Not only is pumpkin delicious, it is also packed with nutrients and has many health benefits. I'm going to suggest a few different preparations to help you lose weight, nourish your stomach, protect your eyes, and prevent stomach ulcers and prostate problems.
Steamed pumpkin and pumpkin rice to lose weight and reduce edema
Eating pumpkin can help you lose weight not only because it's low in calories and keeps you feeling full, but also because it has three distinct benefits:
- help defecation
Pumpkin is rich in dietary fiber, which can improve bowel movements. - reduce fat absorption
When eating pumpkin, your mouth may feel a little sticky; that's because of the pectin. Several studies have shown that pectin can prevent the body from absorbing excess fat. - is a diuretic; reduces edema
Pumpkin itself has a diuretic effect, reduces edema, and can also detoxify and beautify the skin.
The easiest way to eat pumpkin to lose weight is to steam it with a rice cooker. Dice the fruit and put it directly into the pot to steam. It can also be made into pumpkin rice. Wash the rice and add water, then spread the pumpkin slices on top and cook in an electric pot.
Make Pumpkin Soy Milk and Puree for Eye Health
There has been an increase in the number of people visiting the doctor for eye problems recently. Not only teenagers, but even middle-aged and elderly people are addicted to technology, leading to “computer vision syndrome”, also known as digital eye strain. Eye discomfort and vision problems, including eye strain, blurred vision, headaches, and dry eyes, can occur when looking at computers and phones for long periods of time. Some research suggests it may also contribute to age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
Eating pumpkin can help protect the eyes from daily strain while preventing eye diseases and enhancing night vision.
Pumpkin soy milk can relieve eye fatigue, especially for students who study late at night, and at the same time satisfy their hunger. And it tastes great.
Pumpkin soy milk is very easy to make. Prepare 150 g (5.3 oz) pumpkin and 600 ml (1.3 pints) soy milk. First, cut the pumpkin into pieces and steam them in a rice cooker. Then heat the soymilk, and use a juicer together with the steamed pumpkin to make a watery paste.
The ingredients for pumpkin soup are 500 g (17.6 oz) pumpkin, 200 ml (6.8 fl oz) milk, 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) water and a pinch of salt and pepper. First, steam the pumpkin in the rice cooker; add a small amount of water, then pour it into a juicer to make a puree; put the pumpkin puree and milk into the rice cooker, and cook for another 10 minutes on low heat. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
Pumpkin latte or pumpkin porridge to nourish the stomach and prevent gastric ulcers
The stress many people face today, combined with irregular eating and sleeping schedules, has led many to suffer from gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Stomach ulcers, also known as peptic ulcers, are painful open sores that develop in the stomach lining. These ulcers can recur and can even perforate the stomach, which is life-threatening. Many people will experience stomach pain, acid reflux, and satiety in the early stage of the disease. At this time, the gastric mucosa may have been ulcerated.
Pumpkin is an excellent natural food that helps prevent stomach ulcers. For patients with mild ulcers, eating pumpkin can help speed up the healing of gastric wounds, protect the gastrointestinal mucosa, promote bile secretion, and enhance food digestion.
Pumpkin and millet porridge can prevent and cure diseases For peptic ulcer, millet also has the effect of nourishing the stomach. The “Introduction to Medicine” of the Ming Dynasty said: “Eating porridge in the morning can push away the old and regenerate the new, benefit the diaphragm and nourish the stomach, generate body fluid, refresh the mind, and refresh the mind all day long. It is indeed a good supplement.”
To prepare millet pumpkin porridge, take 200 g (7 oz) of pumpkin and 50 g (1.8 oz) of millet; cut the pumpkin into pieces and wash the millet; put them in boiling water and simmer for 30 minutes over low heat. Be sure to stir from time to time to keep them from sticking to the pan.
Make a pumpkin latte at home before your next commute.
The ingredients for a pumpkin latte include 10 grams (0.35 oz) pumpkin puree, 180 ml (6 fl oz) fresh milk, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) black coffee and a pinch of cinnamon. (If it's for kids, skip the coffee.)
Brew the coffee, pour it into the juicer with the pumpkin puree and fresh milk, and blend for 20-30 seconds. A little maple syrup and cinnamon are added for flavor.
Eat pumpkin seeds and drink pumpkin seed milk to prevent prostate disease
Prostate problems are common, especially in older men. By the way, most farmers who work in pumpkin fields don't have such problems.
The age of onset of prostatic hypertrophy is getting younger and younger. In the past, only people in their 60s had it. In my clinic now, I sometimes see people in their 40s with this problem. For example: Standing in front of the urinal, you need to wait a long time before the urine is poured out; or you just want to urinate again after going to the toilet. This is especially severe at night, as some have reported having to get up multiple times during the night causing them insomnia.
In addition to normal aging, men who think about sex a lot are also prone to an enlarged prostate. This is because the prostate is constantly stimulated during the phantasy, which can lead to problems with the prostate.
In addition to pumpkin pulp, pumpkin seeds may also provide similar protection for the prostate. Medical research has found that pumpkin seeds can increase the rate of urination and therefore reduce nocturia—the waking up during the night to urinate. If you're a young adult and your dad has this problem, consider getting him some pumpkin seeds or pumpkin seed powder as a gift.
It is also important to note that regular consumption of pumpkin leaves and seeds can improve male fertility.
If you don't like to eat pumpkin seeds, you can buy pumpkin seed powder and mix it into milk. Grind 10 g (0.35 oz) pumpkin seeds into powder; add milk and a little sugar; drink a little daily.
Pumpkin can also replenish blood. Chen Xiuyuan, a famous doctor in the Qing Dynasty, called pumpkin “a wonderful product for nourishing blood”. From the perspective of modern nutrition research, pumpkin is rich in minerals cobalt, zinc and iron, all of which are used to make blood cells. These rich minerals can improve anemia and give you a healthy complexion.
There are many benefits to eating pumpkin, but it is best not to eat too much. Li Shizhen (a famous ancient Chinese physician) warns that eating too much pumpkin can cause beriberi and possibly jaundice. So it is best to eat it in moderation. In addition, try to avoid eating pumpkin and mutton together, as it is easy to feel bloated.
