About three thousand years ago, pumpkin was already eaten. The first mentions of the orange beauty appeared even earlier. There is a version that the Europeans first learned about the pumpkin after Columbus returned from the expedition. Until that time, it was grown and eaten only by Indians in Mexico and Texas.
Pumpkin as an edible product began its journey around the world in the 16th century. Since the plant is very unpretentious and does not need special care, it is stored for a long time and gives large yields, it very quickly won love and recognition. Thanks to all these properties, pumpkin grows almost everywhere, except, perhaps, Antarctica.
Pumpkin belongs to the pumpkin family, has large yellow inflorescences and fruits of a round or oblong shape. There is still no consensus about whether the plant belongs to berries or vegetables.
Not only the pulp of the fruit, but also its seeds (pumpkin seeds) are very tasty and healthy. A huge amount of vitamins and microelements necessary for the body makes this product indispensable in the diet.
Thanks to such a wealth of nutrients, seeds are used in the treatment of various diseases. They have a good effect on the activity of the heart muscle, are useful as diuretics, and have the effect of antidepressants. They can successfully treat minor wounds, burns and dermatitis, gruel from grains. When the body is depleted, the use of seeds helps to restore weight, and in case of a cold, it lowers the temperature.
But even with all the benefits of seeds, you should not abuse them, so as not to provoke an inflammatory process of the gastric mucosa. The optimal amount of grains per day is 40-50 pieces.
Seeds are ideal for destroying worms in the body, both in adults and children. They work effectively and are completely harmless, in contrast to special medicinal preparations, which can cause rather strong side effects.
In order to get rid of worms, you just need to consume 100 g of seeds during breakfast, preferably with honey, washed down with water.
Pumpkin seeds are successfully used in cooking as an additive to salads, meat dishes and baked goods. Grains are high in calories, so for those who do not want problems with excess weight, do not get carried away.
In order for pumpkin seeds to retain all the useful qualities as long as possible, they must be properly dried and stored. For this, seeds are extracted from fresh pumpkin and air dried. Store dried seeds in the refrigerator.
An unusually healthy oil is obtained from pumpkin seeds. People knew about its amazing properties in the Middle Ages. Then, in the Middle Ages, pumpkin seed oil was considered an indispensable remedy for all diseases.
The color of the oil was so dark green that it looked almost black. For this color it was called "black gold". Naturally, the cost of pumpkin seed oil was unusually high.
With the internal intake of oil, it is possible to improve the functioning of the liver and gallbladder, help in the treatment of tuberculosis and diarrhea. Oil is obtained from different varieties of pumpkin by cold pressing, which is the most optimal option, since this method retains most of the nutrients.
Cosmetology successfully uses all the beneficial properties of pumpkin seed oil. It is ideal for dry and damaged skin, dry, brittle hair and nails. Home-made cosmetics based on pumpkin seed oil perfectly nourish the skin and prevent early aging.
