The most ignored yet the healthiest vegetable in the Indian market

Whenever your mom tells you that pumpkin will be served for lunch, agree or not, you make a face. Pumpkin is one of the least enjoyed, most underrated and ignored vegetables in most Indian household.

Native to North America, pumpkin is commonly viewed as a vegetable but scientifically it’s a fruit as it contains seeds. Interestingly, nutritionally pumpkin is more similar to vegetables and not fruits. If you are a pumpkin hater, reading this article will surely change your mind.

Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc, which plays an important role in men’s sexual health, including their fertility, sex drive and potency, claims Discovery Fit and Health.

Pumpkin is extremely rich in Vitamin A. One cup of cubed pumpkin contains almost twice the Vitamin A required by our body on a daily basis. Vitamin A promotes eye health. It also helps in maintaining healthy skin, bone and teeth.

The free radicals produced by our body’s metabolic processes can create a state of oxidative stress, which can be linked to chronic illnesses, including cancer and heart disease. Pumpkin contains antioxidants – alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin. These antioxidants can neutralize the free radicals and prevent your cells from getting damaged. Also, the antioxidants present in pumpkin have proven to protect skin against sun damage and lower the risk of cancer and eye diseases.

Densely packed with essential nutrients, pumpkin can give your immunity the much-required boost. People with Vitamin A deficiency can have a weaker immune system. It is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C that can boost the immune system and increase the production of white cells respectively. Vitamin E, iron and folate are also present in pumpkin.

Despite being densely packed with nutrients, pumpkin is incredibly low in calories. 250 grams of pumpkin has only 50 calories and is 94 per cent of water.

You can have more of it and still not exceed your daily calorie intake required to lose weight. Pumpkin is also a decent source of fibre, which keeps you fuller for longer.

The carotenoids in pumpkin are great for your skin. These carotenoids are turned into Vitamin A by your body. Studies show carotenoids like beta-carotene can act as a natural sunblock. Vitamin C present in pumpkin also makes your skin better.

Pumpkin is delicious and easy to incorporate in your diet. It can be added to pies, custard, pancake, roasted veggies, pastas, dal and soups.

Even the seeds of pumpkin are packed with nutrients and offer many health benefits. Pumpkin seeds are said to improve bladder, heart health and promote weight loss.

Pumpkin is healthy and considered safe for most. But some people might experience allergies after eating pumpkin. It’s mildly diuretic in nature and may harm people who take medicines such as lithium.

Pumpkin is all healthy but pumpkin based junk foods like lattes, pies and candies are loaded with sugar, which is not good for health.