13 facts about the benefits and harms of pumpkin for the liver, as well as therapeutic recipes based on it
The liver is an extremely important organ that affects the work of the entire human body. All the products consumed have an effect on this gland to some extent. Some products have a positive effect on its functioning, while others are advised to avoid.
Modern scientific research indicates that pumpkin and its derivatives (seeds, juice) contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals necessary for our liver.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at the effect of this fruit on the human liver. Will the pumpkin be beneficial or not? How to use it correctly? Are recipes based on it effective for the treatment of certain liver diseases? All the answers are in our article.
Content
13 useful properties
Pumpkin pulp has such useful properties:
- Activates the liver, affecting biochemical processes.
- Helps nourish liver cells by improving blood flow.
- Prevents the development of cirrhosis of the liver.
- Normalizes the metabolic processes of the body.
Pumpkin seeds are also able to have the following effects:
- Help the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The substances contained in the seeds are able to remove heavy metals and prevent flatulence, which helps to relieve the gland.
- Are a laxative and diuretic. Thus, they contribute to the production of bile and prevent its stagnation.
- Remove harmful cholesterol from the body, saving cells from hepatosis.
- Have an antiparasitic property. They help to get rid of giardia, amoebas, ascaris, etc. due to the toxin contained in the seeds.
- Provide Anti-stress effect on the body. In case of restlessness, a person begins to overeat or abuse alcoholic beverages, smoke more cigarettes. And this harms the liver.
The derivative of the pulp – juice has the following properties:
- Helps to cleanse the liver of stones.
- Lowers cholesterol and cleans the vessels due to the high content of pectin.
- Promotes the restoration of liver cells due to the content of antioxidants and vitamins.
- Protects against viruses. Recommended use for hepatitis A.
Only pumpkin peel is not consumed. It does not have special positive properties, but it can cause significant harm, as it accumulates toxins in itself.
Possible harm and contraindications
The product is recommended for a healthy body as a source of many useful substances.
A vegetable is contraindicated only in the presence of the following diseases:
- Gastritis.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer.
- Intestinal colic.
- Cholelithiasis.
How to take — 7 recipes
You should choose a ripe product, with a dry peduncle and without damage, preferably an average size of up to 5 kg.
Pumpkin can be consumed in any form, but it should be remembered that the raw product is healthier, as it retains more vitamins. It is recommended to eat up to 0.5 kg of raw pumpkin per day, and boiled or baked – up to 2 kg. Below we will discuss simple and popular recipes.
1. Boiled fruit
Boiled pumpkin is an excellent remedy that cleanses the liver and removes toxins from it. Pumpkin in this form is boiled with some kind of cereal or soup is made from it:
- Cut the washed and peeled pumpkin into small cubes in the amount of 400 g.
- Chop 2 carrots and 3 potatoes.
- Put the vegetables in a saucepan and pour a liter of chicken broth.
- Add salt, cook for 30 minutes until tender.
- Then season with frying (1 clove of garlic through a press and 1 stalk of celery).
- Let the soup cool slightly and mash with a blender until mashed.
The dish is taken 2-3 times a week.
2. Pumpkin juice
Pumpkin juice is also used for liver cleansing and disease prevention. It is easy to cook at home:
- Wash the pumpkin, peel and peel the seeds.
- We make freshly squeezed juice from the pulp.
- If desired, it can be diluted with carrot or apple juice.
To clean the digestive tract, take a glass of juice in the morning on an empty stomach. The course of admission is a month.
3. A mixture of seeds
Method of preparation:
- Mix pumpkin seeds crushed in a coffee grinder with olive or vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:1.
- Heat it in a water bath and put it in a dark place.
- You can use it in a week .
One teaspoon of the mixture is taken 30 minutes before meals. The course lasts 2 weeks.
4. Syrup with honey
Preparation:
- Wash a small pumpkin, cut off the top, remove the seeds so that you get a container.
- Pour honey into the inside, close it, cover it hermetically with dough to block the supply of air and light.
- Put it in a dark place for ten days.
- Then pour the medicinal syrup into a jar, store in the refrigerator.
Pumpkin with honey is taken 1 tbsp.l. half an hour before the main meals in a course of 21 days.
5. Pumpkin oil
Preparation:
- Take a glass of pumpkin seeds and olive oil, mix and heat in a water bath.
- Let the mixture stand for a couple of hours and put it in a dark place for 7 days.
- Then it needs to be passed through a filter.
Pumpkin oil should be consumed 1 teaspoon in the morning before meals for 14 days.
6. Porridge with millet
Preparation:
- Rinse 200 g of millet with hot water.
- 300 g of raw pumpkin, without peel and seeds, cut into cubes.
- Put it all in a saucepan, pour two glasses of water, add salt, mix.
- Cook, without stirring, until the water evaporates.
- Next, pour 400 ml of warm milk, cook over low heat until ready.
- At the end, add 50 g of butter.
Pumpkin with millet is better to eat instead of breakfast several times a week.
7. Sugar dessert
Cooking method:
- Wash the pumpkin, cut off the top and remove the insides.
- Pour sugar to the brim, cover with a slice and put in a bowl.
- When the crust becomes soft, drain the contents into a jar and refrigerate.
It is better to take this sweet medicine on an empty stomach for 1 tsp. or add it to tea.
Is it possible to use it for diseases?
Throughout life, a person clogs his body with harmful food, poisons with alcohol, toxic substances. All this puts an unbearable burden on the liver, which, unable to cope with its cleansing function, begins to give up and become ill with diseases such as viral hepatitis, fatty degeneration, cirrhosis, fibrosis.
In order to prevent the development of liver diseases, it is necessary to eat healthy foods. Much attention in the treatment of the liver is paid to fruits and vegetables, including pumpkin.
For cirrhosis
For cirrhosis, pumpkin is recommended as an additional therapy to medications. Pumpkin juice will suppress the harmful effects of the pills, the oil will relieve the inflammatory process, and the seeds will restore liver cells and perform a gentle cleansing of toxins.
Diet No. 5 for the disease also does not contradict the use of pumpkin. Mashed pumpkin soup, pumpkin with millet in the form of porridge with milk, boiled and baked vegetable pulp will be useful.
For fatty hepatosis
The disease occurs due to the entry of fat into liver cells as a result of improper nutrition. The substances contained in the vegetable will stimulate the digestive organs, remove excess cholesterol and normalize the amount of fat.
Diet No. 8 is indicated for hepatosis , in which the consumption of vegetables in unlimited quantities is recommended. Pumpkin and juice from it will be very appropriate.
Other useful products
In addition to pumpkin, there are other products that can help the liver work and have a positive effect on other organs of the gastrointestinal tract. The list of these products is as follows:
- Green Tea. Is indispensable for diseases of the gland, as it protects against intoxication and destroys fat cells. Prevents the development of liver cancer.
- Broccoli. Restores and protects liver cells, removes harmful substances.
- Lemon. Prevents the formation of stones in the liver, helps to produce the necessary enzymes.
- Garlic. Relieves the liver of poisons and toxins, reduces cholesterol levels.
- Walnuts. Helps liver cells to remove ammonia from the body.
- Avocado. Supports the natural processes in the liver thanks to vitamins and minerals.
- Grapefruit. Removes heavy metals from the liver, helps to break down fat.
- Turmeric. Promotes the restoration of liver cells.
- Olive oil. In combination with lemon juice promotes rapid outflow of bile.
- Honey. Activates the production of bile and restores liver cells.
- Spinach. Neutralizes the effect of heavy metals.
- Decoction of rosehip. Supports the functioning of the liver and gallbladder, saturating the body with vitamins.
- Tomatoes. Prevent stagnant bile processes.
- Mint. Relieves pain in the liver, relaxing the muscles.
- Sea cabbage. Reduces cholesterol, removes harmful substances.
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Conclusion
The use of pumpkin and these products can help the proper functioning of the liver and, consequently, the whole body, if you remember about contraindications. If there are no diseases in which use is prohibited, then you can safely use the beneficial properties of the product.