or more of pumpkin seeds a day. Pumpkin seeds have high value of 541 kilocalories for 100 grams.

Enlarged prostate: eat 3-6 tablespoons of pumpkin seeds a day. Pumpkin seeds contain a relatively high amount of zinc, which helps prevent the growth of the prostate gland.

Strengthening the immune system: eat 3-6 tablespoons of pumpkin seeds a day. The zinc strengthens the thymus gland and helps to produce lymphocytes. Find out more information on how to boost your immune system here.

Strengthening hair and nails: eat 3-6 tablespoons pumpkin seeds a day.

Health benefits of Pumpkin

    • It is one of the very low calorie vegetables. 100 g fruit provides just 26 calories and contains no saturated fats or cholesterol; however, it is rich in dietary fiber, anti-oxidants, minerals, vitamins. The vegetable is one of the food items recommended by dieticians in cholesterol controlling and weight reduction programs.

    • Pumpkin is a storehouse of many anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin-A, vitamin-C and vitamin-E.

    • With 7384 mg per 100 g, it is one of the vegetables in the Cucurbitaceae family featuring highest levels ofvitamin-A, providing about 246% of RDA. Vitamin A is a powerful natural anti-oxidant and is required by the body for maintaining the integrity of skin and mucus membranes. It is also an essential vitamin for good visual sight. Research studies suggest that natural foods rich in vitamin A help a body protects against lung and oral cavity cancers.

    • It is also an excellent source of many natural poly-phenolic flavonoid compounds such as α, ß carotenes, cryptoxanthin, lutein and zea-xanthin. Carotenes convert into vitamin A inside the body.

    • Zea-xanthin is a natural anti-oxidant which has UV (ultra-violet) rays filtering actions in the macula lutea in retina of the eyes. Thus, it helps protect from "age-related macular disease" (ARMD) in the elderly.

    • The fruit is a good source of B-complex group of vitamins like folates, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin and pantothenic acid.

    • It is also rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium and phosphorus.

        • Pumpkin seeds indeed are an excellent source of dietary fiber and mono-unsaturated fatty acids, which are good for heart health. In addition, the seeds are concentrated sources of protein, minerals and health-benefiting vitamins. For instance, 100 g of pumpkin seeds provide 559 calories, 30 g of protein,110% RDA of iron, 4987 mg of niacin (31% RDA), selenium (17% of RDA), zinc (71%) etc., but no cholesterol. Further, the seeds are an excellent source of health promoting amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan is converted to GABA in the brain.