Pumpkin seed oil is one of the most expensive edible vegetable oils in the world, due to the large amount of raw materials. To get one liter of oily liquid, you need to squeeze about 3 kg of pumpkin seeds. Considering that one average pumpkin weighing about 10 kg contains 100-150 g of seeds, then to obtain a liter of oil, seeds of 20-30 fruits are needed.
In the Middle Ages, oil pressed from pumpkin seeds was very expensive and was sold only in pharmacies. The price of a 200 ml bottle in those days was comparable to the cost of a gold ring.
Chemical composition
The most beneficial is pumpkin seed oil, obtained by cold pressing the seeds. It contains the largest amount of valuable chemical compounds that determine its medicinal properties.
This oil is free of carbohydrates and proteins. .… It also does not contain purine bases, which is important for people suffering from gout.
Pumpkin seed oil is 100% fat containing product. It includes fatty acids (FA), among which omega-6-polyunsaturated ones predominate, and phytosterols – analogues of plant-derived cholesterol (cholesterol).
Saturated fatty acids of pumpkin seed oil are mainly represented by palmitic and stearic acids, omega-3 fatty acids – linolenic, omega-6 – linoleic, and omega-9 – oleic.
Fat composition farmer-online.com
Name
Content, g per 100 g of product
Насыщенные ЖК
18
Мононенасыщенные ЖК
28,7—37,5
Омега-3
0,34—0,81
Омега-6
41,2—51,3
Омега-9
22,3—39,5
Фитостеролы
0,72—0,9
Холестерин
0
Another unique substance found in large quantities in pumpkin seed oil is chlorophyll – plant hemoglobin. This element is capable of rapidly oxidizing, attaching oxygen atoms, and also quickly recovering, giving them to tissues. Thus, there is a saturation of the tissues of the body with oxygen – oxygenation.
Pumpkin seed oil contains many fat-soluble vitamins (A, E and K), as well as water-soluble vitamins (C, P, PP, group B). Carotenoids together with tocopherols have a powerful protective and membrane stabilizing effect. Vitamin K (antihemorrhagic) affects blood clotting, promotes the conversion of fibrinogen (an inactive protein in blood plasma) into active fibrin.
Vitamin composition farmer-online.com
Name
Content, mg per 100 g of product
Vitamin A and carotenoids 0,031-0,034 Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 3,62-6,13 Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 0,021 Vitamin B1 (thiamin) 0,06 Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 0,056 Vitamin B4 (choline) 1,8 Vitamin B9 (folic acid) 0,014 Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 3,1 Vitamin PP (nicotinic acid) 0,65
In addition to fatty acids and vitamins, pumpkin seed oil contains:
Minerals farmer-online.com
Name
Content, mg per 100 g of product
Калий
205,1
Кальций
27,6
Фосфор
25
Сера
19
Хлор
15,8
Железо
13—15
Магний
3—13,9
Натрий
3,9
Медь
0,76
Цинк
0,008—0,14
Фтор
0,086
Марганец
0,02
Йод
0,0013
Кобальт
0,0013
Of great importance among the mineral substances of this product are iron, zinc, copper, selenium, which are contained in it in significant quantities for influencing the human body.
This oily product made from pumpkin seeds is not low in calories: 100 g contains 896 kcal ..
Useful Properties
Pumpkin seed oil is one of the most balanced vegetable oils with powerful antioxidant effects. Various components of the pumpkin product have a positive effect on the state of the body, both individually and in combination.
Effect on the circulatory system
Pumpkin seed oil ingredients, when consumed regularly, are capable of farmer-online.com:
- reduce the concentration of cholesterol in the blood;
- have anti-atherosclerotic effect;
- increase the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels;
- prevent cell damage by free radicals;
- repair damaged cell walls;
- improve tissue microcirculation.
Effect on digestion
Pumpkin product has a beneficial effect on digestion and the condition of the digestive system ..:
- prevents fatty liver;
- normalizes the synthesis of bile acids, preventing the formation of bile stones;
- promotes absorption of fat-soluble vitamins;
- heals erosions and ulcers on the mucous membranes;
- stimulates the production of digestive juices;
- accelerates peristaltic bowel movements.
Effect on the skin
The benefits of pumpkin seed oil for skin are as follows farmer-online.com:
- stimulates collagen synthesis;
- has a rejuvenating effect;
- prevents excessive skin pigmentation under the influence of ultraviolet radiation;
- prevents the destruction of structural elements of the dermis (proteoglycans, collagen, elastin);
- has an anti-cancer effect (inhibits the development of neoplasms and the formation of new vascular networks in them);
- reduces local inflammatory reactions.
Pumpkin oily product has a positive effect on the level of estrogen in the blood of women, because its phytosterols have a weak estrogen-like effect on reproductive and other organs that have receptors for these female sex hormones (bones, blood vessels, thyroid gland).
Due to the large amount of vitamins, mainly fat-soluble, and minerals, this useful product is capable of:
- restore vision;
- have a calming effect on the nervous system;
- improve brain function;
- stimulate the recovery of body cells;
- have a healing effect;
- remove puffiness;
- improve blood formation;
- help maintain blood flow;
- have an antihistamine (antiallergic) effect.
The chlorophyll in this pumpkin product has the following benefits:
- is a powerful antianemic agent (together with iron);
- has an adsorbing effect (binds toxic substances and toxins in the intestine);
- reduces inflammatory reactions in the body (along with vitamins);
- boosts immunity (along with phytosterols).
Cucurbitin, which is part of pumpkin seed oil, has antiparasitic properties, toxic to helminths.
Application in medicine
Pumpkin seed oil has a beneficial effect on internal organs when taken internally, as well as on skin, nails and hair when used externally.
The powerful antioxidant effect of this herbal product is often used in the complex treatment of various cancers, especially after a course of chemotherapy.
For the digestive system
Before eating, it is recommended to drink pumpkin seed oil for many pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, namely farmer-online.com ..:
- heartburn;
- gastritis;
- stomach and duodenal ulcer;
- intestinal inflammation (enteritis, colitis, duodenitis);
- liver pathologies (hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty degeneration, toxic lesions);
- disorders of bile formation and bile secretion (biliary dyskinesia, cholecystitis);
- diseases of the rectum (cracks, hemorrhoids, proctitis);
- constipation.
In case of lesions of the oral mucosa (stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis), the ingestion of the product inside should be supplemented with rinses with the addition of 6-10 drops of oil per 100 ml of water.
For the heart and blood vessels
Pumpkin seed oil is used in healing farmer-online.com:
- atherosclerosis;
- hypertension;
- ischemic heart disease;
- transient disorders of cerebral circulation;
- varicose veins at an early stage.
Its regular use for the purpose of prophylaxis (a teaspoon twice a day one hour before meals) improves the elasticity of the vessels and prevents their fragility.
For blood and immunity
Pumpkin oil also shows its positive properties in the blood, therefore it is used for treatment and prevention ..:
- anemia;
- weakened immunity;
- allergic manifestations (with an increased level of eosinophils and histamine);
- increased tendency to bleeding.
With allergic rhinitis, its ingestion is recommended to be combined with instillation into the nose (2-3 drops in each nostril twice a day) ..
Against microbes and worms
Pumpkin fat product is used internally as an adjuvant in the treatment of acute inflammation of the upper respiratory tract (tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis).
On a teaspoon on an empty stomach three times a day, you need to take oil when infected with helminths ...
For reproductive system
Due to the active participation of pumpkin seed oil ingredients in fat metabolism, it is successfully used as one of the means in the complex treatment of the following pathologies ..:
- violation of the menstrual cycle;
- inflammation of the genitals in women;
- infertility (male and female);
- problems with potency;
- prostatitis.
In gynecology, pumpkin seed oil is used to treat cervical erosion, colpitis, endocervicitis, thrush 1… To do this, douching is carried out with its use and vaginal tampons moistened with this product are inserted at night. The course of such a local treatment can be combined with taking the drug inside.
For kidneys and bladder
To reduce the swelling of the skin and improve the condition of the kidneys with pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis, it is possible to supplement the main course of treatment by taking pumpkin seed oil inside.
With cystitis, it is recommended to take this herbal product 2-3 teaspoons orally half an hour before meals to relieve pain and discomfort ...
External application
Local use of pumpkin seed oil is advisable in the presence of the following pathologies farmer-online.com:
- skin diseases (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis);
- abrasions and wounds;
- insect bites;
- burns, including sunburn;
- diaper rash;
- fungal lesions;
- trophic ulcers;
- bedsores
Pumpkin seed oil is good for all skin types, but it works best for dry and problematic skin. On its basis, creams, ointments and masks are prepared that soften, tone and nourish the skin, increase its elasticity, prevent peeling and excessive keratinization. Massaging the oil into the scalp helps with dandruff and hair loss.
Harm to health
In some cases, the use of pumpkin seed oil by mouth is contraindicated. More harm than good it will do with the following conditions ..:
- idiosyncrasy;
- a tendency to diarrhea;
- calculous cholecystitis.
In case of endocrine diseases, this fatty product should be used with great care and only after consultation with an endocrinologist and related specialists.
How to choose and store
Oil color can range from light red to dark green or dark brown ..… When buying, you should give preference to a raw product (without pre-roasting the seeds). It is better to purchase pumpkin seed oil in a small container, since it quickly oxidizes and goes rancid when it comes into contact with air.
It is important to pay attention to the date of manufacture of the product: it is desirable that it be close to the approximate time of harvesting the pumpkin (September-October). If the production date is earlier, it means that the seeds of last year’s pumpkins were used for the production of oil. In this case, there is a possibility of improper storage of the vegetable, which can negatively affect the properties of the product.
The less time has passed from the day the oil was pressed to the moment of its application, the more useful it is. The product can be stored at temperatures from + 10 ° C to + 15 ° C in a place protected from the sun for no more than 10 months from the date of manufacture ..… Moreover, it should be in a dark glass container with a tight-fitting lid.
If the container is opened, then the shelf life of the product should be counted from the date of opening (within the general shelf life). You can store an opened container with a pumpkin fat product without losing its beneficial properties for no more than five months ...
Cooking application
Pumpkin seed oil in cooking is not as common as sunflower or olive oil. Its use is limited to dressings for salads and ready-made meals, since heating this product leads to a loss of taste and useful properties.
Oil from pumpkin seeds or dressings based on it is flavored:
- cereal porridge;
- rice;
- dishes from legumes;
- baked vegetables;
- salads;
- meat dishes;
- fish;
- pancakes;
- baking
Well harmonizes pumpkin seed oil with apple cider vinegar or cider.
conclusions
Pumpkin seeds contain up to 40% fatty oil, so the most useful vegetable oil is obtained from them. The medicinal properties of this product are as follows: lowering cholesterol levels, stimulating digestion, normalizing blood composition, improving metabolic processes.
Contraindications to the use of this product from pumpkin seeds is very small, so it can be eaten even for children and pregnant women.
Pumpkin seed oil is used externally for skin diseases (dermatitis, eczema, acne, psoriasis, bedsores), as well as in cosmetics for different skin types, including problematic and dry.
Along with the healing properties, the taste qualities of this product are highly appreciated. They are filled with various ready-made dishes to give them a piquant nutty flavor and exquisite sweetness.
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