Content
Pumpkin seed milk is an unusual vegetable product with a pleasant taste and a host of valuable properties. To evaluate the benefits of milk, you need to carefully study its composition and understand the features of the effect on the body.
Composition and value of pumpkin seed milk
Basically, pumpkin milk is a drink made from ground pumpkin seeds and regular drinking water. Therefore, the composition of the drink practically does not differ from the composition of pumpkin seeds and contains the following substances:
- subgroup B vitamins - among them B1 and B2, B5 and B6, B9;
- vitamins E and K;
- PP acid (niacin);
- choline;
- magnesium, manganese and copper;
- iron, fluorine, zinc and phosphorus;
- selenium;
- fiber.
However, there is an important difference, in the composition of pumpkin milk, all these substances are presented in large volumes. This is how the benefits of soaking seeds in water are manifested, their valuable properties are significantly increased.
From the point of view of nutritional value, the drink is mainly represented by fats - there are 6.4 g of them in the milk obtained from pumpkin seeds. Proteins in the product occupy 3.9 g, and very little milk contains carbohydrates - only 1.4 g. Calorie content of milk is about 72 kcal per 100 ml of product.
Why pumpkin seed milk is good for you
In cooking and dietetics, milk is valued not only for its uniqueness. The benefits and harms of pumpkin seed milk extend to many body systems. When consumed regularly, this product:
- replenishes the lack of valuable substances in the body and prevents the development of chronic fatigue;
- has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and improves the quality of sleep;
- improves mood and strengthens memory, and also increases efficiency;
- has a beneficial effect on metabolic processes in the body, improves the absorption of nutrients;
- acts as a diuretic and choleretic agent, thereby helping to get rid of swelling and discomfort in the intestines;
- improves the condition of the skin and hair, for these properties, pumpkin seed milk is especially appreciated by women;
- relieves toxicosis during pregnancy;
- helps in the fight against internal inflammation, and therefore can be used for colds, stomach ailments and diseases of the reproductive sphere.
Pumpkin seed milk has tremendous benefits for dietary and vegetarian nutrition. It does not contain animal fats, so you can use the drink during fasting, on the strictest diet, or in compliance with the absolute rejection of animal food. Unlike cow's or goat's milk, plant-based pumpkin seed milk is completely lactose-free. Therefore, people suffering from intolerance to conventional dairy products can consume the drink without any fear.
Some features of pumpkin seed milk deserve more careful consideration, since they are of particular importance for the body.
For the digestive tract
Pumpkin milk has a mild laxative effect and significantly speeds up the digestion of food. Drinking a pumpkin seed drink is useful for slagging intestines, sluggish peristalsis and a tendency to constipation.Milk will help get rid of flatulence, eliminate discomfort and heaviness in the stomach after eating, and generally improve well-being.
For diabetics
The benefits of pumpkin seeds and pumpkin milk are that these foods contain very little sugar and do not lead to sharp fluctuations in blood glucose levels. In contrast, when consumed regularly, seed milk can help lower sugar levels.
This makes the drink very beneficial for type 2 diabetes. By agreement with the doctor, it can be consumed on an ongoing basis, giving preference to the product over ordinary milk.
To cleanse the body
The composition of pumpkin milk contains not only vitamins, but also a large amount of fatty acids, as well as amino acids with a pronounced anthelmintic effect. These properties make milk extremely useful for cleansing the body. When consumed according to proven schemes, pumpkin seed milk helps to normalize the stool and helps to remove accumulated toxins from the intestines, accelerates peristalsis and eliminates traces of toxins.
With the help of a drink, you can even get rid of parasites. Pumpkin milk from unrefined seeds paralyzes any vital activity of helminths in the body and prevents them from attaching to the intestinal walls and internal organs. If you combine the intake of milk with the use of laxatives, it will be possible to eliminate the worms without the use of pharmaceutical preparations.
With anemia
Residents of the northern regions often suffer from vitamin deficiencies. In addition, anemia in men and women can develop due to insufficient nutrition, previous illness or severe stress.
Ground pumpkin seed milk contains a huge amount of vitamins, acids and minerals. Therefore, its use allows you to quickly restore the balance of valuable substances in the body. The drink contains a lot of iron and folic acid, so milk helps to raise hemoglobin levels, improve body tone and increase endurance.
For the heart and blood vessels
The benefits and harms of pumpkin seed milk are in demand for ailments of the cardiovascular system. First of all, the drink helps to lower cholesterol levels, which means it prevents vascular occlusion and the development of atherosclerosis.
The phytosterols present in pumpkin seed milk help thin the blood, while fatty acids and fiber reduce the risk of arrhythmias and thrombosis. With regular use, the benefits of ground pumpkin seeds with peels will be expressed in the fact that the drink will normalize blood pressure, eliminate headaches and dizziness, and improve oxygen supply to the brain. These properties will benefit not only the elderly, but also quite young people, since recently cardiovascular diseases are increasingly developing at the age of about 30 years.
For the genitourinary system
The anti-inflammatory properties of pumpkin milk made from seeds are of great benefit to the genitourinary system. In men, the drink, due to its high zinc content, prevents the development of prostate tumors, and also has an auxiliary therapeutic effect in inflammation of the prostate gland. Since pumpkin milk improves blood circulation, it has a positive effect on potency and libido.
There will be benefits from the drink for women - milk from pumpkin seeds helps to eliminate the discomfort with cystitis. The beneficial substances in the drink improve well-being during menopause and with severe painful periods. In addition, the high iron content in the drink makes up for the inevitable blood loss and helps to avoid weakness and loss of strength against the background of menstruation.
How to make pumpkin seed milk at home
Ready pumpkin seed milk can only be found in specialized stores, which are not found everywhere. However, you can cook a healing product at home, you will need few ingredients, and the benefits of homemade milk will be no less.
To prepare milk, you will need to take 1 cup of unpeeled pumpkin seeds and 4 cups of clean drinking water. The procedure for preparing a drink is as follows:
- pumpkin seeds are poured with running cold water in a small saucepan and left to soak for 5 hours;
- in water, pumpkin seeds will not only swell and increase in size, the volume of nutrients in them will also become larger;
- after 5 hours, the water from under the pumpkin seeds is drained, the raw materials are washed again in water and placed in the bowl of a blender or food processor;
- pumpkin seeds are poured with 4 glasses of clean water;
- mix seeds and water in automatic mode until a homogeneous white mass is obtained.
After the milk is completely ready, it will need to be filtered through tightly folded cheesecloth to remove sediment remaining from the seeds. After that, the liquid is poured into a glass vessel and used at your discretion.
Pumpkin seeds taken for preparing milk must be of very high quality, without flaws and dark spots, without an unpleasant odor. Then the drink will have a pure white or slightly yellowish color, an unusual but pleasant pumpkin smell and a lot of useful properties.
What can be made from pumpkin milk
Pumpkin milk not only brings great benefits in itself, but also goes well with a wide variety of foods. On its basis, vitamin cocktails and hearty healthy cereals, baked pastries and milk soups, desserts and sauces are prepared.
For lunch, with a pleasant taste and delicate consistency, you will be able to delight the puree soup with unusual milk. Prepare it like this:
- 300 g of fresh pumpkin pulp cut into small pieces;
- 1 large potato is washed, peeled and also cut;
- vegetables are placed in a saucepan and poured with water so that it covers the vegetables 1 cm from above;
- 1 carrot and 1 onion are fried in a preheated pan, after grating them;
- add onions and carrots to a saucepan with vegetables, put on low heat and cook until cooked until the vegetables are softened.
After that, remove the soup from the stove, add 50 ml of pumpkin milk to it and beat with a blender until completely homogeneous. Delicate and soft soup is decorated with a sprig of fresh herbs and served on the table.
You can also make a delicious cocktail from pumpkin milk - a fruit smoothie that will benefit your digestion. Prescription requires:
- wash, peel and cut the banana and fresh apple into small pieces;
- put the ingredients in a blender;
- pour 150 ml of pumpkin milk over the fruit and beat until the mixture is completely homogeneous.
If desired, you can add a spoonful of honey or a pinch of cinnamon to a thick cocktail, or you can use it in its pure form and instantly feel an improvement in tone.
Another popular vegetable-based milk dish is rice porridge, which is ideal for breakfast and is very beneficial. They prepare it like this:
- 1 cup of fresh pumpkin milk is poured into an enamel pan;
- on moderate heat, milk is brought to a boil, and then 3 large spoons of rice are poured into it;
- the cereals are boiled until they soften, and 5 minutes before they are ready, they are salted to taste.
If desired, you can add a spoonful of natural honey or 30 g of soft raisins to the finished porridge, they will improve the taste of the dish and its nutritional value.
In addition to the recipes listed, a drink made from pumpkin seeds can be added to tea or coffee, made cocoa based on it, consumed in its pure form along with cookies or gingerbread.
Limitations and contraindications
The benefits of pumpkin seed milk are not the same for everyone. The product has certain contraindications, which include:
- gastritis with high acidity in the exacerbation stage, since fresh milk contains many natural acids, in the acute phase of the disease the drink can worsen the condition;
- peptic ulcer or pancreatitis in a state of exacerbation, in these cases milk will also do more harm than good;
- an allergy to pumpkin and its seeds - pumpkin milk can lead to diarrhea, nausea and skin rashes;
- tendency to diarrhea - the product has laxative properties and can lead to severe intestinal upset.
As with any food, pumpkin seed drink can only be beneficial in moderation. It is recommended to drink it in volumes of no more than 1 glass per day, otherwise milk will have a laxative effect and can provoke an attack of diarrhea or vomiting.
How to store pumpkin seed milk
Valuable vitamins and natural acids in seed milk give it great benefits, but at the same time greatly reduce the shelf life of the drink. Fresh milk is stored no longer than 3-5 days, and if sweeteners or fruit pieces were added to the drink, the storage time is reduced to a day.
You can keep pumpkin seed milk only in the refrigerator. At room temperature and exposed to light, it will deteriorate in a couple of hours and become unusable.
Conclusion
Pumpkin seed milk is rarely found in stores, but you can easily make it yourself in your home kitchen. The drink has a lot of useful properties, has a beneficial effect on all body systems and has almost no contraindications, the main thing is to observe small dosages when drinking it.
