In Nigeria and other parts of West Africa, pumpkin leaves are a popular leafy vegetable. You can mash fresh leaves to make a nutritious juice, eat them raw in a salad, or cook them into a tasty soup.
Common names include “sokoyokoto” in Yoruba, “ugwu” in Igbo, and “kawa” in Hausa. Vitamins C, A, B2, and E, along with minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, and manganese, can all be found in this leafy green vegetable.
Here I will go over four benefits of consuming pumpkin soup regularly.
1 Consuming Foods Rich in Antioxidants Can Lower My Risk of Developing Chronic Illness
Your metabolism generates free radicals, molecules with potentially damaging properties. Despite their extreme instability, they find usefulness in some contexts, such as the elimination of harmful microorganisms.
However, major diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancer have been linked to oxidative stress, which occurs when free radicals accumulate in harmful amounts in the body.
Alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin are just some of the antioxidants that can be found in pumpkins. These molecules can neutralize free radicals before they can damage cells.
2. It helps the body fight off illness.
Pumpkin is rich in beta carotene, a mineral that the body can convert into the immune-boosting vitamin A. Vitamin A helps protect against infections by bolstering the immune system. A vitamin A deficiency can lower immune function.
Scientific studies have shown that the high vitamin C content of pumpkin helps speed up the production of white blood cells, improves the performance of immune cells, and facilitates wound healing. Pumpkin leaf’s ability to strengthen the immune system originates from the abundance of nutrients it contains, including vitamins A, C, E, iron, and folate.
3. It improves cardiovascular fitness.
Pumpkin leaves are rich in nutrients that are good for your heart, such as potassium, vitamin C, and fiber. An increase in potassium intake, for instance, has been linked to lower instances of cardiovascular disease and related risks like blood pressure and the probability of stroke.
Pumpkin is rich in antioxidants, which may help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol oxidation. LDL cholesterol oxidizes and clumps up in the bloodstream, increasing the risk of heart disease and narrowing blood arteries.
4. Slimming down
Vegetables like pumpkin leaves, which are high in fiber, may aid weight loss by reducing hunger pangs and keeping you full for longer. Due to its low caloric content, it won’t cause you to gain weight.
