Bottle gourd is especially used as vegetable in Indian and Chinese cuisine. It is known by various names including Lauki, calabash, doodhi, Birdhouse gourd, and ghiya. Bottle gourd is used for its medicinal properties. Look wise, it is similar to cucumber. Bottle gourd is rich in vitamin C (26 mg), B, iron, sodium and potassium. The rich content of vitamin C prevents cell damage and DNA oxidation and boosts the production of collagen rendering your skin to glow naturally. Bottle gourd is also rich in zinc. Each cup of juice contains over 1.8 mg of zinc. Zinc is helpful in maintaining healthy functioning of cells and regulation of hormones in the body.
Bottle Gourd For Weight loss
Bottle gourd is rich in fiber and suppresses appetite. Bottle gourd contains over 96% of water and keeps the body hydrated. Bottle gourd has low fat and cholesterol levels which makes it perfect for people aiming to lose weight. Having bottle gourd juice in the morning is the best as it hydrates the body and makes you feel fuller. A study was conducted in September 2012 and published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. This study experimented the effect of bottle gourd on rats and saw considerable decrease in their weight. However there is no evidence of the same on humans. More research is still required on this topic. Bottle gourd cleanses the stomach and treats flatulence, diarrhea, piles and acidity. Healthy bowel movement and improved digestion indirectly leads to weight loss and improved metabolism. Having bottle gourd helps to cure inflammation and burning sensation in the stomach.
Precautions
There have been reported some side effects of bottle gourd in the past. In such cases, the taste of the vegetable was found to be bitter. For precautionary sake, it is suggested that you taste bottle gourd and then have it. As per the Indian Journal of Medical Research, side effects reported have been gastrointestinal bleeding and toxic effects on people with diabetes. Bottle gourd definitely has various health benefitting properties but it is advisable to talk to your doctor once about the doze and suitability.
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