Health Benefits of Gem Squash

Cucurbita pepo (Gem Squash) is a variety of summer squash found in South Africa. It is in medium sized and dark green stout fruit makes for boiled or baked dish. It has green color due to the carotenoid, lutein and zeaxanthin compounds. Whichever way you choose to cook gem squash, its nutritional values cannot be stressed enough.you could enjoy cooked gem squash with butter and brown sugar to enhance the flavor of it.

 The squash skin has the concentration of most of the nutrients. For this reason not peel the skin of gem squash before cooking or consumption. Like all summer squashes, gem squash is planted once the warm season has set in (spring to midsummer) and is harvested before fall, while the fruit is still tender and not fully ripe. Therefore their rind is not very hard unlike their winter counterparts and pumpkins. A fresh, good quality gem squash will be tender with a glossy feel. Some other varieties of summer squash are Yellow crookneck squash, Pattypan squash and ZucchiniGem squash, and all summer squash in general, is very low in their GI (Glycemic Index) value which, put simply, means that their consumption eliminates risks of heart diseases, diabetes (type 2), stroke, depression, kidney ailments, gall stones and cancers of the breast, colon, prostate and pancreas.

Following are the benefits of gem squash:

Benefit1: Gem squash contains 95% water and is considerably low in calories, just 20 B.

 Benefit2: The compounds of carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin help prevent occurrence of an eye condition called macular degeneration which is the chief cause of old age blindness and darkness.

Benefit3: Our diet with various minerals plays an important role in proper functioning of our immune system. Copper is one of them and gem squash is an excellent source of copper. Lack of copper increases the chances of infections and restricts development of immune cells like T-cells and phagocytic cells.

Benefit4: Summer squashes including gem squash are a wonderful source of Vitamin C which helps fight infections and restores wounds. Abundance of Vitamin C significantly reduces the risk of cancer, cataract and cardiovascular diseases

 Benefit5: it is rich in folate which helps in rapidly breaking down homocysteine (produced during the process of methylation cycle) into other compounds. When homocysteine level increases in our body, they shift into our blood stream which proves detrimental to the linings of the blood vessels and nerves. Hence it is very important to include in our diet, foods rich in vitamins B6, B12, betaine and folate can check homocysteine build up effectively. It can be grilled, steamed and very useful for immune system.

Conclusion:

With the benefits mentioned aforesaid, it is quite imperative of the health benefits of gem squash. The growth of unwanted diseases has been a major concern these days. Each year many of them are captured and euthanized to keep a check of overgrowing cancer. However you can reduce risk of diseases of body by use gem squash.