Pumpkin seed oil: useful properties and contraindications

In addition to fresh dishes from pumpkin and sunflower seeds, there is also an oil from this product - and it is used everywhere. They are not only flavored with food, but also treated, used for cosmetic purposes. To figure out whether a product should be in the kitchen, you need to understand what the benefits and harms of pumpkin seed oil are.

Getting pumpkin seed oil

A useful product can be obtained from pumpkin seeds by pressing on a special press.

There are such ways:

• With hot pressing, the seeds are pretreated, crushed and fried, slightly moistened and only then placed under a press.
• With cold pressing, the seeds fall under the press immediately, without heat treatment.

Cold-pressed pumpkin seed oil is more expensive, but the benefits and harms of a product that has not been fried are optimally balanced.

As a rule, after hot pressing, the finished product turns out to be very dark, and those that are produced without heat treatment have a lighter shade.

Composition and calorie content of pumpkin seed oil

The product is incredibly high in calories. Only 100 g contains up to 895 calories, and the beneficial properties of the product lie in the fact that it contains only fats.

It contains:

• important trace elements - phosphorus, calcium, zinc, magnesium and iron;
• vitamins A, C, E, K, PP;
• B vitamins - namely B1, B2 and B6;
• Omega-3, anticholesteric, palmitic, stearic acids, Omega-6;
• phospholipids and flavonoids, carotenoids and tocopherols;
• antioxidants.

The key feature and benefit of the product is the high concentration of valuable substances.

Why pumpkin seed oil is useful

The main area of ​​application remains cooking. Pumpkin seed oil has several benefits:

• allows you to get rid of gastritis, colitis, heartburn, promotes ulcer healing;
• significantly reduces the risk of ischemia, atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes;
• helps to strengthen the immune system due to the high content of vitamins.

For women

The beneficial properties of the natural remedy extend to the reproductive sphere. For example, to reduce pain in chronic cystitis, women only need to drink 2 to 3 teaspoons of oil a day until they feel better.

It will also be beneficial for menstrual irregularities and infertility - you should drink pumpkin seed oil on an empty stomach, a teaspoon a day.

For men

The benefit of this natural product is that it helps with problems with potency, and also increases the chances of conceiving a child. It is used in the treatment of such a delicate disease as prostatitis.

For children

Natural oil can and should be added to the children's diet. All of its many beneficial properties are to improve vision, strengthen immunity and bones.

Of course, it is advisable to consume oil only after the child is 2 years old, since the infant's intestines are too sensitive.

During pregnancy

The product has almost no contraindications, but the benefits for women in position are very great. The oil contributes to:

• saturation of the body with almost all necessary vitamins;
• providing the body with essential fatty acids;
• protection against infections, also has a positive effect on the nervous system.

Slimming pumpkin seed oil

The beneficial properties of the product help to lose weight - despite the calorie content. The benefit lies in the fact that natural oil:

• normalizes metabolism;
• compensates for the lack of vitamins, which often occurs with strict diets;
• starts the process of fat burning in the body, that is, makes the diet even more effective.

How to take pumpkin seed oil medicinally

The tool not only strengthens the body, but also truly heals. How to use it for various ailments?

With prostatitis

Pumpkin seed oil for prostatitis is taken in a course for a month. It is necessary to drink the remedy in 1 tablespoon, about half an hour before eating.

With pancreatitis

The remedy promotes the proper functioning of the pancreas and reduces acidity. You need to drink a teaspoon of the product daily half an hour before meals, preferably in the morning, within a month.

From worms

Everyone can tolerate infection with various harmful microorganisms, but if this happens, it is not necessary to immediately resort to pharmacology. You should drink pumpkin seed oil from parasites until the problem goes away - a teaspoon before breakfast.

To cleanse the body

Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, the product accelerates the elimination of toxins. To properly "cleanse" the body, you need to take a teaspoon of the product on an empty stomach every day - or constantly add it to salads and main courses.

With psoriasis

If the skin is covered with red rashes and characteristic plaques, the natural remedy will also benefit.

It is recommended to combine its external and internal intake - every day to drink in the amount of 2 teaspoons before meals, and besides that, lubricate the affected skin areas with oil 4 - 5 times daily.

To lower cholesterol levels

The product contains a rare vitamin F, which is also called anticholesteric acid. This oil is ideal for lowering cholesterol levels.

The maximum benefit will be achieved if all other oils, except pumpkin, are completely abandoned when cooking. To enhance the effect, it is necessary to drink an additional teaspoon of herbal substance in the morning before meals.

For the treatment of gastritis

With chronic gastritis, you can make a healing tincture:

• take half a glass of pumpkin remedy;
• stir in oil the crushed yarrow and St. John's wort in equal proportions;
• hold a glass with the resulting mixture for a week in a cool place.

When the medicine is infused, take a teaspoon daily before meals.

For constipation

If you have problems with bowel movement, 1 tablespoon of the product half an hour before breakfast will solve the problem. The benefits are doubled by adding oil to the diet on a consistent basis.

Is pumpkin seed oil for diabetes

For diabetics, the beneficial properties of a natural product are ambiguous. If we are talking about type II diabetes, then most often the benefits are noted in that the body stabilizes, the effect of insulin increases.

But with type I diabetes, the situation is different - sometimes oil is completely banned from consumption. Therefore, consultation with a doctor is strictly required.

Pumpkin seed oil capsules

You can buy pumpkin seed oil not only in bottles, but also in ordinary medicinal capsules. Why is this option convenient?

Namely in this:

• Each capsule is sealed, which means that all the benefits are preserved in full, the product does not fizzle out.
• Swallowing a small capsule is easier than measuring 1–2 scoops of oily liquid from a bottle every day.
• The capsule can be swallowed whole - this will delight those who do not like the taste of the product in its pure form.

The volume of the product in the capsule is approximately equal to its volume in a teaspoon. Accordingly, capsules can be taken according to the familiar scheme - 1-2 pieces before meals.

How to use pumpkin seed oil in cosmetology

The beneficial properties of the natural product help to restore the beauty of the skin and hair. Usually, several ingredients are used to prepare nutritious masks.

For face

A mask based on pumpkin seed extract and green clay will help to cope with acne and blackheads on the face. The following algorithm has to be done:

• Mix oil and clay in a 1: 4 ratio, add a pinch of cinnamon.
• The face is thoroughly washed and scrubbed with damp rye flour.
• A prepared mask is applied to clean skin and left for 15 minutes.

For hair

A mask consisting of several components at once will strengthen the hair and make it thicker. They do it like this:

• castor, burdock and pumpkin oils are taken in equal proportions;
• the mixture is thoroughly rubbed into the scalp and distributed through the hair;
• the head is wrapped with plastic wrap and covered with a towel for 2 hours, and then the mask is washed off with shampoo.

When caring for your hair, pumpkin seed oil can be used without additives - its beneficial properties will restore hair strength and shine.

Harm of pumpkin seed oil and contraindications

The benefits and harms of the product are not identical to each other, since the oil is still practically safe, and the contraindications are presented only by a short list. In particular, a natural remedy:

• accelerates the movement of bile, so it should not be drunk with gallstone disease;
• can be harmful in diabetes, which is why it is imperative to consult a doctor;
• dangerously in large quantities, if you exceed the daily rate of 65 ml, it will lead to diarrhea and affect the hormonal background.

How to store pumpkin seed oil

The shelf life of a bottled liquid product is approximately 10 months. But in order for the benefits to not disappear, you need to store the oil correctly - in a cool, dark place in a tightly closed container. Ideally, the temperature regime should be in the range of 10-15 ° C.

In capsules, the product is stored longer - 18 months, however, strong heat and sunlight should be avoided.

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Conclusion

The benefits and harms of pumpkin seed oil take place, but still it has much more valuable properties. It is used to treat many diseases and, when added to food, makes meals healthier. Oil made from pumpkin seeds will take pride of place on the shelf of any refrigerator.