SQUASH AND PUMPKIN NUTRIENTS

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Nutritional Value of Squash


A pumpkin is a gourd-like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae.

Squash are fleshy vegetables protected by a hard rind. They belong to the
plant family that includes melons and cucumbers. It is a good source of
vitamins And C; it also contains calcium and iron. It has very low calories,
ideal to be a component in the diet plan. Summer squash has two
phytochemicals: coumarins and flavonoids [1]. The skin and rind of summer
squash are also rich in the nutrient beta-carotene, but the fleshy portion of
this vegetable is not. To gain the full nutritional benefits of this vegetable,
the skins or rinds must be eaten.

Potential Health Benefits of Squash

5 A Day, CDC suggests that squash contains coumarins. [1] Some
researchers have suggested the use of coumarins in the treatment and
prophylaxis of venous and arterial thromboembolism such as transient
ischemic attacks and strokes. [2,4] Coumarin therapy can be started
immediately, if no invasive procedures are necessary and have to be
continued for 4-12 months, in recurred events and/or hypercoagulability
even life-long. [3]

Researchers studied the association between consumption of
carotene-containing vegetables and subsequent five year mortality of 1271
Massachusetts residents 66 years of age or older. They observed that
those in the highest quintile of intake of these carotene-containing
vegetables had a risk of cancer mortality which was 0.3. The trend of
decreased cancer risk with increasing intake of carotene containing
vegetables was significant. Thus, carotene may have benefits of cancer
prevention. [5]