Squash Health Benefits – Nutritional Value Of Winter Squash For Health
Health Benefits Of Varieties Of Squash
The most popular squash is winter squash and this group includes the more common pumpkin as well as acorns, spaghetti squash as well as butternuts. Winter squashes are excellent sources of niacin, vitamin B1, B6, vitamin C, folic acid and pantothenic acid, potassium and fibre. They are also extremely low on calories and are an excellent health food. A fleshy vegetable with a hard rind would be beneficial as most of the beta-carotene is found in the rind and skin. Hence, these too can be consumed and not just the fleshy part. Carotenes function as antioxidants and are capable of keeping in check several life threatening health conditions. Recent research suggests that squash has a multitude of health benefits and it helps reduce the risk of lung cancer, prostatic hyperplasia, type two diabetes and some kinds of heart disease. The large amounts of water in squash make an ideal part of one’s diet during the summer months. Summer squash too is extremely popular and is part of the daily Native American and early settler diet. Zucchini happens to be the most popular squash in America and when buying squash, take care to pick the ones that are darker or more intense in colour. This is because the denser the colour and the glossier they look, the greater the amount of carotene in it. Choose the ones that are heavy and that have a firm skin that is devoid of bruising. Summer squashes should be kept in plastic bags and refrigerated where they will stay for about a week. The thick skinned varieties like chayote for instance, can even remain fresh for about two weeks. When cooking squash at home, it is best to not add too much water. This will ensure that the phenolics phytochemicals are not lost while cooking. When baking, you may add summer squash, particularly zucchini in order to make the food softer and moister. Summer squash is also known to have anti-ageing properties, reducing some of the negative effects of ageing as well as improving memory. It is sometimes prescribed as a home remedy to relieve eye stress and other eye related disorders.
Squash, however, should not be consumed if you are under medication and consuming aspirin, anticoagulants and other blood thinning agents. If undergoing cardiovascular treatment or antilipidaemic treatment, it is best to consult your physician before consuming any variety o f squash as it may interfere with the treatment and adversely affect you