Pumpkins are antioxidant vegetable for excellence, which offer us many properties and whose consumption allows for the elimination of free radicals that affect our body. It is rich in beta-carotene, coumarins, lycopene, vitamin C, potassium and folic acid.

Beta-carotenes increase the efficiency of the immune system and can also help prevent heart attacks. On the other hand, they could prevent the development of some types of cancer, especially skin and prostate cancer. For this reason, it is important to include this food in the daily diet of the groups under risk, such as men close to of 50 years old.

The intake of pumpkin also helps to prevent the effect of free radicals on the cells of the retina.
It is a food that is composed of 90% water, rich in fiber and low in calories, so it is always recommended in weight loss diets. It is a very satisfying food. Thanks to this, its ingestion regains the impulse to eat other unwanted foods in the diets. Helps fight water retention, thanks to its high amount of potassium. Its high fiber content favors intestinal transit, which helps to improve constipation.

From this wonderful vegetable can be consumed its pulp, its seeds, its leaves and its flowers. Recently it has been discovered that pumpkin seeds help to eliminate certain intestinal parasites, such as tapeworm. Its leaves-made tea, help to lower the fever. For its part, the pulp if consumed as juice, has a laxative effect.

As a food it is a very versatile vegetable. Use it in desserts, soups, creams, baked, pureed, rice, grilled, grated on a rice of your choice or in combination with other vegetables or dishes.

I will start my series of recipes of this versatile vegetable by presenting my version of Pumpkin Cream. You can present this delicious cream as an appetizer, served in small shot glasses, as an entry in your dinners or lunches or, simply enjoy it as a main course in your weight loss diet.