9 Reasons Why The Underrated Pumpkin Is One Of The Healthiest Vegetables In The Indian Market
Whether you like eating dishes that include pumpkin or not, it turns out that the kaddu dish is more nutritious than you had previously perceived. As much as you may have refrained from eating the pumpkin in the past or recent times, you should know that the pumpkin remains one of the most underrated but nutritious vegetables in the Indian household.
Although the pumpkin is scientifically viewed as a fruit (due to the presence of seeds) it is often consumed as a vegetable in Indian households, because of the properties that make it similar to a vegetable.
Here’s why you need to be including it in your diet if you haven’t already:
#1. It boosts sex life
Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc, which plays an important role in men’s sexual health, including their fertility, sex drive and potency, claims Discovery Fit and Health.
#2. It improves your vision
Pumpkin is extremely rich in Vitamin A. One cup of cubed pumpkin contains almost twice the Vitamin A required by our body on a daily basis. Vitamin A promotes eye health. It also helps in maintaining healthy skin, bone and teeth.
#3. It gives your immunity a boost
Densely packed with essential nutrients, pumpkin can give your immunity the much-required boost. People with Vitamin A deficiency can have a weaker immune system. It is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C that can boost the immune system and increase the production of white cells respectively. Vitamin E, iron and folate are also present in pumpkin.
#4. It reduces the risk of chronic diseases
The free radicals produced by our body’s metabolic processes can create a state of oxidative stress, which can be linked to chronic illnesses, including cancer and heart disease. Pumpkin contains antioxidants—alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin. These antioxidants can neutralize the free radicals and prevent your cells from getting damaged. Also, the antioxidants present in pumpkin have proven to protect skin against sun damage and lower the risk of cancer and eye diseases.
#5. It helps promote weight loss
Despite being densely packed with nutrients, pumpkin is incredibly low in calories. 250 grams of pumpkin has only 50 calories and is 94 percent of water. You can have more of it and still not exceed your daily calorie intake required to lose weight. Pumpkin is also a decent source of fibre, which keeps you fuller for longer.
#6. It helps maintain healthy skin
The carotenoids in pumpkin are great for your skin. These carotenoids are turned into Vitamin A by your body. Studies show carotenoids like beta-carotene can act as a natural sunblock. Vitamin C present in pumpkin also makes your skin better.
#7. It can be used across various dishes
Pumpkin is delicious and easy to incorporate in your diet. It can be added to pies, custard, pancake, roasted veggies, pasta, dal and soups.
#8. Its seeds offer several health benefits
Even the seeds of the pumpkin are packed with nutrients and offer many health benefits. Pumpkin seeds are said to improve bladder, heart health and promote weight loss.
#9. It’s loaded with essential minerals, such as iron, potassium and magnesium
One small serving of pumpkin contains 250 milligrams of potassium and the same small serving of pumpkin also contains a good amount of iron. One cup has a little less than 10 percent of your recommended daily allowance of iron.
Our body needs magnesium for maintaining normal muscle function and for boosting our immune systems, among other things. Pumpkin seeds provide us with enough magnesium to perform these functions well.