Introduction: As the saying goes, "people take food as the sky", which fully reflects the importance of food in people's lives. Among the many foods, vegetables are undoubtedly an indispensable part. Among them, pumpkin has won the reputation of "the king of vegetables" with its unique charm and rich nutrition.
Pumpkin, an ingredient that can be enjoyed in all seasons, is not only delicious but also highly nutritious. Its pulp is rich in vitamins and minerals, providing the body with comprehensive nutrition.
In cooking, pumpkin is versatile, whether it is used in soups, stir-fries, or as a staple food, it can show its unique flavor.
In recent years, with the in-depth research of vegetables by experts at home and abroad, the health care function of pumpkin has gradually been discovered. Long-term consumption of pumpkin can not only meet the body's nutritional needs, but also have the effect of disease prevention and treatment.
Pumpkin contains certain ingredients that can enhance the body's immunity, improve resistance, and have a positive effect on disease prevention.
However, despite its many benefits, pumpkin also has some caveats to keep in mind when consuming it. Pumpkin is not suitable for everyone, so while enjoying its delicious taste, we should also understand its contraindications and ensure a healthy diet.
01
Nutrients in pumpkin
Pumpkin, which was praised by the famous Qing Dynasty doctor Chen Xiuyuan as "the wonderful product of blood replenishment", is not only delicious, but also a nutritious and healthy treasure.
In the rich connotation of pumpkin, we can find a variety of nutrients such as plant protein, carotene, vitamins, etc., which together constitute the unique nutritional system of pumpkin.
First of all, the plant-based protein in pumpkin is an indispensable and important nutrient for our body. These proteins are involved in various biochemical reactions in our body, providing the body with the necessary energy and motivation.
Secondly, pumpkin is rich in carotene, which plays a vital role in the protection of our eyesight. Carotene can be converted into vitamin A, which helps to maintain the normal function of the retina and prevent the occurrence of eye diseases such as night blindness.
In addition, pumpkin also contains a variety of vitamins, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, etc., which play an antioxidant and anti-aging role in our body, helping our body resist various diseases.
What's even more rare is that pumpkin also contains a variety of essential amino acids, such as lysine, tryptophan, etc., which are not synthesized by our body and must be ingested through food. They play an important role in maintaining our life activities and promoting the growth and development of the body.
In addition to the above nutrients, pumpkin is also rich in calcium, zinc, iron, cobalt, phosphorus and other minerals, which play an irreplaceable role in our bone health and immunity.
02
What are the benefits of eating pumpkin regularly?
Promotes digestion
Pumpkin is a nutritious ingredient with many health benefits from the dietary fiber contained in it. Dietary fiber is a carbohydrate that cannot be directly digested and absorbed by the human body, but it plays an important physiological role in the human body due to its unique physical and chemical properties.
The dietary fiber in pumpkin can effectively promote the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract, and the dietary fiber absorbs water and expands in the gastrointestinal tract to form a viscous substance, which increases the volume of chyme, and then stimulates the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract. This peristalsis helps in the advancement of food in the gastrointestinal tract, shortening the stay time of food in the intestines, thus helping to prevent constipation from occurring.
In addition, dietary fiber can increase the water content in chyme, making chyme soft, which is conducive to food digestion. At the same time, dietary fiber can also promote the secretion of digestive juices such as saliva, gastric juice and intestinal juice, which further helps the digestion of food.
Diuretic and laxative
Pumpkin is one of the most abundant ingredients in pumpkin that has a significant diuretic and laxative effect due to its significant diuretic and laxative effects, a natural sweetener found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. This substance has an excellent osmotic regulating effect and is able to effectively promote the excretion of water from the body, thus achieving a diuretic effect.
By increasing the production and excretion of urine, mannitol helps to remove excess water and toxins from the body, reducing the burden on the kidneys and maintaining the health of the urinary system.
In addition to its diuretic effect, mannitol also has a laxative function. It can increase the water content in the intestines, soften the stool, and make it easier to pass, which is of positive significance for preventing constipation and improving the intestinal environment.
Protects the gastric mucosa
Pumpkin is rich in pectin, and the adsorption of pectin allows it to form a protective film in the gastrointestinal tract, covering the surface of the gastrointestinal mucosa. This protective film can effectively isolate the contact between harmful substances and the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, thereby preventing irritation and damage to the mucosa by harmful substances.
In addition to protecting the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, pectin also has the effect of promoting bile secretion. Bile is a digestive fluid synthesized by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, which contains components such as bile salts, cholesterol, and phospholipids, and plays an important role in the digestion and absorption of fats.
Pectin stimulates gallbladder contraction and promotes the secretion and discharge of bile, thereby aiding in the digestion and absorption of fats. This is undoubtedly a boon for those who are prone to indigestion, stomach pain, and other problems.
Protect cardiovascular and cerebrovascular vessels
Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas and is essential for maintaining blood sugar stability. Pumpkin is rich in pectin and dietary fiber, which help regulate the secretion and release of insulin, thereby maintaining blood sugar within the normal range.
In addition, some active substances in pumpkin can also promote the oxidative decomposition of sugars in the body, improve the utilization efficiency of sugars, and further stabilize blood sugar levels.
In addition to regulating the level of insulin content, pumpkin also has the effect of lowering blood pressure and blood lipids. The potassium in pumpkin helps to flush out excess sodium ions from the body, thereby lowering blood pressure, while the dietary fiber in pumpkin can reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines and lower blood lipid levels. These effects have positive significance for protecting cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems and preventing arteriosclerosis.
Lose weight and slim down
As a special ingredient in pumpkin, pectin brings many health benefits to people. Pectin, a polymer compound naturally found in pumpkin, has unique gelatinizing properties that allow it to react with other substances in the gastrointestinal tract to form a gelatinous substance.
When pectin enters the gastrointestinal tract, it begins to react with other substances to form a gel-like protective film. The presence of this protective film can not only effectively slow down the digestion and decomposition of food in the gastrointestinal tract.
This allows food to be more fully absorbed and utilized by the body, and at the same time brings a strong sense of satiety to people. This feeling of satiety helps to control appetite and reduce food intake, which can lead to weight loss.
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The doctor reminds: these 4 types of people should eat less as well
Febrile patients
As a common pathological reaction, fever is often accompanied by the occurrence of various diseases. During the period of fever, the body's metabolism accelerates, and energy expenditure increases accordingly. Therefore, it is particularly important for febrile patients to choose foods that provide sufficient nutrients and are easy to digest and absorb.
Pumpkin, as a nutritious ingredient, is rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, which is very beneficial for the average person. However, for patients with fever, caution is required to consider whether it is suitable for consumption.
Pumpkin is on the warm side, and the body of a fever patient is already in a state of high temperature, and if you eat warm food, it may cause the body temperature to rise further and aggravate the condition.
People with hot and dry constitution
People with a hot and dry constitution usually show that the yang energy in the body is abundant, and they are prone to heat symptoms, such as dry mouth, bitter mouth, dry stool and other symptoms. Pumpkin, as a common ingredient, is rich in nutrients, but for people with a hot and dry constitution, it may aggravate the heat in the body, which is not conducive to health.
Pumpkin is warm and sweet, and it is a hot food. In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, food and medicine are divided into four natures: warm, hot, cold, and cool. When hot food enters the human body, it produces heat energy, which increases the temperature of the human body and accelerates blood circulation. For people with a hot and dry constitution, eating pumpkin will make the yang energy in the body more vigorous, thus aggravating the symptoms of heat and dryness.
In addition, pumpkin is also rich in nutrients such as carotene, vitamin C, minerals, etc. For the general population, these nutrients have benefits such as replenishing energy and boosting immunity. However, for people with hot and dry constitutions, these nutrients may produce more heat during metabolism, further exacerbating the heat in the body.
In addition, pumpkin is rich in starch and sugar, which produce more acidic substances when broken down in the stomach, which further irritates the gastric mucosa and aggravates the condition of gastric hyperacidity.
People with jaundice
Jaundice is caused by an increase in serum bilirubin concentration due to a disorder of bilirubin metabolism in the body, usually manifested by yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and sclera.
For people with jaundice, it is important to be cautious about eating pumpkin, which contains a substance called "carotene", which can be converted into vitamin A in the body. Although vitamin A is good for eye and skin health, when consumed in excess, it can accumulate in the liver and increase the burden on the liver.
The liver of jaundice patients has been damaged and cannot effectively metabolize and excrete bilirubin, if too much carotene is ingested, it will further increase the burden on the liver, which is not conducive to the control of the disease.
04
There are many benefits to eating pumpkin, but these 4 foods are best not to eat with them
Foods rich in vitamin C-breaking enzymes
Pumpkin should not be eaten at the same time as foods rich in vitamin C decomposition enzymes, such as spinach, bok choy, etc. Because the vitamin C decomposition enzymes in these foods will destroy the vitamin C in the pumpkin, reducing the nutritional value of the pumpkin.
mutton
Although lamb and pumpkin are both nutritious foods, mutton is a hot food, and pumpkin is also a warm food, and eating both at the same time is easy to cause indigestion symptoms such as bloating and constipation.
vinegar
The acetic acid in vinegar destroys the nutrients in the pumpkin and reduces the nutritional value of the pumpkin. At the same time, acetic acid will also combine with certain substances in pumpkin to form indigestible substances, affecting digestion and absorption.
sweet potato
Although sweet potatoes and pumpkin are both fiber-rich foods, eating both at the same time will produce a lot of carbon dioxide in the stomach, causing bloating, abdominal pain and other uncomfortable symptoms.
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5 nutritious ways to eat pumpkin, the more you eat, the healthier it is
Pumpkin steamed pork
The pumpkin is cut into cubes and steamed with lean meat, and the sweetness of the pumpkin blends with the freshness of the meat, which is not only delicious, but also fully retains the nutrients of the pumpkin and meat.
The β-carotene in pumpkin is more easily absorbed by the body during the cooking process and converted into vitamin A, which helps protect eyesight and enhance immunity.
Pumpkin porridge
Pumpkin porridge is a nutritious, easy-to-digest delicacy. Boil the pumpkin and rice together until the pumpkin is soft and the porridge is thick, and the nutrients of the pumpkin are fully integrated into the porridge.
This porridge not only helps to nourish the stomach and protect the stomach, but also provides rich dietary fiber, promotes intestinal peristalsis and aids digestion.
Pumpkin stew
The pumpkin is simmered with other vegetables and lean meat, and the sweetness of the pumpkin and the freshness of the soup complement each other, making the whole dish rich and layered.
The many vitamins and minerals in pumpkin can be fully released during the stewing process, which helps to replenish the nutrients needed by the body and strengthen the immune system.
Pumpkin scones
Mix pumpkin puree with flour, eggs, and other ingredients to make pumpkin scones and bake them until golden brown and crispy. Not only is this delicious snack delicious, but it also provides a rich source of dietary fiber and minerals to help maintain good health.
Pumpkin salad
Dice pumpkin and make a salad with other vegetables and fruits, drizzled with olive oil and lemon juice, which is healthy and delicious. The β-carotene and dietary fiber in pumpkin are fully retained in salads to help protect cardiovascular health and promote digestion.
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4 steps to pick out a good pumpkin
Step 1: Observe the appearance of the pumpkin
A good quality pumpkin has a smooth surface and a bright color, showing a deep orange or golden yellow color. At the same time, the skin of the pumpkin should be firm and undamaged, with no obvious dents, spots, or cracks. If you find that the surface of the pumpkin is soft, discolored, or moldy, you should avoid buying it.
Step 2: Tap the pumpkin and listen to the sound
Gently tap the pumpkin, if it makes a crisp sound, it means that the pumpkin has firm flesh, plenty of moisture, and a better taste. Conversely, if the sound is muffled, it may indicate that the pumpkin has a cavity inside or loose flesh and is not suitable for purchase.
Step 3: Observe the pumpkin vines
Fresh pumpkin vines are usually green in color and firm. If the vine has withered or broken, the pumpkin may have been stored for a longer period of time and has lost its freshness.
Step 4: Choose a pumpkin with a moderate weight
When picking pumpkins, we can weigh them by hand. High-quality pumpkins are usually heavier because the flesh is plump and well-hydrated. If the pumpkin is too light, it may indicate that it has less flesh inside and a poor taste.
With these four steps in mind for selecting a pumpkin, we can easily choose a good pumpkin of good quality. While enjoying the delicious food, it also adds a guarantee to our healthy life.