Pumpkin juice is a healthy drink for maintaining good health. It enriches the body with vitamins, treats certain diseases and helps keep the figure in top shape. And if you prepare it for the winter, combining it with apples, carrots, oranges and other fruits - problems with low immunity will not be terrible. This article will discuss how to make pumpkin juice yourself and what useful properties it has for people of any age.
Necessary equipment and utensils
Preparing pumpkin juice at home is not difficult. First you need to decide how to get it. The first, fastest - with the help of a juicer. The second is when a product is being prepared in a juice cooker. The third, more labor-intensive method, in which the pumpkin is rubbed on a grater, and then the juice is squeezed through gauze folded in several layers. Another, fourth option of cooking is boiling in water of pumpkin cut into pieces with its subsequent grinding in a blender. Any of the above methods of obtaining pumpkin nectar is good in its own way, so everyone can choose an acceptable option for themselves. 
We consider in detail the fourth method of production of pumpkin drink, which was mentioned above. So, for its preparation, we need:
- Juicer.
- Blender
- Table-knife.
- Pan (at least 8 liters).
- Sterilized jars.
- Coaster and caps.
Check out the step-by-step recipe for tomato juice for the winter.
Required Ingredients
Here is a list of products from which we prepare our juice:
- Pumpkin pulp - 3 kilograms;
- Granulated sugar - 500 grams;
- Water - 2 liters;
- Citric acid - a 10-gram bag (2 tsp.).
Features of product selection
Regardless of the method of obtaining a drink, you first need to choose the vegetable itself. There are three varieties of table gourd, edible for humans: hard-faced, large-fruited and nutmeg. Which one to choose is up to you.
Hardened - most common form. This variety matures faster than others. From the name it is clear that the bark of this fruit is hard and dense. Inside the pumpkin is fibrous, with a delicate aroma, the pulp is sugar, with a lot of seeds of a soft yellow color. Such a fruit hardly gives in to peeling. 
Large - the biggest pumpkin. The five-kilogram representatives of this variety are a common occurrence. The taste of this fruit is sweet and tender. It has a soft peel, so it is easy to clean.
Learn how to cook, apply and store pumpkin honey.
Muscat - ripens later than others, its fruits are bright orange, not very large, with a soft crust. This type of pumpkin is one of the most delicious. 
Did you know? The nutmeg variety has the highest sugar and carotene content, the large-fruited pumpkin is high-yielding, and the fruits with hard crusts can be stored the longest.
If for the preparation of nectar you have to buy a pumpkin on the market, you need to consider a few important points:
- Choose dense, sufficiently ripened fruits that have exactly colored skin.
- A quality vegetable should not have a tail cut off, it should break off by itself. If the tail is cut, then before you the unripe fruit.
- It is better not to take the pumpkin already cut into slices. It is not known in what sanitary conditions the fruits were stored before cutting, and not necessarily washed before. Also, the sliced vegetable could be rotten.
- If you still get chopped vegetable, then try the taste of its seeds. They must be ripe and large, which means that the fruit was ripe and absorbed all the useful properties.
Did you know? The older the pumpkin, the higher the nutritional value of its seeds.
Step-by-step process of making pumpkin juice at home for the winter
The process of making pumpkin juice is as follows:
- My pumpkin and cut into slices. We remove the seeds with fibrous pulp. Peel off the peel and cut into small pieces.
- Fold the chopped pumpkin into the pot and pour out the water.
- Put the saucepan on the stove and cook until the slices are soft for 10 minutes from the moment of boiling. We check the readiness with a knife and transfer the softened pieces to another container and grind it to a puree-like blender or rub it through a colander.
- After that, the liquid in which the pumpkin was boiled, you need to add to the finished puree and mix with a blender. If the juice is thicker than necessary, it can be diluted with boiled water. Now you need to pour sugar and citric acid into the mixture, mix well and boil again for a couple of minutes. Take off the foam until it disappears.
- We pour the finished product into prepared sterilized jars and roll it up. We turn the cans down with the lids, wrap them in a towel and leave to cool completely. Store the finished product in a cool closet.
Important! Canned juices can be stored not only in a cool place, but also at room temperature. The only caveat is that sunlight should not fall on them, otherwise the oxidation process will begin, and the beneficial properties will be lost.
How to lighten the juice and whether
Pumpkin drink is not transparent due to particles suspended in it, for this reason, not everyone likes its taste.
The way to make the juice more transparent
To get a clear drink, you need to filter it through gauze folded in several layers, let it settle in a cool place, and then pour the settled liquid without sediment into another container. But is it really necessary to do this?
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Is there any benefit from lightening
According to nutritionists, it is not clarified juices, in which the pulp is kept in the form of suspended particles, are particularly useful for maintaining health. These drinks contain fiber and pectins, which have a beneficial effect on the work of the stomach and intestines, as well as lower cholesterol levels.
Useful properties of pumpkin juice
Medical experts advise to use the juice and adults, and children, even babies. It has the following positive effects on organs and systems:
- It has many amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
- Increases the body's defenses.
- Promotes cleansing from fats, toxins and slags.
- It normalizes cholesterol levels.
- Displays radionuclides.
- Helps fight cancer.
- The product with the addition of honey helps to fight insomnia.
- Increases vitality and performance.
- Removes kidney and bladder stones.
- Improves the circulatory system and heart.
Save the pumpkin in the winter until the spring will help frost.
For adults
Now more about the benefits of a pumpkin drink for an adult, if it is used regularly:
- The presence of vitamin C improves blood formation, therefore, serves as a prevention of anemia and other diseases, increases the body's defenses.
- Due to its detoxifying properties, it has a beneficial effect on the liver and gall bladder. Therefore, this drink should be included in the diet in the treatment of alcohol dependence.
- Has a pronounced ability to eliminate constipation, normalizing digestion.
- Improves blood circulation.
- Regulates blood cholesterol.
- Strengthens the walls of the myocardium due to the content of magnesium and potassium.
- Positive effect on the nervous system, improving mood and increasing energy and ability to work.
- It can relieve insomnia if you drink a drink with one teaspoon of honey before bedtime.
- Helps reduce blood sugar levels.
- When pregnancy eliminates nausea during toxemia and normalizes stools.
- Displays excess fats.
- It has a positive effect on the prostate gland and potency.
- Helps to dissolve kidney stones (use after consulting a urologist).
- It is widely used for outdoor purposes: treats burns, acne, acne. Due to the presence of minerals and vitamins, a beneficial effect on the skin, nails and hair.
Important! How much juice you can drink daily - everyone decides for himself. It must be remembered that the maximum amount required for an adult healthy person is 2 cups per day. A larger number of the body can not fully absorb.
For kids
Pediatricians and dieticians recommend pumpkin for babies at the very early age (5-6 months) as an additional food, starting with 5 ml (1 tsp). It should be given carefully, observing the skin reactions in a child, as individual intolerance to pumpkin products may occur. Older children, from 3 years, on average, you can drink 200-300 ml of pumpkin product per day.
With the regular presence of pumpkin drink in the children's menu, the following positive effects on the children's organism are observed:
- The chair is regulated, as a result of which the gastrointestinal system works well.
- If there is no intolerance to pumpkin products, then this juice can even eliminate the allergies already present to other products.
- A rich set of trace elements, minerals and vitamins protects the child's body from the effects of free radicals and promotes good growth and development.
Not only pumpkin pulp has healing properties, but also pumpkin seeds.
What can be added to the usual pumpkin juice
Although pumpkin drink is useful, because of its specific taste and smell, not everyone likes it. The problem can be solved by mixing it in arbitrary proportion with other nectars, no less vivifying. 
Did you know? Pumpkin flowers also can be eaten. In Italy, the most common recipe for their preparation is stuffed flowers with mozzarella and tomatoes.Apple, orange, carrot, cranberry juices, as well as dried apricots are well combined with pumpkin nectar. Below are short recipes for making cocktails at home kitchen:
An Apple
To make a pumpkin-apple drink, you must first prepare the pumpkin according to the recipe indicated above. Already at the end of its cooking, we prepare apples. You can take the fruits of any favorite variety, but the best green, usually they are more juicy. Then you need to remove from them the hearts and peduncles. Squeeze the juice through the juicer, add sugar, lemon zest and boil. In the finished hot pumpkin product, pour out the apple mixture and let them boil for about 3 minutes, not more. Pour into cooked jars and roll up.
Along with orange, banana, grapes and mango, apples are among the five most popular and common fruits in the world.
To prepare such a mix, you will need (for 3-4 liters of pumpkin juice):
- 3 kg of peeled apples and stalks;
- 550 g of sugar (can be less, if you need a pronounced acidity);
- Peel 2 lemons, grated.
Carrot
The carrot itself is a very useful vegetable, so it will be a great addition to the preparation of mixed nectars, especially since, thanks to carotene, it has an orange-yellow color similar to pumpkin. Carrot-pumpkin mixture can be prepared similarly to the previous method. To do this, take (per 4 liters of finished pumpkin product):
- 4 pieces of carrots;
- 1-2 glasses of sugar (to taste);
- 1 bag of vanilla sugar;
- 2-3 clove inflorescences (by preference).
Important! To improve your health, you need to drink every morning 0.5 cups of pumpkin juice half an hour before meals. For a better absorption of carotene, you can add another teaspoon of sour cream, cream or vegetable oil (especially important for pumpkin-carrot mixture).
Orange
Another ingredient that makes up the pumpkin drink is orange juice. Oranges have a red-orange color, a mass of useful substances and citrus scent. To prepare a wonderful, bright drink, you will need (for 4 liters of pumpkin juice):
- 4 things. peeled oranges;
- 5 tablespoons of sugar.
- A small pinch of citric acid.
- You can add vanilla on the tip of the knife.
- Squeeze juice out of oranges through a juicer, mix with sugar, vanilla and citric acid. Mix two ready-made juice, boil, pour into jars, roll up.
Dried apricots
To prepare a variant of the drink with dried apricots, you must first cook the compote of these dried fruits. Compote recipe is simple and does not take much time: 
Thoroughly rinse 300 grams of dried apricots under running water, cut them into pieces with a knife and put them into dishes prepared for cooking compote;
- Pour the dried fruit with 2.5 liters of water;
- Add 150 grams of sugar;
- Pour some citric acid (to taste) or pour 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
- After boiling, boil on low heat for 8-10 minutes.
- Mix the compote with pumpkin broth, boil the mixture for no more than 3 minutes and roll up.
Cranberry
Cranberry has antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effect., and in connection with the pumpkin will be a vitamin home pharmacy for a long winter period. Making this useful preparation for the winter, you need:
- Squeeze the juice from 3 kilograms of washed cranberries;
- Mix cranberry juice with 3 liters of the finished pumpkin liquid;
- Add sugar in the amount of 800 g to the mixture (less or more).
- Boil the substance for 5 minutes.
- Pour on sterilized banks and roll up.
Familiarize yourself with the useful properties of cranberries, ways of its preparation for the winter, and also find out whether it is possible to freeze cranberries in the refrigerator.
Are there any harm and contraindications?
In addition to all the above useful properties, pumpkin has certain contraindications for use:
This product may be allergic or individual intolerance. Therefore, you should start to use this drink in small portions and monitor your condition. Particular caution should be exercised when introducing it into the child's diet.
It is forbidden to drink such a drink to persons with low gastric secretion and a tendency to diarrhea due to the fact that this juice has a powerful cleansing property that can cause severe irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as exacerbation of the above diseases.
All of the above suggests that the use of pumpkin juice, as a standalone drink, and in the mix with other vegetables and fruits, brings more invaluable health benefits to people than harm, especially in the winter. Of course, consultation of the attending physician is obligatory in order not to harm yourself and your child. If you use our recipes, you can prepare this excellent preparation for the winter on your own and without too much fuss.
