Baked pumpkin: useful properties and recipes

In this age it is already difficult to surprise anyone with strawberries in January or persimmons in April. But to maintain their health and maintain the principles of good nutrition, most people try to use seasonal fruits and vegetables. So, by the end of summer, large round fruits, painted in a bright yellow color, appear on the beds and shelves of grocery stores. This pumpkin is an herbaceous plant with yellow fruits, commonly referred to as berries, and stalky stems.

The word "pumpkin" itself means "to get fat" or "to get fat"-this is according to one version, and according to another, "plump fruit." The fruit of this plant has been known since Aztec times. The first written mention dates back to 1505 and is found in the "Chaplet of Anne of Brittany". In scientific circles, the pumpkin was first described by the Franciscan friar de Sahaguna in 1529. Since then, this berry has been gaining popularity not only in the Old and New World, but all over the world.

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

1. The sweetest representatives belong to the first kind, and it is they that are best preserved without any special conditions.
2. The second type includes zucchini and patissons. They are characterized by the coarsest crust, the sweetest seeds and early ripeness of fruits.
3. Nutmeg pumpkins like heat, but can ripen in an already cut form. It is this type that is considered the healthiest.

For baking, nutmeg or large-fruited varieties are best.

Composition and Calories

Before cooking any dish, hostesses, and especially those who monitor the state of their figure, should study the composition and caloric content of the product. Pumpkin in its raw form has the following composition per 100 grams:

• 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;
• nicotinic acid;
• selenium;
• vitamins: C, E, B2, B6, PP, B1, A, T, D, F.

Baked pumpkin contains slightly more calories, namely about 30 kcal, proteins - 1.17 g, fats - 0.80 g and carbohydrates - 6.18 g.

The rest of the substances are preserved in the vegetable when it is processed, and when baked, they even increase their properties. Therefore, you can put the delicious fruit in the oven without fear that all the useful properties will disappear.

Useful properties of baked pumpkin

General benefits

The magical fruit in baked form does not lose its unique composition and has such properties:

• the ability to strengthen the cardiovascular system;
• purification of the kidneys;
• treatment and prevention of cystitis;
• strengthening of the walls of blood vessels;
• normalization of the nervous system;
• elimination of sleep problems;
• liver cleansing;
• improvement of salt metabolism;
• excretion of excess water from the body;
• lowering cholesterol levels;
• Acceleration of digestive processes;
• Strengthening of the immune system;
• reducing the risk of blood clots.

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

For women

For the representatives of the beautiful field, the "queen of vegetables" brings invaluable benefits:

• Maintains skin elasticity and youthfulness;
• helps to achieve a smoother tan;
• It relieves nervous restlessness and fights insomnia;
• It gets rid of oily shine on the skin;
• It has a positive effect during menopause;
• Improves blood clotting;
• Helps to preserve the walls of the venous vessels;
• It is a preventive measure in infertility;
• It has a healing effect on mucous membranes.

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

For men

The red vegetable generously shares its useful properties with men as well. In addition to the overall positive effect, separately it should be noted that the beautiful pumpkin increases potency, and also helps to fight prostate diseases. Because of these two features and not only, men are also recommended to eat this vegetable to maintain overall health and male health in particular!

When pregnant

A pregnant woman needs much more vitamins and micronutrients for the proper development of the fetus and the preservation of maternal health. Baked pumpkin can support the fragile health of the expectant mother and improve overall health in the following ways:

• normalization of the digestive tract;
• elimination of intestinal problems;
• removal of edema;
• normalization of the nervous system;
• elimination of calcium deficiency in the body;
• prevention of anemia;
• elimination of symptoms of toxicosis.

But we 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 do not overdo it in eating a wonderful vegetable, so as not to harm yourself or your baby.

When breastfeeding

Breastfeeding the baby is the most memorable period for many women. It is at those moments, the bond between the baby and his mother is the strongest and most unbreakable. At this time, it is necessary to follow a strict diet and monitor what goes into the body, because all these elements should be useful not only for the mother, but also for the little baby.

Pumpkin is one of the few products whose consumption is allowed during lactation. It contains many minerals and vitamins that help the proper formation of the growing organism, and also contribute to recovery in the postpartum period. When baked pumpkin is consumed during this period, the following happens:

1. Lactation improves.
2. Milk becomes more fatty and enriched with useful micronutrients.
3. Hair, teeth and nails, which need additional calcium, are not deficient.
4. Problems with constipation are eliminated.
5. The baby properly formed a bone system.

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

For kids

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

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

When introducing baked pumpkin into the diet, remember that the child should not be accustomed to this vegetable before 6 months of age, but for babies who are fed artificially, this time period can shift to four months.

When losing weight.

Due to the low caloric content of the product, dietitians are advised to include this vegetable in baked form in the dietary menu. The fact is that it contains vitamin T, the presence of which contributes to the faster digestibility of fatty foods and prevents the deposition of fat. Due to its sufficient fiber content, the "queen of vegetables" suppresses hunger and reduces appetite, satiating the body with necessary nutrients.

The pumpkin diet itself is a universal diet when striving to lose weight, helping to achieve the desired goal without harming your health. It is also worth noting that baked pumpkin is as low-calorie 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 such a diet, the use of salt, sugar and alcohol is prohibited, as well as strictly calculated caloric content, which should not exceed the figure of 1200 kcal.

How to use pumpkin for medicinal purposes

Having investigated the useful properties of pumpkin, physicians have immediately taken on "arsenal" such a wonderful vegetable and began to recommend to their patients, depending on the diagnosis, to include in the diet dishes of baked pumpkin, which helps to cope with many diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases

Potassium, which is contained in the baked dish, contributes to normal heart function, helping to avoid the risks of muscle tone disorders, and vitamin A helps to eliminate the symptoms of diseases such as angina pectoris. In addition, for patients suffering from high blood pressure, the baked product will help to reduce it. Also, when consuming pumpkin in baked form, there is an opportunity to avoid the diagnosis of "atherosclerosis". A positive effect is also noted on the process of hematopoiesis. To avoid all these problems, medics recommend consuming at least three or four servings a week.

Kidney and bladder diseases

Baked in small pieces, the pumpkin rind is able to prevent diseases of the urinary system, cleaning it from stones and salt deposits. The pulp itself in baked form can be an excellent diuretic.

In the cases described above, the product is consumed daily.

Pain in the legs

If you crush the baked pulp and put it on your feet, then the pain will quickly disappear, and fatigue is "like a hand off". Such compresses specialists advise to impose daily with 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 fruit with the addition of baked pulp and pumpkin seeds. Such a composition will put your nerves in order, improve your mood and help cope with sleep disorders. This "elixir" for the nervous system will be useful before bedtime.

Diabetes mellitus

The number of people with diabetes is increasing every year. There are many drugs to maintain the normal existence of such patients. Pumpkin, however, is a product whose consumption is undesirable, especially in the period of acute decompensation. Although the vegetable contains substances that can repair pancreatic tissue and stimulate insulin production, the starch, which is also present in the pumpkin, can be harmful to the patient. There is a risk of increasing the glycemic index when consuming baked foods. In this regard, the use of baked vegetable, if possible, only after mandatory consultation with the attending physician, who can assess the condition of the patient with diabetes.

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

The damage and contraindications

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

• diabetes mellitus;
• duodenal ulcer;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the period of exacerbation;
• gastritis with hyperacidity;
• Acid-base balance disorders;
• colitis;
• individual intolerance.

How to choose a pumpkin for baking

Before running to the market for pumpkin to bake it, it is necessary to understand some of the features of its correct choice, as well as decide on the variety.

1. The Muscat gourd is said to be the best for cooking in an oven or stove. This variety is an elongated fruit, thickening to the bottom, resembling the shape of a huge pear. Its flesh is considered the sweetest, but such "beauties" are stored for a short time.
2. Focusing on the long shelf life, you should pay attention to the Large-fruited Pumpkin. Its fruits have a classic round shape. It is less sweet than the Muscat gourd, but it can last until spring, its taste becomes richer and sweeter, because it is not as sweet as the Muscat gourd. The starch will turn into sugar over time. Also, if there is no desire to eat the pumpkin, it is quite possible to decorate the house for "Halloween"!
3. A hard-shelled member of the pumpkin family can also be baked, but as a garnish to meat dishes, since this variety is not known for its sweetness. These pumpkins are large in size with a green-yellow color, and their stalk is polygonal or star-shaped (to some people's liking), but the shelf life is quite short.

If everything is more or less clear with the varieties, you need to remember the general rules of pumpkin fruit selection:

1. The first thing you should pay attention to is the rind. It should be dense enough, but not as dense as a tree, and it should be flat without damage, spots or dents, which indicate the beginning of the process of rotting. Also, you do not need to buy a huge fruit, it is better to buy two small ones, the flesh of which will be juicier and sweeter.
2. The next point of choice is the tail. Its color should be dark, and it should be dry. If there is no tail, then it is better to refuse such a purchase, since such a fruit will be stored less. Also, the lack of a tail may indicate that the pumpkin was picked unripe, which is not the right thing to do.
3. If you have spots of pink or dark color on the skin, you should not take such a fruit, because there is a high probability that it has a fungal infection.

So, when choosing a pumpkin, you need to carefully inspect it, so you can then enjoy its rich flavor!

Recipes for baked pumpkin in the oven

Not only medics appreciated all the unique properties of the fruit, but also chefs who came up with a variety of different dishes from pumpkin cooked in the oven. In general, the pumpkin takes pride of place in cooking, especially in Armenian cuisine, where even at weddings it is customary to serve stuffed with rice and dried fruits to "the queen of vegetables. In addition, with any method of cooking pumpkin practically does not lose its useful qualities, so its inclusion in the daily diet is considered 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 with healthy and wholesome food.

A classic recipe

It requires a fruit weighing one and a half kilograms, 5 tbsp of sugar, 4-5 tbsp of butter.

The fruit should be carefully washed, cut into halves and remove the seeds. Then cut it into 5-7 pieces, without removing the skin. Put the pumpkin on a baking tray and put it in a preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes. The cooking temperature should be 200 degrees. In the meantime, melt butter in a water bath. After time, take out the pumpkin slices, pour melted butter and sprinkle with sugar, then place back in the oven, reducing the temperature to 180 degrees. Finish and serve.

A little tip: To prevent the dish from burning, you can cover it with foil while cooking.

Baked Pumpkin with Honey

Take 400g of pumpkin flesh cut into small cubes. Dip each cube in a honey sauce made from 2 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp vegetable oil (just mix them together). Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and put there a tray with pumpkin pieces for about 40 minutes, well, then enjoy a healthy treat.

Nutritious Pot

In this recipe, the fruit is baked as a whole.

For the preparation will need: 1 pumpkin, chicken flesh (400-500 g), mushrooms (250 g), potatoes (250 g), onions (1 pc), fresh carrots (1 pc) and herbs (1 tbsp).

Mushrooms cut into slices, carrots, potatoes and onions - in small cubes, chicken meat - in small pieces along the fibers (not across). From the pumpkin itself cut off the lid and carefully remove the seeds. After that, put all the prepared ingredients inside the fruit, add salt and pepper, as well as a glass of hot water. Then cover the pumpkin with its own lid and put it in the oven for 50 minutes at 180-200 degrees (cooking time depends on the power of the oven). The finished dish is flavored 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 tablespoons of honey (if necessary, you can replace it with the same amount of sugar), 2-3 mint leaves.

Remove the seeds and skin of the pumpkin and cut into random slices. Slice the apples and soak the raisins in hot water. Then place the pumpkin, apples and raisins in layers in the form. Sprinkle it all with lemon juice and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture. Then put the casserole in the oven for 30 minutes.

Interesting facts about pumpkin

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

1. When baked, the pumpkin fruit has a more pronounced and bright flavor.
2. In some countries, musical instruments are made from the pumpkin. In Africa, for example, the Shekere percussion instrument is made from dried pumpkin, and Mr. Shunji, a native of Japan, assembled a whole pumpkin orchestra.
3. The people of India catch monkeys with... a pumpkin! They make a small hole in the fruit and put rice in it. The animal put his hand behind the bait and made a fist with the "prey", but he could not get out.
4. A pumpkin is a huge fruit. This is proven every time at special competitions, where farmers participate, demonstrating pumpkin fruits of incredibly large size. About 3 years ago a new record was set by a Belgian farmer Willemines, more precisely his giant fruit, weighing 1190.5 kg. The previous record was set in 2007. The weight of the winner was 760 kg.
5. The world-famous prototype of the funny and frightening face of Halloween decorations was the mythical character of greedy blacksmith Jack, a drunkard who managed to trick Satan several times. That's why the glowing pumpkin head is called "Jack's lamp."
6. In many cultures, the pumpkin is a protector from evil spirits, as well as a talisman to attract wealth. For example, in Thailand it is called the "golden storehouse".
7. In the Russian Federation, in Sochi, there is a bench in the form of a pumpkin slice, and next to it is the fruit itself. This interesting composition is located on the Arts Square.
8. In Ukraine on the embankment of Golaya Prystan there is also 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 Urawa established its memorial composition with pumpkin and yams, which helped the peasants to survive the famine.
10. The Chinese believe that the pumpkin fruit will help newlyweds in matters of fertility, and for older married couples it will revive former passion.
11. There are about 800 different varieties of pumpkin in the world, but only 200 of them are suitable for consumption.
12. To make one liter of pumpkin seed oil, you need about 35 pieces of fruit.
13. Every year, from September to November, a pumpkin festival is held in Ludwigsburg, Germany, where people from different countries come and enjoy the fruits and pumpkin sculptures.

So, pumpkin is a valuable and very useful product. Dishes cooked with the help of baking can not only please with a brighter and richer taste, but also saturate the body with useful vitamins and minerals, as well as help to cope with various diseases, becoming a full-fledged medicinal supplement. In addition, it is worth noting that the use of baked pumpkin has a more favorable effect on the health of patients with certain diseases. That is why it is worth paying attention to the bright juicy fruit and treat yourself and your loved ones with a healthy dessert, which will open a new taste and improve health.

Photo of a baked pumpkin