Advantages Of Eating Squash (Recipe)

Squash is part of the gourd family, alongside pumpkin and gourd. Usually, people use pumpkins and squash as ingredients for beverages, soup, pies, bread, biscuits, puddings, desserts. Also, squash has many nutrients that are essential for our health.

It increases the functions of the respiratory system

Due to its great amount of antioxidants, squash has the ability to reduce respiratory irritations, thus preventing the development of asthma.

Moreover, squash has the power to fight against health problems like emphysema. The experts from Live Strong affirmed that emphysema is caused by the lack of vitamin A. Cigarette smoke contains carcinogens, which are substances that can cause cancer and can lead to a vitamin A deficiency. Besides having anti-inflammatory properties, squash is packed with carotenoids beta-cryptoxanthin , which can reduce the risks of cancer.

It’s good for cardio-renal health and it controls your blood pressure

Squash contains fiber which is good if you want to reduce the bad cholesterol from the arteries. Thus, it can prevent strokes, heart attacks, coronary artery diseases or atherosclerosis. Additionally, squash is full in folate, an essential form of vitamin B that can stop the appearance of cardiovascular diseases by preventing the accumulation of homocysteine.

Another great thing about squash is that it acts as a vasodilator due to its richness in potassium. In other words, it improves the blood circulation and blood flow to the lungs and heart by releasing the tension in arteries and blood vessels.

Moreover, squash can control the blood pressure and it improves the renal and cardiovascular health. If you introduce this vegetable in your meals, you won’t suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension or any other heart disease. You can take your daily potassium intake by consuming winter squash.

It improves the immune system

As we’ve seen, squash contains antioxidants, so it can strengthen our immunity. Antioxidants have many benefits: from eliminating free radicals and toxins to making the skin smoother. Also, squash is packed with carotenoid phytonutrients like lutein and zeaxanthin and vitamin A which are good for the improvement of our immune system.

Recipe

If you want to lose weight or you don’t have any idea what to cook for lunch, you can try this recipe called Sauteed Yellow Squash. You need the following ingredients: two tablespoons of scallions or chopped chives, half red bell pepper, two tablespoons chopped parsley leaves, a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil, two tablespoons of butter, two small to medium squash.

How do you prepare it? First, you need to preheat a skillet. After that, you add butter and oil. In this composition, you fry the squash and red pepper for 12-14 minutes. When you’re finished, you can add parsley, salt and pepper. Depending on your preferences, add scallions or chives.

Squash has many benefits for our health. It can improve our immunity, respiratory and cardiovascular system. So, next time you go to the market, make sure you buy some squash.