Benefits of pumpkin leaves and side effects

Discover the Shocking health benefits of pumpkin leaves and side effects.

Pumpkin leaves belong to the leafy vegetable family. These leaves are nutritious and rich in vitamins and minerals.

Scientifically, it is known as Telfaira occidentalis and is popularly known as gourd gourd leaves. The good thing about these leaves is that they have no particular season. They can be enjoyed by people throughout the year. In particular, these leaves are found in the rainy season in abundance.

Nutrition facts of Pumpkin Leaves

As scientifically proven, pumpkin leaves contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals in it.

On the other hand, they are used by many, but most of them are not aware of their nutritional value.

The best part is that it makes you feel full after eating and is  low in calories too. Let’s look at a list of nutrients found in pumpkin leaves that make it so popular:

• Potassium

• Calcium

• Folic acid

• Iron

• Vitamin E

• Vitamin B6

• Magnesium

• Match

• Thiamine

• Niacin

• Dietary fibers

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin C

• Riboflavin

• Copper

• Manganese

• Protein

Health Benefits of Pumpkin Leaves

Below are the health benefits of pumpkin leaves:

Anti-Aging

Due to the presence of antioxidants in abundance, these leaves are known to slow down the aging process . So, if you want to look younger, start consuming these leaves and experience their beauty again!

Improves Eye Health

The vitamin A present in pumpkin leaves helps prevent degeneration of some of the parts of the eye, which would otherwise degrade with age. This can lead to a condition known as age-related macular degeneration.

Anticonvulsant

It is very effective in preventing seizures. In naturopathic medicines, the young leaves are chopped and mixed with coconut water and salt. They are stored in a bottle for later use.

Lowers cholesterol

In this world of high cholesterol problems , these leaves can be considered a blessing. As there is a large amount of fiber in these leaves, it reduces the absorption of bile acid and cholesterol, from the small intestine, resulting in low cholesterol levels and a healthy heart!

Increase Fertility

It is useful to heal any testicular damage and also to increase spermatogenesis. This helps increase fertility and is good news for people suffering from infertility!

Diabetes

Only a person with diabetes knows how painful it is to have diabetes. Pumpkin leaves are known to have the hypoglycemic effect that helps lower blood sugar levels, thus keeping diabetes under control!

Beneficial for the skin

Being a rich source of vitamin C, these leaves have many benefits for the skin. Vitamin C helps heal wounds and form scar tissue. It also helps maintain healthy bones and skin.

Fight against cancer

Studies show that there is a direct relationship between fiber intake and cancer risk. This is because foods that are high in fiber are also rich in vitamins and minerals, which are necessary to prevent cancer. Therefore, it is recommended to consume these leaves through soups daily.

Keeps Bones Strong

It is very rich in calcium and phosphorus, therefore, it is recommended for children and mothers especially. Helps keep bones strong and healthy. In addition, it helps to keep calcium deficiency away, helping in the proper growth of teeth and bones.

Increases the Immune System

As it helps increase hemoglobin in the blood and keeps bones strong, it increases your immunity. This reduces the risk of being affected by diseases.

Protein Supplement

Considering the amount of protein it contains, it can be used to meet your daily protein needs. This will keep you strong and healthy.

Helps in Digestion

Being high in fiber, it helps improve your digestion and easy passage of stool. As there is a lot of fiber, the stool is large and soft, causing the muscles to contract and pass the stool without any additional pressure. As your stomach is clean, your body will be detoxified as well.

Prevents Infections

As it possesses anti-bacterial properties, consuming these leaves on a regular basis will keep you away from bacterial infections that are very irritating to have.

Help in Lactation

As it is a rich source of calcium, it is a popular choice for nursing mothers. Maintains normal calcium levels, helping in proper lactation.

Treat Anemia

These leaves are a rich source of iron, which helps to increase the oxygen content in the blood and lungs, thereby increasing the hemoglobin in the blood. It is also rich in folate, which is very essential for the production of red blood cells. As red blood cells and hemoglobin increase, the condition called anemia disappears.

How eat pumpkin leaves

These leaves are not bitter like other green leaves, one more point for these them. They can be eaten in many ways. Some people use them in soups, while others eat them raw in salads.

Pumpkin leaves recipes

Let’s look at some simple recipes:

Recipe 1

Ingredients:

1 Fresh pumpkin leaves

2 Olive oil

3 Salt

4 Garlic

Process:

1 In a hot saucepan, put a few drops of olive oil. Now, put the pumpkin leaves and a little salt in the pan and fry it for 5 minutes.

2 Keep vegetables moving while they fry. At the time of putting the cooked leaves on the plate, add a little garlic to improve the taste.

3 Serve hot to enjoy its flavor.

Recipe 2

Ingredients:

1 Fresh pumpkin leaves

2 Water-120 ml

3 Peanut powder – 1 cup

4 Chopped tomato – 2 cups

5 Chopped onion-1 cup

6 Palm oil

Process:

1 Clean the leaves and chop them. Put the water, fresh leaves, tomato and onion in a saucepan and cover the saucepan until the leaves are wilted.

2 When it is reduced by half, add the peanut powder and 2 tablespoons of palm oil to the saucepan. Keep it on low heat for 10 minutes.

These leaves can be eaten raw too, but they have a prickly texture. Therefore, it does not taste as good when eaten raw. Cooking will make them softer and easier to digest!

Side effects of lumpkin leaves

There are not many known side effects of pumpkin leaves. As it is a rich source of calcium, it is recommended for nursing mothers and pregnant women.

However, it is suggested that to be on a safer side, it is consumed in small amounts.

We hope the article on the Shocking health benefits of pumpkin leaves has been of help.

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