Pumpkin is a vegetable that belongs to the Cucurbita family which also includes squash, muskmelons and watermelons. It has gained immense popularity in the United States, particularly due to pumpkin pie and mainly for carving purposes during Halloween. Its shape varies from oblong to oblate and the skin is thick, smooth, and slightly ribbed. The color of the inside flesh varies from pale to dark green and orange to red. The edible seeds are present at the core of the pumpkin.
Pumpkins are winter squashes that are believed to have their origin in North America. A pumpkin generally weighs about 4 to 8 kg while the largest species of pumpkin can weigh up to 34 kg. When cooked, pumpkin has a mild, sweet flavour. An interesting fact about pumpkins is that they are monoecious plants, which means that they have both male and female flowers on the same plant. The female flower can be identified by the small ovary at the bottom of the petals.
Pumpkins are mostly used for making soups and pies. Pumpkin pie forms an important traditional part of the Thanksgiving meal in the United States. Being highly nutritious, raw pumpkin is often juiced. This drink provides various health benefits. Besides being used as food, pumpkin is also used for recreational purposes. For instance, it is carved to make Jack-o’-lantern for Halloween Night. Pumpkin is also known as ‘Kaddu’ in Hindi, ‘Gummadi Kayi’ in Telugu, ‘Purangikkai’ in Tamil, ‘Mathanga’ in Malayalam, ‘Kumbalakai’ in Kannada, ‘Kolum’ in Gujarati, ‘Lal Bhopla’ in Marathi, and ‘Kumra’ in Bengali.
Benefits of pumpkin is for all skin types, particularly environmentally damaged or sensitive skin. Here are the benefits of pumpkin for skin.
If you have oily skin, you can try a face pack by mixing 1 tablespoon of pumpkin puree with 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Apply this on damp face and leave till it dries or up to 30 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water and then rinse with cold water. After this, you can apply an appropriate moisturizer meant for your skin type.
For dry skin, mix 2 teaspoons cooked or canned pumpkin puree with ½ teaspoon honey, ¼ teaspoon milk and ¼ teaspoon heavy whipping cream. Apply this evenly on your face avoiding the eye area let it settle for 10-15 minutes. This mask exfoliates, nourishes and conditions your skin. Rinse off with warm water and apply a moisturizer meant for your skin type.
Pumpkin is a good source of vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant and also contains beta-carotene which helps to reverse UV damage and improve skin texture. It helps to promote the production of collagen, thus improving your skin tone and elasticity. It protects the skin from radical damage which is responsible for causing wrinkles and even skin cancer.
To fade dark spots, prepare a face pack by mixing 1 tablespoon pumpkin puree, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil. Apply this mixture on damp face for 30 minutes or until it dries and rinse off with lukewarm water.
You can prepare a refreshing body mask by mixing ½ cup cooked or canned pumpkin puree with ½ cup coconut solids and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Apply this all over your body, massaging gently. Leave this mask for about 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry. This will refresh and relax your skin.
Pumpkin is a good source of B vitamins such as niacin, riboflavin, B6 and folate. Niacin improves circulation, and hence, is beneficial in treating acne. And folate helps to increase circulation, which improves cell turnover and renewal.
Besides its benefits in skincare, pumpkin offers several benefits for your hair, thanks to its rich nutritional value. As we all know, hair follicles require adequate supply of nutrients for their optimal growth and health. Pumpkin is beneficial for your hair in the following ways.
Pumpkin is a rich source of minerals including potassium and zinc. Potassium helps in keeping hair healthy and improve re-growth. Zinc helps maintain collagen and thus play an important role in promoting healthy hair. It also contains folate, an important B vitamin that stimulates hair growth by improving blood circulation.
If you have dry hair, you can prepare a simple hair conditioner using pumpkin. All you need to do is mix 2 cups of chopped and cooked pumpkin with 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1 tablespoon honey and 1 tablespoon yoghurt. Make a puree with the mixture of pumpkin and yogurt in a food processor or blender. Then add coconut oil and honey to make a smooth mixture. Apply it to damp shampooed hair, wear a plastic shower cap and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse off thoroughly and style as usual.
PREV POST PAGE 1 2NEXT