Healthy pumpkins not just for Halloween

Pumpkin with many healthy ingredients

06/10/2013

Pumpkins are in high season until November. The classic autumn vegetables can be prepared tasty and varied and is extremely healthy.

Pumpkins are berries
Pumpkins are available in about 800 species, from about 50 gram squashes to record pumpkins that can weigh 600 kilograms. Botanically speaking, autumn vegetables belong to the berry-fruit family and can be prepared in a variety of ways. Not only the tasty pulp with a high content of antioxidant beta-carotene, but also the crunchy pumpkin seeds and the high-quality pumpkin seed oil have meanwhile found their way into the kitchen here too.

Rich in vitamins and minerals
When buying should be taken to ensure that the stem is solid, because if it is missing, putrefactive bacteria could get into the pumpkin. Ripe fruits can be recognized by the fact that they sound hollow when you knock on the skin. In addition, they should have no bumps or bruises. Because of the firmer pulp and more flavor rather smaller pumpkins are recommended. The fruits contain a lot of vitamin A, B1, B2, C and E as well as important minerals like iron, calcium or sodium. The pulp also has almost no calories.

Ornamental gourds with bitter substances
Gourd are unlike the ornamental gourds usually free of bitter substances, the so-called cucurbitacins. These can lead to unpleasant mucous membrane irritation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Raw pumpkin meat should therefore be tried before preparation and if it tastes bitter, it should be discarded. Ornamental gourds, which are not suitable for consumption, are provided in the trade with appropriate instructions. In a few varieties, such as the Hokkaido, the shell can be eaten.

Health-promoting effect proven in studies
The health-promoting effect of pumpkin has already been confirmed in several studies. For example, in 2007 researchers at East China Normal University found that pumpkins stimulate the renewal of damaged pancreatic cells. According to the scientists, pumpkin extract counteracts precursors of type 2 diabetes. Pumpkin seed oil has been evaluated for its potential benefit to women's complaints in a recent study from the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. In the subjects, a hypotensive effect was determined after several days of treatment with the oil. In addition, be increased „quality“ HDL cholesterol levels have been proven to promote the removal of excess cholesterol from the tissue and balance cholesterol metabolism.

Varied and tasty dishes
In addition to all the health reasons that speak for the pumpkin, it must not be overlooked that it can be prepared very varied and tasty. It tastes raw in fruit salad, pureed in a soup or baked in a quiche. In the past, pumpkin was often boiled in vinegar and oil and placed in preserving jars. But this has come out of fashion thanks to new recipes. On websites "vegetarian-rezepte.com" how to get delicious ideas. (Ad)

Picture: H.D.Volz