Wax gourd: description, benefits, application

Content:

The article presents a wax gourd: a description of the vegetable culture, benefits, application in various industries.

Benincasa, also referred to as winter melon, and most often a wax gourd, is gaining more and more popularity. Southeast Asia is considered the homeland of this plant. In our latitudes, the fruits of this plant are not found, but it is possible to grow it yourself. It is actively cultivated in Indonesia and India, grown in China, and with increasing popularity began to be propagated in America. It is called white Indian pumpkin, winter pumpkin, beninkaz. Little is known about her, but the benefits of this outlandish plant are undeniable. We will talk about the features of the wax gourd further.

Wax gourd: general characteristics

Benincasa photo

Benincasa is a herbaceous liana-like plant with large spreading foliage that resembles a common pumpkin. Grows in open, well-lit places, loves warmth very much. A mature plant can grow up to six meters in height, and its oblong, rounded fruits - sometimes under 2 meters.

Beninkaz fruits are unique. Until fully ripe, they are covered with a velvety bloom, which then gives way to the so-called wax film, which gave the name to this plant.
With proper cultivation of wax gourd, ripe fruit can reach up to 25 kilograms. A ripe vegetable is absolutely unpretentious to storage conditions. Pumpkin can be stored in almost any temperature and conditions, whether it is a cold, damp room, even an open space on the kitchen floor under the table or under the bed. The same wax film protects benincase from external influences. After cutting, it also helps to preserve all the nutrients inside the fruit.

Not only ripe, but not quite ripe fruits are used - a young pumpkin has more pronounced taste. Like an ordinary pumpkin, winter has a mild pleasant taste. Chefs also use buds with leaves in addition to the fruits themselves.

Wax gourd: nutritional value of the product

Wax gourd Benincasa: nutritional value of the product

Inside the fruit of the winter gourd, there is a true storehouse of nutrients and minerals. The vegetable contains almost the entire line of vitamin B, as well as vitamins C, D and E. Benincasa is very rich in sodium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. Even a rare element like Selenium can be found in winter melon, along with iron, zinc and iodine.
Of course, a vegetable is considered low-calorie - there are only 15 kilocalories per hundred grams and not a gram of cholesterol.

What are the beneficial properties of wax pumpkin (vegetable crops)

The unique chemical composition of Benincasa pumpkin gives the vegetable numerous useful properties... Let's take a closer look:

The abundance of nutrients leads to the normalization of metabolic processes in the body with the active use of beninkase in food.
The vegetable is rich in fiber. It helps cleanse the intestines. Also, numerous micro and macro elements along with dietary fiber normalize the digestive process. Pumpkin fruits are easy to digest and quickly absorbed in the body due to their high water content (up to 95%). Regular consumption of this product will make you forget about such ailments as constipation, flatulence, bloating, belching.
The mentioned dietary fiber, together with the ash particles contained in the fruits of winter melon, actively stimulate the intestines. This promotes quick satiety during meals and prevents the accumulation of unwanted substances in the digestive tract. As a result, it helps to saturate the body with energy by burning off excess fats. In other words, it's a great way to lose weight and shed excess calories without grueling diets by simply eating a delicious nutritious food.
Fiber water not only stimulates digestion, but also works as antioxidants. They cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, help normalize the stool, and prevent flatulence. Consuming beninkase on an ongoing basis will protect against the accumulation of harmful deposits in the intestines.
The lack of cholesterol in the vegetable itself, as well as the composition rich in minerals, contribute to lower cholesterol levels in general. For this, in addition to the fruits themselves, decoctions and infusions from pumpkin leaves are also used.
Saturation with metals such as magnesium and calcium normalizes blood flow. Sodium also helps to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and stimulates the heart. These chemicals are great at normalizing blood pressure.
Strengthening the walls of blood vessels due to the abundance of minerals resists the formation of plaques. A clean circulatory system is an unconditional prevention of varicose veins, blood clots and other cardiovascular diseases.
Vitamins of group B, A and especially C develop and strengthen the immune system. Group A, E, K actively resists harmful microorganisms. Regular consumption of wax gourd replaces a whole shelf of pharmacy vitamin preparations
Winter melon has antiseptic properties. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and speeds up the healing of the body. It is actively used in inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, bladder disease. It is also used at high temperatures and as a pain reliever.
As an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent, pumpkin is also used for external use. It promotes healing of wounds and scratches. It also very abundantly moisturizes the skin, preventing the appearance of wrinkles, fights against skin tightness, cracks and peeling. In our region, this is especially true in the winter season, when chapped lips and face become commonplace. Here is a wonderful remedy for the unpleasant effects of cold winds.
It is easy to guess that with such an arsenal of useful substances and antioxidants, waxy cherries can be considered practically safe to use. With the exception of individual intolerance to certain components, the fruits of benincase can be consumed by allergy sufferers, nursing mothers, and pregnant women. People with an imbalance in the sugar balance may not be afraid as well as those who are overweight (for them, on the contrary, wax pumpkin is a panacea for all ills)

Benincasa (wax gourd): application

It is easy to guess that a product so rich in its various properties has found wide application in a wide variety of industries. Not only the fruits themselves, but also the foliage are used, making it universal. And unpretentious storage favorably distinguishes the winter pumpkin among its relatives in the flowerbed.

In cooking

Of course, the main use of beninkase is cooking. It is based on pumpkin fruits, but with buds, skilled chefs are able to make gastronomic delights by frying them in batter. Of course, the tops and shoots can be used as “greens” to decorate dishes and add flavor.

Ripe vegetables of winter melon are fried, stewed, steamed ... Fresh young fruits are safe to eat raw, chop into a salad, pickle, as is usually done with cucumbers (on which young fruits of winter melon are somewhat similar in taste).

Mature ones go well with meat and fish, especially when frying. In China, one of the favorite delicacies is melon with fried pork or beef. It also makes a rich base for the soup. The snow-white pulp is used for cooking caviar, casseroles. Many people cook candied fruits.

It can be used as an independent dish, in the form of a stew or porridge. It harmonizes well with other ingredients. Having a mild pleasant taste, it is an almost universal addition to any dish.

Sweet pumpkin dishes are wonderful. It is used as a filling, pies are baked. Finally, you can simply sugar or make jam. In Pakistan, candy is made from this vegetable. Filipinos stuff the national hopia buns with pulp. Some countries in Southeast Asia even make cold sweet tea with winter melon.

In medicine

The beneficial properties of wax pumpkin have been known for a long time. Healing preparations for the skin are made from the juice of the plant and decoctions of the foliage, which prevent inflammation and scarring. Infusions are used to rinse the mouth.

Fruits rich in all essential vitamins and minerals are good in themselves as a general tonic. It is widely used in the prevention of diseases of the bladder, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular ailments.

Benincasa pumpkin seeds, when squeezed out of oil, have an analgesic effect. This pumpkin seed oil is used in the treatment of rheumatism, as well as sprains and even cramps.

The dried bark saves with edema. A decoction from it is indispensable for intoxication and other types of poisoning (food, alcohol, etc.)

In perfumery

As mentioned above, young fruits are covered with a velvet coating. But in the process of ripening, the pumpkin changes from a velvety coating to a wax one (in connection with which it received its most common name). Candles are made from the wax remnants of the film from the fruits. It is gently scraped off, melted, and used in perfumery to make scented candles.

Wax gourd