- Nutritional Information
- Usage Guidelines
- Contraindications
Losing weight and reducing body fat is a complex process that requires an integrated approach utilizing various techniques. A sensible addition to your weight loss regimen are products that can enhance metabolic processes.
Nutritional Information
Pumpkin is famous not only for its starring role as a carriage in a certain popular fairy tale. This fruit is packed with many valuable elements, including fiber, vitamins, and an impressive mineral complex. It is no wonder that nutritionists often express regret that many people do not include pumpkin in their diet.
Pumpkin seed oil is like a concentrate of everything the fruit has to offer. It is particularly abundant in vitamins B, as well as A and E. The oil also contains fatty and fruit acids, phospholipids, flavonoids, and carotene (the element responsible for the characteristic orange color of many pumpkins).
Which properties of pumpkin oil make it useful in a weight loss diet? You may hear rumors that the oil (when taken internally) breaks down subcutaneous fat, thereby removing all unnecessary elements from the body. This concept is tempting but it is incorrect. Here’s what actually happens when you take pumpkin oil:
- improves pancreatic function;
- activates digestion processes;
- rids the body of waste products.
Scientific fact. Normally, the body consumes subcutaneous fat only during active muscle work, i.e. when engaged in physical activities. Additional stimulation of metabolic processes creates favorable conditions for weight loss.
Another important factor is healthy eating. If your diet contains a lot of refined fats and “fast” carbohydrates, at best, pumpkin oil will help slow down the formation of new subcutaneous fat.
Usage Guidelines
How to take pumpkin oil for weight loss? Think back to how new foods are typically introduced into a child’s diet. In most cases, they start by consuming small quantities. The same principle applies here.
It is recommended to start using the product in doses of one teaspoon. Add this amount of oil to your salad, ready-made sauce, slightly cooled porridge, or soup (but only cold soups). Any dish that calls for unheated vegetable oil will do.
Important! Do not expose pumpkin oil to heat, as this will strip it of almost all of its health benefits. Storage is also essential: keep the oil in a dark place at a temperature of no higher than 77 ˚F (25 ˚С).
We recommend testing out the introduction of this product when you are in a comfortable, calm environment. Allergic reactions or intolerance are possible, even in people who enjoy eating pumpkin without experiencing any digestive discomfort.
Another potential issue: increased intestinal peristalsis. A mild increase is welcome. However, diarrhea is also possible. To alleviate it, it is helpful to take sorbents, drink plenty of fluids, and rest.
Did your body respond well to this new addition to your diet? If you wish, you can slightly increase the “dosage”. However, pumpkin oil should not completely replace all other vegetable oil in your diet. Three tablespoons a day is the maximum allowable amount. Exceeding this amount can negatively affect the pancreas.
If the oil agrees with you, you could try a different method and start drinking pure pumpkin seed oil for weight loss. The regimen is very simple: one teaspoon an hour before each meal, up to three times a day. Your body’s reactions will help you establish the optimal frequency. For some people, even a single dose may yield the desired effect.
The oil’s smell and taste deserve special mention. Opinions vary widely on these characteristics. Some people rave about its unique aromatic and flavor notes, while others are at best indifferent. Do you belong to the second group? You can soften the unpleasant taste by washing down the oil with a few sips of any natural juice. Water is not recommended. Another option is to have a small piece of flatbread (oat, buckwheat) or a crispbread. Bear in mind that flatbread alone speeds up intestinal activity, so pay attention to how your body responds to such food combinations.
Did this oil not meet your expectations? Don’t give up – there are other equally intriguing options: sea buckthorn oil, castor oil, black cumin oil, coconut oil.
Contraindications
The main contraindications are diseases of the pancreas and gallbladder, especially those involving gallstones. Other gastrointestinal ailments that can be exacerbated by pumpkin oil intake include gastritis and ulcers.
The use of pumpkin oil for weight loss with the following conditions/diseases requires mandatory medical approval:
- pregnancy/breastfeeding;
- diabetes (regardless of the type);
- internal organ dysfunction.
Judicious use of pumpkin oil for weight loss helps enhance the results of your diet plan, especially when combined with feasible physical activities.
