Baked pumpkin: benefits and harm to the body

In our century it is already difficult to surprise someone with strawberries in January or persimmons in April. But to maintain their health and maintain the principles of good nutrition, most people try to eat seasonal fruits and vegetables. So, by the end of summer, large round fruits appear on the beds and shelves of grocery stores, painted in bright yellow. This pumpkin is a herbaceous plant with yellow fruits, which are usually referred to as berries, and creeping stems.

The word “pumpkin” itself means “getting fat” or “eating fat” - this is one version, and according to another it is “a chubby fruit”. The fruits of this plant were known back in the days of the Aztecs. The first written mention dates back to 1505 and is located in the "Hourly Book of Anna of Breton." In scientific circles, the Franciscan monk de Sahaguna first described the pumpkin in 1529. From that moment, this berry began to gain its popularity not only in the Old and New Worlds, but throughout the world.

Currently, there are about 20 species of this plant, but it is customary to distinguish three: large-fruited, hard-bark, nutmeg.

1. The sweetest representatives belong to the first species, and it is they who are best preserved without any special conditions.
2. The second type includes zucchini and squash. They are characterized by the coarsest crust, the sweetest seeds and the early ripeness of the fruit.
3. Nutmeg pumpkins love heat, but can ripen in an already cut form. This type is considered the most useful.

For baking, muscat or large-fruited varieties are best suited.

Composition and calorie content

Before preparing any dish, the hostesses, and especially those who monitor the state of their figure, should study the composition and calorie content of the product. In a raw pumpkin per 100 g, it is as follows:

• proteins - 1 g;
• fats - 0.1 g;
• carbohydrates - 6.5 g;
• calories - approximately 22 kcal.

Chemical composition:

• water - 91.6;
• sugar - 4.2 g;
• dietary fiber - 0.5 g;
• starch - 0.2 g.

In addition, the raw product is rich in the following vitamins and minerals:

• sodium;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• zinc;
• calcium;
• iron;
• phosphorus;
• cobalt;
• copper;
• folic acid;
• a nicotinic acid;
• selenium;
• vitamins: C, E, B2, B6, PP, B1, A, T, D, F.

Baked in a pumpkin contains a little more calories, namely about 30 kcal, protein - 1.17 g, fat - 0.80 g and carbohydrates - 6.18 g.

The remaining substances are stored in the vegetable during its processing, and when baked, they even enhance their properties. Therefore, you can put a delicious fruit in the oven, without fear that all the beneficial properties will disappear.

Useful properties of baked pumpkin

General benefit

The baked magical fruit does not lose its unique composition and has the following properties:

• ability to strengthen the cardiovascular system;
• kidney cleansing;
• treatment and prevention of cystitis;
• strengthening the walls of blood vessels;
• normalization of the functioning of the nervous system;
• troubleshooting sleep problems;
• liver cleansing;
• improved salt metabolism;
• withdrawal of excess water from the body;
• lower cholesterol;
• acceleration of digestion;
• strengthening the immune system;
• reduced risk of blood clots.

All these properties make pumpkin an amazingly useful vegetable for maintaining human health.

For women

For representatives of the beautiful field, the “queen of vegetables” is invaluable:

• maintains skin elasticity and youth;
• helps to achieve a more even tan;
• eliminates nervous anxiety and fights insomnia;
• relieves oily sheen on the skin;
• has a positive effect with menopause;
• improves blood coagulation;
• contributes to the preservation of the walls of venous vessels;
• is a prophylactic for infertility;
• has a healing effect on the mucous membranes.

Based on all this, we can conclude that the female body is simply needed in the daily diet as a means of cleansing the body, preserving beauty and health.

For men

Red vegetable generously shares its beneficial properties with men. In addition to the general positive effect, it should be noted separately that the beautiful pumpkin increases potency, and also helps fight prostate diseases. Thanks to these two features, and not only, men are also recommended to use this vegetable to maintain overall health and male in particular!

During pregnancy

A pregnant woman needs much more vitamins and minerals to properly develop the fetus and maintain maternal health. Baked pumpkin can support the fragile health of the expectant mother and improve overall health as follows:

• normalization of the digestive tract;
• eliminating bowel problems;
• removal of edema;
• normalization of the nervous system;
• elimination of a lack of calcium in the body;
• prevention of anemia;
• elimination of symptoms of toxicosis.

But you must remember that pregnant women who are prone to allergies and diarrhea, the presence in the daily diet of pumpkin dishes can be harmful. Therefore, you should carefully monitor the reaction of the body and not be zealous in eating a wonderful vegetable, so as not to harm yourself or your baby.

When breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the most memorable period for many women. It is in those moments that the connection between the baby and his mother is the strongest and unbreakable. At this time, you must follow a strict diet and monitor what enters the body, because All these elements should be useful not only for mom, but also for a small child.

Pumpkin is one of the few foods that can be consumed during lactation. It contains many minerals and vitamins that help the proper formation of a growing body, and also contribute to recovery in the postpartum period. When baked pumpkin is consumed during this period, the following occurs:

1. Lactation improves.
2. Milk becomes more fat and enriched with beneficial trace elements.
3. Hair, teeth and nails that need extra calcium do not experience deficiency.
4. Eliminates problems with constipation.
5. The baby's bone system is correctly formed.

That is why many doctors recommend nursing women to turn their attention to dishes from baked pumpkin.

For children

For young children, the benefits of a bright vegetable are invaluable:

1. The content of vitamin A in 100 grams is the daily norm for the baby.
2. Prevention of eye diseases and improvement of visual acuity.
3. Strengthening the immune system and preventive action during acute respiratory diseases.
4. Strengthening the nervous system.
5. Increased stress tolerance.

When introducing baked pumpkin into the diet, it should be remembered that accustoming a child to such a vegetable should take place no earlier than 6 months, but for babies who are breast-fed, this period of time can shift to four months.

When losing weight

Due to the low calorie content of the product, dieticians advise to include this vegetable in a baked form in the diet menu.The fact is that it contains vitamin T, the presence of which contributes to a faster digestibility of fatty foods and prevents fat deposition. Due to the sufficient fiber content, the “Queen of Vegetables” suppresses hunger and reduces appetite, saturating the body with essential nutrients.

The pumpkin diet itself is universal in striving to lose weight, helping to achieve the desired goal, without causing harm to health. It is also worth noting that baked pumpkin is as low in calories as cabbage, and thanks to its balanced composition, it goes well with many products, helping to diversify the diet table.

It is worth mentioning that the pumpkin diet is mainly designed for two weeks and helps to reduce weight by about 10 kg. During the period of such a diet, the use of salt, sugar and alcohol is prohibited, and calorie content is strictly calculated, which should not exceed an indicator of 1200 kcal.

How to use pumpkin for medicinal purposes

After examining the beneficial properties of pumpkin, the doctors immediately took such a wonderful vegetable to the arsenal and began to recommend to their patients, depending on the diagnosis, to include in the composition of the food dishes of baked pumpkin, which helps to cope with many diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases

Potassium, which is contained in a baked dish, contributes to the normal functioning of the heart, helping to avoid the risks of impaired muscle tone, and vitamin A helps to eliminate the symptoms of a disease such as angina pectoris. In addition, for patients suffering from high blood pressure, a baked product will help to reduce it. Also, when eating pumpkin in a baked form, it is possible to avoid the diagnosis of atherosclerosis. A positive effect was also noted on the process of blood formation. To avoid all these problems, doctors recommend consuming at least three or four servings per week.

Kidney and bladder diseases

Pumpkin peel baked in small pieces can prevent diseases of the urinary system by cleansing it of stones and salt deposits. Baked pulp itself can be an excellent diuretic.

In the above cases, the product is consumed daily.

Leg pain

If you grind the baked pulp and put it on your legs, then the pain will quickly go away, and fatigue "will take off as you can." Specialists advise applying such compresses daily for chronic pain, as well as after prolonged and heavy physical exertion. The duration of the “lotion” is 30 minutes.

Stress

In the fight against stress and insomnia, experts advise taking a decoction of pumpkin fruits with the addition of baked pulp and pumpkin seeds. Such a composition will bring nerves in order, improve mood and help cope with sleep disorders. This "elixir" for the nervous system will be useful before bedtime.

Diabetes

The number of people with diabetes is growing every year. There are many drugs available to support the normal existence of such patients. Pumpkin is a product whose use is undesirable, especially during acute decompensation. Despite the fact that the vegetable contains substances that can restore pancreatic tissue and stimulate the production of insulin, starch, which is also present in pumpkin, can harm the patient. When eating baked dishes, there is a risk of increasing the glycemic index. In this regard, the use of baked vegetable, if possible, only after a mandatory consultation with a doctor who can assess the condition of a patient with diabetes.

In addition, trying to cure any serious disease, it is necessary, first of all, to consult a specialist.

Harm and contraindications

Of course, everyone just talks about the miraculous composition and benefits of the yellow vegetable. But do not forget that pumpkin also has its contraindications, which you need to familiarize yourself with before putting the baked beauty on the table. This product is contraindicated in the following cases:

• diabetes;
• duodenal ulcer;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract during an exacerbation;
• gastritis with high acidity;
• violation of acid-base balance;
• colitis;
• individual intolerance.

How to choose a pumpkin for baking

Before you run to the market for a pumpkin to bake it, you need to understand some of the features of its correct choice, as well as determine the variety.

1. It is believed that the best for cooking in the oven or oven is Muscat pumpkin. This variety is an elongated, thickening to the bottom of the fruit, resembling a huge pear in shape. Her flesh is considered the sweetest, but such “beauties” are stored for very short time.
2. Focusing on the long shelf life, it is worth taking a closer look at the Large-fruited pumpkin. Its fruits are classic round in shape. It is less sweet than nutmeg, but it can persist until spring, its taste becomes more intense and sweet, because starch turns into sugar over time. In addition, if there is no desire to eat a pumpkin, then it is quite possible to decorate the house for "Halloween"!
3. A firm representative of pumpkin can also be baked, but as a side dish for meat dishes, as this variety is not sweet. Such pumpkins are large in size with green-yellow color, and their stalk is in the form of a polygon or a star (who and how you like), but the shelf life is very short.

If everything is more or less clear with the varieties, then you need to remember the general rules for choosing pumpkin fruits:

1. The first thing you should pay attention to is the peel. It should be sufficiently dense, but not like a tree, and even without damage, spots or dents that indicate the beginning of the process of decay. Also, you do not need to acquire a huge fruit, it is better to buy two small ones, the flesh of which will be juicier and sweeter.
2. The next choice is the ponytail. His color should be dark, and he himself should be dry. If there is no tail, then it is better to refuse such a purchase, because such a fruit will be less stored. Also, the absence of ponytails may indicate that the pumpkin was ripped unripe, and this is not at all what is needed.
3. If spots of pink or dark colors are found on the peel, then you should not take such a fruit, because it is highly likely that he "fell ill" with a fungal infection.

So, choosing a pumpkin, you need to carefully examine it, then to enjoy its rich taste!

Oven Baked Pumpkin Recipes

Not only doctors appreciated all the unique properties of the fetus, but also the cooks who came up with a variety of pumpkin dishes cooked in the oven. In general, pumpkin occupies an honorable place in cookery, especially in the Armenian cuisine, where even the wedding is usually served with a queen of vegetables stuffed with rice and dried fruits. In addition, with any cooking method, pumpkin practically does not lose its beneficial qualities, therefore its inclusion in the daily diet is considered a very useful and important aspect.

As for the recipes for cooking baked pumpkin, they are available not only to professionals, but also to ordinary housewives, seeking to feed their family healthy and wholesome food.

Classic recipe

He will need a fruit weighing one and a half kilograms, 5 tbsp. sugar, 4-5 tablespoons butter.

The fruit should be thoroughly washed, cut into halves and seeds removed. Then cut it into 5-7 pieces, while the skin does not need to be removed.Put the pumpkin on a baking sheet and put it in the preheated oven for about 15–20 minutes. The cooking temperature should be 200 degrees. At this time, melt the butter in a water bath. After time, get the pieces of pumpkin, pour them with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar, then put it back in the oven, lowering the temperature to 180 degrees. Bring to readiness and serve.

A little tip: so that the dish does not burn, you can cover it with foil during cooking.

Baked pumpkin with honey

Take 400 g of pumpkin pulp, cut into small cubes. Dip each cube in honey sauce made from 2 tbsp. tablespoons of honey and 1 tbsp. tablespoons of vegetable oil (you just need to mix them). Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and place a baking sheet with slices of pumpkin for about 40 minutes, and then enjoy a healthy treat.

Nourishing pot

According to this recipe, the fruit is baked in its entirety.

For preparation you will need: 1 pumpkin, chicken pulp (400-500 g), champignons (250 g), potatoes (250 g), onions (1 pc.), Fresh carrots (1 pc.) And greens (1 tablespoon )

Cut the mushrooms into plates, carrots, potatoes and onions into small cubes, chicken meat into small pieces along the fibers (not across). Cut the lid off the pumpkin itself and carefully remove the seeds. After that, lower all prepared ingredients into the fruit, add salt and pepper, as well as a glass of hot water. Then close the pumpkin with your own lid and put this “structure” in the oven for 50 minutes at a temperature of 180-200 degrees (the cooking time depends on the capacity of the oven). Season the finished dish with herbs.

Pumpkin casserole with apples and raisins

For it, you will need 300 g of pumpkin pulp, 50 g of raisins, 2 apples, lemon, 0.5 tsp. cinnamon, 2 tbsp. tablespoons of honey (if necessary, you can replace the same amount of sugar), 2-3 leaves of mint.

Peel the pumpkin from seeds and peel and cut into arbitrary pieces. Cut the apples into slices, and soak the raisins in hot water. Then lay the pumpkin, apples and raisins in layers on the plate. Pour all this with lemon juice and sprinkle with a sugar-cinnamon mixture. After that, put the casserole in the oven for 30 minutes.

Interesting facts about pumpkin

Since the pumpkin has existed for a long time, a lot of interesting facts have been collected about it:

1. When baked, the pumpkin fruit has a more pronounced and vibrant taste.
2. Musical instruments are made from pumpkin in some countries. In Africa, for example, a Shekere percussion instrument is made from dried pumpkin, while Mr. Shunji, a native of Japan, has assembled a pumpkin orchestra.
3. Indian people catch monkeys with ... pumpkins! They make a small hole in the fruit, where they first put the rice. The animal, sticking his hand behind the bait, clenches his “prey” into his fist, but he cannot get out.
4. Pumpkin is a huge fruit. This is proved every time in special competitions where farmers participate, demonstrating incredibly large pumpkin fruits. About 3 years ago, a new record was set, which was set by the Belgian farmer Willemines, or rather its giant fruit, weighing 1190.5 kg. The previous record was set in 2007. The weight of the winner was 760 kg.
5. The mythical character of the greedy blacksmith Jack, a drunkard who managed to outwit Satan several times, became the prototype of the world-famous funny and frightening face of Halloween decoration. That is why the luminous pumpkin head is called "Jack's lamp."
6. For many nations, pumpkin is a protector against evil spirits, as well as a talisman to attract wealth. For example, in Thailand it is called the "golden vault."
7. In the Russian Federation, in Sochi, there is a bench in the form of a pumpkin slice, and the fruit itself is nearby. This interesting composition is located on the Square of Arts.
8. In Ukraine, on the embankment ofNaked Quay also has a monument to this unique fruit, made in the form of a good-natured fat man.
9. Japan did not stand aside and in the city of Urava established its commemorative composition with pumpkin and sweet potato, which helped the peasants survive the famine.
10. The Chinese believe that pumpkin fruit will help newlyweds in matters of fertility, and older couples will revive their former passion.
11. In the world there are about 800 different varieties of pumpkin, but only 200 are suitable for eating.
12. To make one liter of pumpkin oil, approximately 35 pieces of fruit are needed.
13. Every year, from September to November, in Ludwigsburg, Germany, a pumpkin festival is held, which brings together representatives of different countries and delights the audience with fruits and pumpkin sculptures.

So, pumpkin is a valuable and very useful product. Dishes prepared with baking can not only please you with a brighter and more saturated taste, but also saturate the body with useful vitamins and minerals, and also help to cope with various diseases, becoming a full-fledged medicinal supplement. In addition, it is worth noting that the use of baked pumpkin more favorably affects the health of patients with certain diseases. That is why it is worth paying attention to bright juicy fruits and treating yourself and your loved ones with a healthy dessert that will open a new taste and strengthen your health.

Photo of Baked Pumpkin