Eating Pumpkin Powder Can Help Prevent Diabetes
Eating Pumpkin Powder Can Help Prevent Diabetes
Pumpkin, also known as winter squash, belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family of herbaceous plants and has functions such as tonifying the spleen and stomach, moistening the lungs, and resolving phlegm. Recent studies show that pumpkin contains abundant pectin and trace element cobalt. Pectin delays the absorption of sugar and lipids in the intestines, while cobalt is a necessary trace element for pancreatic cells to synthesize insulin. Therefore, regular consumption of pumpkin may help prevent and manage diabetes. However, pumpkin contains a certain amount of sugar, and excessive intake may raise blood glucose levels. So how should diabetics consume pumpkin?
Diabetics can process pumpkin into pumpkin powder for long-term, small-quantity consumption. The main steps for making pumpkin powder are:
Select mature pumpkins, wash them, remove skin and seeds, then cut into fine strips; soak the strips in clean water for one hour, then drain and dry; place the strips in an oven (at 60–80°C for eight hours) or stir-fry until crisp in a wok; grind the brittle strips into powder and store in a sealed container.
Patients can take one to two medicine spoons (30–40 grams) of pumpkin powder each time, mix with warm boiled water, and consume three times daily. Continue for fifteen days, then adjust the dosage according to blood glucose reduction.