Pumpkins should not be missing on our menu in autumn. Here you can find out why pumpkin is healthy and what important nutrients it contains.
Low in calories and rich in nutrients
The main thing about the pumpkin is that it has few calories. This fact is due to its high water content. The common types of pumpkin contain the following calories per 100 grams:
- Hokkaido pumpkin: 63 kcal
- Butternut squash: 38 kcal
- Spaghetti squash: 31 kcal
- Nutmeg squash: 19 kcal
These ingredients make the pumpkin healthy
Another advantage of pumpkins: They are extremely low in fat, the Hokkaido, for example, has only 0.6 grams of fat per 100 grams on. In addition, the pumpkin is healthy because it has a lot of beta-carotene – the active ingredient is also responsible for the orange color. Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A in the body, among other things antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory properties. Pumpkins also contain valuable minerals such as potassium, magnesium and iron.
Is Raw Pumpkin Healthy?
You can eat pumpkin raw, for example grated in a salad. As soon as the pumpkin meat tastes bitter, however, you should definitely not eat it again – neither raw nor cooked. The bitter taste is caused by cucurbitacins, the consumption of which can lead to food poisoning. Before processing, just try a small piece of pumpkin and see if it tastes bitter.
Pumpkins from the supermarket usually do not contain cucurbitacin, as it was bred from the cultivated varieties. However, if you do Planting pumpkins in your own garden, it can lead to a fertilization with ornamental gourds, in which the bitter substance is – so caution is advised here.
Are Pumpkin Seeds Healthy?
Pumpkin seeds are also a very healthy snack, but you should note that they have significantly more calories: 100 grams contain around 500 kilocalories. The reason for this is their high fat content, but that mostly from healthy unsaturated fatty acids consists. The kernels also boast important nutrients such as protein, zinc and vitamin E. With us you can find out how you can roast pumpkin seeds.
Pumpkin seed oil also contains substances with health-promoting effects: These include Linoleic acid, which is believed to lower cholesterol, and phytosterols, which can relieve prostate and bladder problems. However, pumpkin seed oil must not be heated and is therefore not suitable for frying.
We have a wide variety of pumpkin recipes, for example for pumpkin soup, pumpkin vegetables or pumpkin gnocchi. We also explain how you can peel pumpkin, store pumpkin and freeze pumpkin. Do you actually know whether pumpkin is a fruit or a vegetable? We'll tell you!