Health Benefits of Pumpkin Leaves – Pumpkin leaves are a delicious vegetable from the squash plant. The leaves are green with a triangle shape almost the same as the shape of the symbol of love or a heart image. The pumpkin plant not only provides the most beneficial pumpkin fruit, it also provides pumpkin leaves. Pumpkin leaves that are used for vegetables are young leaves that are on the shoots of the pumpkin plant.
Pumpkin leaves are usually cooked as a vegetable, some are made into fat curry, mixed curry and others. The leaves of these vines are not only used as a food menu, but pumpkin leaves are also useful for health. Among the health benefits of pumpkin leaves are to improve vision health, treat anemia, improve digestion, prevent cancer, increase body immunity, and lower cholesterol.
Pumpkin leaves are a vegetable that is rich in minerals and vitamins that are good for health. Interesting isn’t it, let’s see what are the health benefits of pumpkin leaves.
Scientifically, pumpkin leaves are called Telfaira occidentalis and more popularly known as fluted gourds. What’s interesting about pumpkin plants is that there is no specific season. It can always be enjoyed as long as you plant it. Even in the rainy season, pumpkin leaves can be obtained in abundance and rain can stimulate the growth of pumpkin shoots quickly.
Health Benefits Of Pumpkin Leaves
As a nutrient-rich leaf, pumpkin leaves certainly have many health benefits. Why don’t we immediately see what are its uses for health. Let’s just check it out!
1. Pumpkin leaves as anti-aging
It is known that one of the benefits of pumpkin leaves is that it can inhibit and slow down aging. This is due to the abundant antioxidant content in pumpkin leaves. To keep your appearance looking youthful, consume more pumpkin leaves as a vegetable.
2. Pumpkin leaves for eye health
Furthermore, pumpkin leaves are known as leaves or vegetables that contain abundant levels of vitamin A. The benefits of vitamin A are to prevent eye damage and macular degeneration. This is an eye health condition that deteriorates with age. But by consuming pumpkin leaves regularly, eye health will occur and it is healthier compared to those who do not consume foods rich in vitamin A.
3. Pumpkin leaves prevent seizures
Seizures are a health problem that shows very scary signs. A person who has a seizure cannot move and cannot control his behavior. Pumpkin leaves have amazing benefits in preventing seizures.
In ethnomedicine, young pumpkin leaves are chopped and mixed with coconut water and salt. Then store it in a bottle and drink it for further purposes.
Also read: Heartleaf Maderavine Madevine Leaves (Anredera cordifolia)
4. Pumpkin leaves lower cholesterol
When it comes to cholesterol, pumpkin leaves can be both important and full of blessings. Pumpkin leaves are great for lowering cholesterol levels because they are rich in fiber. These foods will reduce the absorption of bile acids and cholesterol from the small intestine. So, consuming pumpkin leaves is good for heart health due to stable cholesterol.
5. Useful for increasing fertility
Regular consumption of pumpkin leaves is good for sexual health. Damage to the testicles is said to be repaired by diligently consuming pumpkin leaves. In addition, the leaves of these vines can be used as fertility drugs. This is one solution for those of you who want to have a baby soon.
5. Pumpkin leaves for diabetes
Diabetes is a disease caused by malfunctioning of the pancreas so that it does not produce insulin. Insulin is a substance that regulates blood sugar levels. when insulin is unstable, what happens is a spike in blood sugar and this causes a person to feel weak, tired, and want to eat continuously (the more he eats the more tired he is), and increases the frequency of urinating. In short, diabetes is a dangerous disease if it is not well controlled.
Pumpkin leaves have a hypoglycaemic effect, this is very helpful for diabetics because their blood sugar can be controlled.
Also see: 10+ Benefits of Bay Leaves
6. Pumpkin leaves for skin health
The high vitamin C content in pumpkin leaves provides benefits for accelerating wound healing, forming scar tissue, and is good for skin health so that the skin looks fresh and healthy.
Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant which is useful for warding off free radicals (the cause of premature aging), so you look younger.
7. Pumpkin leaves can fight cancer
Pumpkin leaves are high in fiber and research has shown a link between fiber and cancer. Fiber-rich foods are usually also rich in various other vitamins which are very helpful in preventing cancer.
Fiber can also be a laxative for waste, so by consuming foods high in fiber such as pumpkin leaves, a person will avoid digestive problems including colon cancer.
Also see: Benefits of Eating Papaya, Fruit and Leaves
8. Pumpkin leaves are good for bone health
Pumpkin leaves are a vegetable that is rich in calcium and phosphorus, so it is very good to make a delicious food for children so that their bones are healthy during growth. the content of phosphorus and calcium also triggers dental growth well in children.
Include pumpkin leaves in the child’s daily diet for their growth.
9. Useful for boosting immunity
Pumpkin leaves keep bones healthy and are an important ingredient for increasing hemoglobin in the blood. This means that pumpkin leaves can provide good body immunity so that it is not easily attacked by disease.
10. Pumpkin leaves are rich in protein
Pumpkin leaves are a high-protein vegetable, so many refer to them as protein supplements. The protein content in pumpkin leaves can meet a person’s daily needs. By regularly consuming pumpkin leaves, you will be strong and healthy and good for those of you who often exercise.
See more: 8 Health Benefits of Potatoes
Those are some of the benefits of pumpkin leaves, at a cheap price and easy to obtain, you can reap many benefits for the good of the body and the best thing is that you can grow them at home. Apart from being rich in benefits, it is also free of chemicals that may be in several types of pumpkins that are planted out there.
