- Food Supplement
- How to use
- Contraindications
Food Supplement
Pumpkins are famous not only for being the vegetable Cinderella rode in a famous fairy tale. The fruit contains a lot of beneficial elements: fiber, vitamins and an impressive complex of minerals. It is no coincidence that nutritionists are increasingly regretting that it is completely absent in the diet of many people.
Pumpkin seed oil is a kind of concentrate of everything this fruit can boast of. The product is rich in B group vitamins, as well as A and E. It contains fatty acids, phospholipids, flavonoids and carotene (it is carotene that gives many varieties of pumpkin their characteristic orange color).
What properties allow the use of pumpkin seed oil in a weight loss diet? You can often come across the opinion that this product (when taken orally) breaks down subcutaneous fat and then removes all unnecessary substances from the body. This conviction is tempting, but it is mistaken. Here’s what actually happens:
- Improves the functioning of the pancreas
- Activates digestion processes
- The body gets rid of waste products better
Scientifically proven fact. Normally, subcutaneous fat is broken down only during active muscular work, i.e. during exercise. The parallel activation of metabolic processes creates favorable conditions for losing weight.
Balanced nutrition is another important condition. If the food is rich in refined fats and “fast” carbohydrates, then pumpkin seed oil will, at best, slow down the formation of new subcutaneous fat layers.
How to use
How to take pumpkin seed oil to lose weight? Remember how new products are introduced to children’s nutrition. People often start with a very small amount. The same is the case here.
It is recommended to start taking the product with the amount of one teaspoon. Add just that amount to a salad, ready-made salad dressing, a serving of slightly cooled porridge, or soup (except for varieties that are eaten cold). Any dish is suitable if its recipe involves the use of vegetable oil that has not undergone heat treatment.
Important! Heat treatment of pumpkin seed oil is unacceptable, as it almost completely deprives it of its beneficial properties. It is also important to maintain the storage conditions: in the dark and at a temperature no higher than 25 ˚С.
It is recommended to introduce a new product into the diet on a trial basis, in a relaxed atmosphere. Allergic reactions or intolerance can never be ruled out. Even for those who eat pumpkin with pleasure and without any discomfort to digestion.
You will also have to consider one more delicate point: possible increased intestinal motility. If this happens in a mild form, then you can only be pleased with this effect. However, diarrhea is also possible, which can be treated by taking sorbents, drinking plenty of fluids and resting.
Has the product been well accepted by the body? If desired, you can slightly increase the “dosage”. However, you should not completely replace vegetable oil in the diet with pumpkin oil. The maximum allowable amount is no more than three tablespoons per day. A larger amount can have a negative effect on the pancreas.
In case of good tolerance, you can try another way and start to drink pumpkin seed oil for weight loss in its pure form. The scheme is simple: one teaspoon one hour before meals, up to three times a day. The reaction of your body will tell you the more precise scheme. Perhaps for some people a single dose will already give the desired effect.
Its smell and taste deserve a separate mention. Opinions on these characteristics are diametrically opposed. Some people praise its specific aroma and flavor notes, while others at best are not delighted with the product. Are you in the latter group? It is possible to mitigate the taste that you find unpleasant if you wash down the oil with a few sips of any natural juice. It is undesirable to use water for this purpose. Another option is to eat a small bread roll (oat, buckwheat) or a slice of toast. Keep in mind that bread on its own has a stimulating effect on the intestines, and observe the body’s reaction to this combination of products.
Is this oil not to your liking? Don’t worry, there are others that are no less interesting: sea buckthorn, castor, black cumin, coconut.
Contraindications
The main contraindications are diseases of the pancreas and gallbladder, especially with the formation of stones. The second place is taken by gastrointestinal diseases such as gastritis and ulcers.
The following diseases/conditions require the use of pumpkin seed oil only with the consent of a doctor:
- pregnancy/breastfeeding period
- Diabetes (any type)
- Dysfunction of internal organs
The reasonable use of pumpkin seed oil in a weight loss diet helps you to achieve the best result that a dietary diet gives in combination with feasible and acceptable physical activity.
