Contents:
- Medical Video: 7 Surprising Benefits Of Pumpkin Seeds You Didn’t Know!
- Nutritional content of pumpkin
- Benefits of pumpkin for health
- 1. Low in calories and high in fiber
- 2. Sharpen vision
- 3. Beautify the skin
- 4. Improve the immune system
- 5. Prevent cancer
- 6. Maintaining heart health
- 7. Lower blood pressure
Medical Video: 7 Surprising Benefits Of Pumpkin Seeds You Didn’t Know!
Pumpkin in Indonesia is often processed into compote during the fasting month. Overseas, pumpkin is often carved and used as a scary decoration on Halloween. It turns out this orange round fruit has a myriad of health benefits because it is rich in vitamins and minerals. What are the benefits of pumpkin for health? Read on to find out more.
Nutritional content of pumpkin
Pumpkin is rich in nutrients such as potassium, antioxidants and vitamins. Nutrients in one cup of boiled yellow pumpkin without salt include 49 calories, 1.76 grams of protein, 0.17 grams of fat, 12 grams of carbohydrates, 2.7 grams of fiber and 5.1 grams of sugar.
Eating one cup of pumpkin can meet the needs of vitamin A more than 100 percent, vitamin C 20 percent, vitamin E, riboflavin, potassium, copper and manganese up to 10 percent, and five percent for thamin, B6, folate, pantothenic acid, niacin, iron , magnesium and phosphorus.
If cooked pumpkin can provide such benefits, of course fresh pumpkin will provide more benefits. Canned pumpkin also has many nutrients, but it must be chosen that doesn't contain too much sugar.
Benefits of pumpkin for health
Here are some of the benefits of pumpkin for health that you should know:
1. Low in calories and high in fiber
If you are trying to lose weight, pumpkin can be the right choice to become a diet food. In addition to the good taste - like sweet potatoes, pumpkin also helps you lose weight because of low calories and carbohydrates.
Not only that, eating pumpkin will make you feel full longer. This is because pumpkin has a high enough fiber content which functions to slow down the digestive process. By feeling full longer, you can avoid various snacks that will make you fat.
2. Sharpen vision
The content of beta-carotene contained in the pumpkin, makes this fruit rich in vitamin A. Beta-carotene, which will be converted into vitamin A in the body, serves to help the retina absorb and process light. Because the decline in retinal function can cause blindness if not treated properly.
In addition, pumpkin also contains lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that can help prevent cataracts and even slow the development of macular degeneration.
3. Beautify the skin
Other benefits of pumpkin are treating skin beauty. Pumpkin is rich in various vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants that your body needs to stay healthy and young. More than that, this one fruit is also able to make the skin always supple and soft.
The content of beta-carotene in pumpkin produces antioxidants that are good for counteracting free radicals and preventing radiation from UV light. That's why eating foods that are rich in beta-carotene can make you more youthful.
4. Improve the immune system
Eating pumpkin can be one way to improve your immune system to ward off various diseases. The abundant content of vitamin A can help the body fight infections, viruses and infectious diseases.
Pumpkin oil even helps fight various bacterial and fungal infections. Not only that, because pumpkin contains nearly 20 percent of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C, it helps you recover from colds faster. That's why, it's very fitting to eat pumpkin soup in the cold rainy season to prevent diseases, such as flu, runny nose, and coughing.
5. Prevent cancer
The high content of beta-carotene in pumpkins in addition to the eyes and skin, it also turns out to help fight cancer. Research shows people who eat foods rich in beta-carotene have a lower risk of certain types of cancer, especially prostate cancer and lung cancer.
In addition, the antioxidant content of vitamins A and C in pumpkin acts as a protective cell in your body against cancer-causing free radicals.
6. Maintaining heart health
The content of folate, carotenoids, and magnesium in pumpkin makes it very good for your heart health. Magnesium will work as a blood vessel relaxant so that it can lower blood pressure and prevent stroke and heart attacks. In addition, pumpkin can also prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis, a condition in which the arterial artery walls harden due to accumulation of fat on the inner wall.
7. Lower blood pressure
Pumpkin is very rich in potassium. Eating foods that contain potassium is as important as reducing sodium intake to reduce blood pressure. Potassium intake in the body also reduces your chances of getting a stroke, forming kidney stones and maintaining bone density. Besides pumpkin, other foods that contain high potassium are pineapple, tomatoes, oranges, spinach and bananas.
