Autumn arrives, and pumpkins shine. "After a summer of sunshine and growth, pumpkins accumulate rich nutrients," a relevant expert told reporters from the Lifetimes Times. Pumpkins contain many beneficial components for the human body, such as polysaccharides, amino acids, active proteins, carotenoids, and various trace elements. As a food rich in vitamins A and E, it can enhance the body's immunity and is greatly beneficial for alleviating autumn dryness symptoms. "In terms of its properties, pumpkin has effects of relieving asthma and reducing swelling. Regular consumption can prevent autumnal ailments like asthma and bronchitis," the expert said.
"Children should especially eat pumpkin regularly," the expert also pointed out. Pumpkin is rich in carotenoids, which are converted into vitamin A after being absorbed by the human body. Vitamin A combines with protein to form rhodopsin, a substance that plays an important role in vision. A lack of this substance can affect children's visual development, leading to night blindness.
"Although pumpkin is a healthy food, eating too much can cause heartburn and discomfort, and it can also affect your complexion," the expert said. Eating too much pumpkin leads to an excessive intake of beta-carotene, which deposits in the stratum corneum of the epidermis, causing the skin on the nose, forehead, palms, soles, around the eyes, and near the nails to turn a lemon-yellow. This condition is called carotenemia. The expert suggests that pumpkin can be eaten with other vegetables, once every other day. If you want to use pumpkin as a staple food, do not exceed the amount of one meal's worth per day. Currently, there are many varieties of pumpkins on the market, with different skin colors such as dark green, yellow-red, orange-red, and green skin with scattered yellow-red spots. Experts generally state that pumpkins with a longer growth cycle contain more starch and are suitable for steaming or made into various pumpkin pastries; while pumpkins with less starch are suitable for cooking. Generally, red-skinned and yellow-skinned pumpkins are more suitable for steaming, while green-skinned pumpkins are suitable for stir-frying.