What do we know about the benefits and harms of squash?
Squash or squash are the closest relatives of squash and common garden pumpkins. And although this annual vegetable crop cannot be found in the wild, an unusual type of pumpkin has been grown in South America since time immemorial. Botanists are sure that it was on the lands of the American continent that a spontaneous mutation took place, which marked the beginning of the formation of culture. What are the benefits and harms of squash?
Modern gardeners in many parts of the world grow squash of white, yellow, green and variegated colors on the beds.
These beautiful fruits, tied on powerful plants, effectively decorate not only the personal plot, but also the dining table. Squash is a valuable dietary vegetable that is pickled, fried, baked and stuffed with meat, mushrooms, cheese, poultry and vegetables.
Young squash, 5 to 10 cm in diameter and up to 7 days old, are of the greatest value for culinary specialists.
Composition of the fruit of the dish pumpkin
The main distinguishing feature of this representative of the family of garden pumpkins is its low calorie content. 100 grams of young squash contains only 19 kcal. Moreover, in such an amount of pulp, only 0.6 grams of proteins, 0.1 grams of fats and 4.1 grams of carbohydrates. Despite the juiciness and tenderness, the pulp of the squash includes a lot of fiber. There are pectins in curly dish pumpkins,
Of the mineral elements that make up a considerable part of the beneficial properties squash, pumpkins contain sodium and potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. Worthy of attention is the content of vitamin A, B1, B2, PP, ascorbic acid and carotene in squash, which is especially abundant in orange and yellow fruits.
If the pulp of the fruit is a low-calorie dietary product, then squash seeds, which are shaped like squash, include a lot of oil, unsaturated fatty acids, resins and glycosides. And 100 grams of dried grains contains 603 kcal.
Useful properties of squash and existing contraindications
Based on the composition of figured dish-shaped pumpkins, we can confidently say that low-calorie healthy squash is an excellent dietary vegetable that can not only become part of the diet while losing weight, but also bring significant benefits to human health. Due to the high concentration of potassium, squash is useful for everyone who has diseases of the heart and vascular system. Delicious, low-calorie meals based on this type of pumpkin will help lower cholesterol levels, protect blood vessels and improve the elasticity of their walls. Regular inclusion of squash in the menu in one form or another will be an effective prevention of atherosclerosis and hypertension. Dish-shaped pumpkin helps to resist anemia.
Fresh squash salads are useful as a source of mineral salts, moisture, vitamins, fructose and glucose.
It is noticed that squash improves bile secretion, normalizes the body's hematopoietic capacity. Fiber-rich dishes from squash remove toxins and excess fat from the intestinal tract. Coating pectin binds cholesterol, helping to naturally remove it from the body. It is these useful properties of squash that are used for vegetables in the treatment of diseases of the kidneys, digestive organs, including peptic ulcer and dysbiosis, heart and blood vessels.
One of the most pronounced qualities of squash is a diuretic effect, assessed by official medicine, which includes dishes from this type of pumpkin in the therapy of renal diseases. In addition, the pulp of pumpkin has a laxative effect, which determines both the benefits and harms of squash, since an excessive enthusiasm for a juicy vegetable can lead to not the most expected consequences.
When preparing dishes from squash, it should be borne in mind that they are best absorbed in the vicinity of protein products, that is, meat, poultry, soft cheese or mushrooms.
If varieties are grown in the beds that give elegant yellow or orange squash, the content of lutein is added to the beneficial properties, which helps to remove toxins from the body, has an antioxidant effect and effectively strengthens the immune system. Regular intake of this substance helps the body maintain visual acuity and counteract the accumulation of cholesterol.
Squash seeds are an excellent protein product recommended for intense physical activity.
And in terms of the content of lecithin, which contributes to active mental activity, the seeds of the squash successfully compete with chicken eggs. Seeds are able to normalize the endocrine system and activate the body's defenses. Juice from young pumpkins has a cleansing effect, soothes and relieves nervous tension during stress.
As befits a dietary product, with a lot of harm, the squash can hardly bring any harm.
The pulp is so gentle on the digestive system that puree from this vegetable and baked pumpkin can be given to children. The exception is made by people suffering from acute digestive disorders, accompanied by dyspepsia and diarrhea.