Selection :Pumpkins are readily available in the market year around. Buy completely developed, whole pumpkin fruit instead of its sections. Look for mature fruit that features fine woody note on tapping, heavy in hand and stout stem. Avoid the one with wrinkled surface, cuts and bruises.
Storage :Once at home, ripe, mature pumpkin may be stored for many weeks at cool, well-ventilated place at room temperature. However, cut sections should be placed inside the refrigerator where it can keep well for a few days.
Anti-Wrinkle & Hydrating Cream :Use Pumpkin paste as facials in combination with other ingredients like honey, yogurt, lemon juice and vitamin E oil for better results
Moisturizes Dry & Damaged Hair :Puree the pumpkin and yoghurt in a blender and add coconut oil and honey. Apply this mixture on the hair and cover it with a plastic cap. Leave it for 15 minutes and then wash out thoroughly using shampoo and conditioner as usual.
Rich in carotenoids :Pumpkins are also rich in carotenoids, the compounds that give the gourd their bright orange colour, including beta-carotene, which the body converts into a form of vitamin A for additional peeper protection.
Many anti-oxidant vitamins :Pumpkin is a storehouse of many anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin-A, vitamin-C and vitamin-E.
Source of B-complex :The fruit is a good source of B-complex group of vitamins like folates, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin and pantothenic acid.
Dietary fibre :Pumpkin seeds indeed are an excellent source of dietary fibre and mono-unsaturated fatty acids, which are good for heart health. In addition, the seeds are concentrated sources of protein, minerals and health-benefiting vitamins. For instance, 100 g of pumpkin seeds provide 559 calories, 30 g of protein, 110% RDA of iron, 4987 mg of niacin (31% RDA), selenium (17% of RDA), zinc (71%) etc., but no cholesterol. Further, the seeds are an excellent source of health promoting amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan is converted to GABA in the brain.
Increases Blood Volume and Boost Immune System : Pumpkin helps in boosting the immune system and also increases blood volume. It is always prescribed by doctors for pregnant women, patients that have loss much blood because it will raise the blood level just in a matter of days.
Treats Sudden Attack of Convulsion, Malaria and Anaemia: Pumpkin treats sudden attack of convulsion, malaria and anaemia.In addition it also plays a vital and protective role in fighting of Cardiovascular diseases.
Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds :
Heart Healthy Magnesium :
One-quarter cup of pumpkin seeds contains nearly half of the recommended daily amount of magnesium, which participates in a wide range of vitally important physiological functions, including the creation of ATP (adenosine triphosphate, the energy molecules of your body), the synthesis of RNA and DNA, the pumping of your heart, proper bone and tooth formation, relaxation of your blood vessels, and proper bowel function.
Magnesium has been shown to benefit your blood pressure and help prevent sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke, yet an estimated 80 percent of Americans are deficient in this important mineral.
Zinc for Immune Support :
Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of Zinc (one ounce contains more than 2 mg of this beneficial mineral). Zinc is important to your body in many ways, including immunity, cell growth and division, sleep, mood, your senses of taste and smell, eye and skin health, insulin regulation, and male sexual function.
Many are deficient in zinc due to mineral-depleted soils, drug effects, plant-based diets, and other diets high in grain. This deficiency is associated with increased colds and flu, chronic fatigue, depression, acne, low birth weight babies, learning problems and poor school performance in children, among others.
Plant-Based Omega-3 Fats :Raw nuts and seeds, including pumpkin seeds, are one of the best sources of plant-based omega-3s (alpha-linolenic acid or ALA). We all need ALA, however, ALA has to be converted by your body into the far more essential omega-3 fats EPA and DHA -- by an enzyme in which the vast majority of us have impaired by high insulin levels. So, while pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of ALA, I believe it is essential to get some of your omega-3 fats from animal sources, such as krill oil, as well.
Prostate Health :Pumpkin seeds have long been valued as an important natural food for men’s health. This is in part because of their high zinc content, which is important for prostate health (where it is found in the highest concentrations in the body), and also because pumpkin seed extracts and oils may play a role in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, or enlarged prostate). Research suggests that both pumpkin seed oil and pumpkin seeds2 may be particularly beneficial in supporting prostate health.
Anti-Diabetic Effects :Animal studies suggest that pumpkin seeds may help improve insulin regulation and help prevent diabetic complications by decreasing oxidative stress.
Benefits for Postmenopausal Women :Pumpkin seed oil is rich in natural phytoestrogens and studies suggest it may lead to a significant increase in good “HDL” cholesterol along with decreases in blood pressure, hot flashes, headaches, joint pains and other menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women.
Heart and Liver Health :Pumpkin seeds, rich in healthy fats, antioxidants and fibres, may provide benefits for heart and liver health, particularly when mixed with flax seeds.
Tryptophan for Restful Sleep :Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of tryptophan, an amino acid (protein building block) that your body converts into serotonin, which in turn is converted into melatonin, the “sleep hormone.” Eating pumpkin seeds a few hours before bed, along with a carbohydrate like a small piece of fruit, may be especially beneficial for providing your body the tryptophan needed for your melatonin and serotonin production to help promote a restful night’s sleep.
Anti-Inflammatory Benefits :Pumpkin seed oil has been found to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. One animal study even found it worked as well as the anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin in treating arthritis, but without the side effects.
Fights Lung and Cavity cancers :With 7384 mg per 100 g, it is one of the vegetables in the Cucurbitaceae family featuring highest levels of vitamin-A, providing about 246% of RDA. Vitamin A is a powerful natural anti-oxidant and is required by the body for maintaining the integrity of skin and mucus membranes. It is also an essential vitamin for good visual sight. Research studies suggest that natural foods rich in vitamin A help a body protects against lung and oral cavity cancers.
Natural poly-phenolic flavonoid compounds :It is also an excellent source of many natural poly-phenolic flavonoid compounds such as α, ß carotenes, cryptoxanthin, lutein and zea-xanthin. Carotenes convert into vitamin A inside the body.
Fights age-related macular disease :Zea-xanthin is a natural anti-oxidant which has UV (ultra-violet) rays filtering actions in the macula lutea in retina of the eyes. Thus, it helps protect from "age-related macular disease" (ARMD) in the elderly.
Anti-Wrinkle & Hydrating Cream :Use Pumpkin paste as facials in combination with other ingredients like honey, yogurt, lemon juice and vitamin E oil for better results
Moisturizes Dry & Damaged Hair :Puree the pumpkin and yoghurt in a blender and add coconut oil and honey. Apply this mixture on the hair and cover it with a plastic cap. Leave it for 15 minutes and then wash out thoroughly using shampoo and conditioner as usual.
Side effects :An allergic reaction is caused when the immune system mistakenly identifies a protein in food, such as the pulp of the pumpkin, as dangerous. It over-responds and releases antibodies, known as immunoglobulin E, or IgE, to protect the body. These antibodies react with the allergen triggering the release of histamines that may affect the skin and membranes in the eyes, nose, respiratory tract and intestine. One of the protein allergens identified in pumpkin is profilin, which may also cause an allergy to citrus fruits, melon, tomato and bananas.
Causes :If you have an allergy to pumpkin, consuming other members of the squash family including zucchini, muskmelon and cucumber may also trigger an allergic reaction. Individuals allergic to pumpkin are usually allergic to pumpkin seeds. Touching the pulp or seeds can cause dermatitis or hives in sensitive individuals. Inhaling the vapors from cooking pumpkin can also produce allergic symptoms in sensitive people. Beware of cross-contamination from pots and dishes previously used to prepare pumpkin.
Symptoms :Within minutes of ingestion, pumpkin can induce various allergic symptoms in some individuals. Symptoms can be mild, such as itching, dermatitis and nasal congestion, or more serious, such as asthma and difficulty breathing, swelling of the face and lips or shortness of breath. Although rare, anaphylaxis may develop, requiring immediate medical attention or the administration of epinephrine.
Prevention :The best way to prevent an allergic reaction to pumpkin is to avoid any food that contains it. The Federal Food and Drug Act requires all ingredients to be listed on labels of canned and packaged processed foods. Avoid commercial baking mixes that may contain pumpkin seed powder or extracts. Be cautious of eating foods you do not prepare yourself, including bread, cakes, dips and spreads, casseroles, stews, stir-fries, cookies. Prevent skin contact with pumpkins and their seeds.
About the Vegetable :A pumpkin is a cultivator of the squash plant. It is one of the widely grown vegetables that is incredibly rich in vital antioxidants, and vitamins. While this humble backyard vegetable is less in calories but contains vitamin A, and flavonoid poly-phenolic antioxidants such as leutin, xanthin, and carotenes in abundance.The plant is a fast-growing vine that creeps along the ground surface in a similar fashion like that of other Cucurbitaceae family vegetables and fruits such as cucumber, squash, cantaloupes...etc. It is one of the most popular field crops cultivated around the world, including the USA at the commercial scale for its fruit, and seeds.Pumpkins vary greatly in shape, size and colors. Giant pumpkins generally weigh 4–6 kg with the largest capable of reaching a weight of over 25 kg. Golden-nugget pumpkins are flat, smaller in size and feature sweet creamy orange color flesh.
Scientific / Binomial name : Cucurbita pepo
Popularly Known as :Gummdikaya,Gummadi
Usage :Almost all the parts of the pumpkin plant i.e, fruit, leaves, flowers and seeds are edible.
Pumpkin can be used in variety of delicious recipes either baked, stew- fried; however, it is eaten best after steam-cooking in order to get maximum nutrients. In China, young tender, pumpkin leaves are consumed as cooked greens or in soups.
In the Indian subcontinent where it is popular as "kaddu or sitaphal", it is used in the preparation of "sabzee", sweet dishes (halwa), desserts, soups, curries,...etc.
The fruit is used in the preparations of pies, pancakes, custard, ravioli...etc.
Golden nugget pumpkins are used to make wonderful soufflés, stuffing, soups...etc.
Roasted Pumpkin seeds (Pepita) can be eaten as snacks.
Culinary Used Areas :Pumpkins are grown all around the world for a variety of reasons ranging from agricultural purposes (such as animal feed) to commercial and ornamental sales.
