Content
Raw pumpkin is a vitamin product that is often used for weight loss and to improve the health of the body. To understand how great the benefits of a raw vegetable are, you need to study the composition and understand how the product affects the body.
Composition and value of raw pumpkin
An orange vegetable that has not been subjected to heat treatment contains a huge amount of useful substances. The pulp contains:
- cellulose;
- ash and organic acids;
- ascorbic acid and tocopherol;
- thiamine and beta-carotene;
- potassium, phosphorus and sodium;
- magnesium, iodine and iron;
- vitamins B6 and B9;
- calcium and chlorine;
- pantothenic acid and fatty acids;
- pectins and vitamin A.
From the point of view of nutritional value, the composition is represented mainly by carbohydrates, they contain about 6.5 g. Proteins are present in a volume of 1 g, and the amount of fat is only 0.1 g.
Raw pumpkin calories
The orange vegetable is the basis of the most effective weight loss diets for a reason. The calorie content of raw pumpkin per 100 g is only 23 kcal; it is impossible to gain weight on the product.
Glycemic index of raw pumpkin
The glycemic indexes of raw and cooked pumpkin are not the same. So, for an unprocessed vegetable it is equal to 25 units - this is a low figure, so diabetics can consume pumpkin pulp without fear.
As for the glycemic index of boiled vegetables, it is as much as 75 units - processed pulp must be consumed with great caution.
Vitamin content of raw pumpkin
The benefits of raw pumpkin for the human body are largely determined by the presence of a significant amount of vitamins in it. They deserve more detailed consideration.
- The orange raw vegetable contains the most vitamin A - about one and a half daily requirements per 100 g. Vitamin A is responsible for vision, youthful skin and hair health, so the vegetable prevents the development of eye diseases and premature aging.
- The pulp also contains subgroup B vitamins, namely, about 0.5 mg of vitamin B3, about 0.4 mg of vitamin B5 and about 0.1 mg of vitamin B6. Another 14 mcg in the pulp is vitamin B9. All of these substances are extremely important for the healthy functioning of blood vessels, muscles and the nervous system, and protect the human brain and heart from degenerative processes.
- Vitamin C is present in the composition in an amount of 8 mg. Eating the vegetable is useful for preventing colds; it is especially valuable in the fall, when there is especially a lot of it on the shelves.
- The vegetable contains 0.4 mg of vitamin E. This component is responsible for regenerative processes in the body, cell renewal and the beauty and youth of the skin.Eating the vegetable is very useful for women interested in preserving youth.
The composition contains vitamins D, PP, F and T in small quantities. With regular use of the product, this vitamin mixture promotes normal digestion, and also normalizes brain activity and serves as a prevention of sclerotic changes.
Which pumpkin is healthier: raw or boiled?
Both raw and processed, the vegetable brings great benefits to the body.
- Raw pumpkin contains a maximum of useful components - vitamins, minerals, natural acids. Due to its high dietary fiber content, it is a natural laxative; with the help of a vegetable you can quickly get rid of constipation. The advantages include the low calorie content and low GI of raw pumpkin - it can be consumed both on a diet and for diabetes.
- At the same time, the boiled vegetable also retains a high amount of valuable substances; during heat treatment, only some vitamins are destroyed in it, for example, ascorbic acid. There is still a lot of fiber in the product, and the boiled pulp is used to cleanse the body, but its laxative effect is not so pronounced.
From the point of view of low calorie content and percentage of vitamins and minerals, raw vegetables are certainly healthier. But at the same time, boiled pumpkin can be consumed in large quantities, since it does not provoke attacks of diarrhea.
What are the benefits of raw pumpkin for the human body?
The benefits of raw pumpkin are quite great. When consumed regularly in the diet, this product:
- helps improve bowel function and get rid of chronic constipation;
- allows you to quickly cleanse the body of toxins and achieve significant weight loss in a few days;
- strengthens blood vessels and prevents the development of atherosclerosis;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- protects the liver from diseases and has a choleretic effect;
- improves the condition of skin and hair;
- helps fight vitamin deficiency.
Eating raw vegetables has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. The orange vegetable helps relieve insomnia, improves body tone and improves performance.
For men
Raw pumpkin is good for men; it promotes testosterone production and improves potency. Also, raw vegetables protect against destruction and restore the liver, and also help fight inflammatory processes in the body.
The use of the product prevents the development of prostate tumors, which is especially important for men upon reaching middle age.
For women
The benefits of raw pumpkin for a woman’s body lie primarily in the dietary properties of the pulp. In less than a week, you can lose several kilograms on a pumpkin diet without causing any harm to your body.
This useful product also helps relieve insomnia, strengthens nails and hair follicles, and improves skin tone and elasticity. Since the vegetable accelerates metabolic processes in tissues, it can be used to reduce cellulite. It is also useful to consume the pulp during menopause - it improves overall well-being and helps balance hormonal levels.
Is raw pumpkin good for pregnancy?
During the period of bearing a child, pumpkin can bring enormous benefits.First of all, it helps to cope with attacks of toxicosis and helps remove excess fluid when edema occurs. Healthy pumpkin pulp helps relieve constipation, which often affects pregnant women.
The vitamin composition of the raw product is valuable not only for the woman, but also for the developing fetus. The beneficial substances in the composition contribute to the proper formation of the baby’s nervous system and brain.
Can children eat raw pumpkin?
Children can eat raw pumpkin after 1 year of age; before that, the baby’s intestines will not be able to cope with large amounts of fiber. You need to introduce vegetables into the diet in small portions, carefully monitoring the reaction of the child’s body; sometimes the orange pulp can provoke allergic reactions.
If the baby’s body accepts the unprocessed vegetable well, the healthy product will serve as a reliable home remedy for childhood constipation and will strengthen the child’s immune system.
For what diseases should you eat raw pumpkin?
Eating raw pumpkin on an empty stomach will be beneficial for many ailments; it supports the body’s strength and helps fight chronic diseases.
- Diabetes will benefit from eating unprocessed raw pulp. Unlike cooked vegetables, raw pumpkin has a very low glycemic index and does not cause a sharp increase in sugar levels.The product helps diabetics maintain normal digestion, but, of course, it should be consumed in moderation.
- The raw product effectively detoxifies the liver. It is beneficial not only as a preventive measure, but also for severe diseases of this organ - hepatitis and cirrhosis. The product promotes cell renewal and helps the liver recover faster and return to normal functions.
- Raw pumpkin is one of the best foods for weight loss. Due to its low calorie content and powerful cleansing properties, the healthy pulp promotes effective and very rapid weight loss, and also satisfies well even on very strict diets.
- The vegetable is beneficial for colds and weakened immunity. For flu, colds and coughs, you can eat raw pumpkin with honey; the combination of these products will have a double effect. A useful product will quickly reduce the temperature, stop inflammatory processes and activate the body's defense system to fight the disease.
It is recommended to eat raw pumpkin for eye diseases; it contains a lot of beta-carotene, vitamins A and E. These substances are very beneficial for the health of the retina and help strengthen it. The raw vegetable prevents the development of cataracts and myopia, helps eliminate chronic eye fatigue, and relieves dryness and burning in the eyes when constantly working at the computer.
Another beneficial property of raw pumpkin is its strong diuretic effect. The raw vegetable will be of great benefit if you are prone to swelling and will remove excess fluid from the tissues. At the same time, potassium, present in large quantities in the composition, will help dissolve sand and small stones in the kidneys and bladder.The product in its raw, unprocessed form is recommended for consumption even with such a serious illness as kidney failure.
Benefits of raw pumpkin for weight loss
Raw pumpkin on an empty stomach triggers active metabolic processes in the body. The beneficial effect is that food digestion occurs faster, and intestinal motility works more actively. Thus, when eating raw pulp on a diet, the processes of cleansing the body are launched - accumulated toxins and liquids are released, toxic substances that interfere with the healthy functioning of the body are removed from the tissues.
There are a lot of diet options - some diets are designed for 7 and 10 days, according to others, you only need to eat vegetables for 3-4 days. You can also take advantage of fasting days on unprocessed pulp - this is an option for instant and noticeable weight loss, since up to 2 kg can be lost per day.
On average, the daily amount of vegetables is about 500 g; if you eat too much unprocessed pulp, this will lead to upset stool.
Can raw pumpkin be harmful?
The benefits and harms of raw pumpkin depend not only on the caution in consuming the vegetable, but also on the condition of the body. The orange vegetable has some contraindications, which include:
- gastritis and ulcers during exacerbation;
- pancreatitis - in the acute phase of the disease, pumpkin pulp will harm the pancreas and cause increased pain;
- intestinal colic - beneficial laxative properties in this case will turn out to be harmful to the body;
- allergies - if you have an individual intolerance to the orange vegetable, it is better to avoid it completely.
You should approach unprocessed pumpkin with caution if you have diabetes. Despite the fact that the glycemic index of the product is low, in excess quantities the beneficial pulp can still harm the body.
Pumpkin can also cause harm to caries and sensitive tooth enamel. The organic acids in its composition are irritating, and after eating the pulp you should rinse your mouth thoroughly.
Conclusion
Raw pumpkin is a product with pronounced beneficial properties, which is of high value not only for adult men and women, but also for children. Pumpkin pulp has a pleasant taste and helps you lose weight, helps with chronic ailments and loss of strength - but it should be consumed in moderation so as not to cause accidental harm to health.
