Health benefits of Ash gourd

Ash gourd has been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for many centuries to treat various ailments.

This vegetable is acclaimed for its laxative, diuretic and aphrodisiac properties. It helps to strengthen the immune system, increase digestion, and keep the mind in a good mood.

Young ash gourd has thorns on its body and when they are ripe, they turn a lot whiter. It is widely cultivated in South, Southeast, and East Asia.

Chalkumra, Jalikumra, or Chalkumra is called ‘Kushmand’ in Sanskrit. Scientific name: Benincasa hispida. It is also known as Winter melon, White gourd, Winter gourd, Tallow gourd, Chinese preserving melon, Ash gourd, wax gourd.

In addition to eating ash gourd as curry, we also can eat ash gourd by making jam, pudding etc.

Although ash gourd is available throughout the year, it is mainly a rainy season vegetable.

Nutritional value of ash gourd

Below are the important nutrients of ash gourd –

  • Water: 96%
  • Calories: 13
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Vitamin “C”: 14% (DV)
  • Riboflavin: 8% (DV)
  • Zinc: 6% (DV)

Benefits of ash gourd

Ash gourd contains small amounts of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and manganese as well as vitamin “B”. In addition to vitamin “C”, pumpkin is a good source of flavonoids and carotene.

It helps protect the body from cell loss, type-2 diabetes, and heart disease. The health benefits of this pumpkin are discussed below –

Lose weight:

Ash gourd is low in calories, high in fiber and high in water. Ash gourd is high fiber and high in water, this vegetable helps in maintaining a proper weight.

Fiber slows down digestion and helps keep the stomach full for a long time. It reduces appetite and reduces the tendency to overeat, resulting in weight loss.

Maintains digestive health:

This vegetable is an excellent source of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber helps keep our bowel movements moving by increasing the amount of our stool.

Soluble fiber helps in maintaining digestive health by relieving constipation.

Ulcer Prevention:

Ash gourd is very useful in curing ulcers. It helps in eliminating harmful bacteria in the stomach and intestines as an anti-microbial agent.

It fights against gastrointestinal infections or ulcers. It helps in eliminating the acid formed in the stomach due to spicy food or fasting for a long time.

Increases immunity:

Ash gourd has more vitamin C than our body needs every day. So eating ash gourd increases immunity. In addition, zinc in ash gourd also plays an important role in increasing immunity.

Beneficial for diabetics:

Ash gourd is effective against type-2 diabetes. Research suggests that ash gourd helps lower blood sugar and triglyceride levels. So this vegetable is beneficial for diabetics.

Increases vision:

Decreased vision means a deficiency of vitamin B-2 i.e. riboflavin. Ash gourd is rich in vitamin B-2 i.e. riboflavin.

Taking plenty of vitamin B-2 every day can prevent various eye diseases. Pumpkin is very useful in this case.

In addition, the antioxidants in it reduce the stress on the retina of the eye and prevent cataracts.

Cools the body:
Many times the temperature inside the body rises, which is not good at all. So we can eat ash gourd juice regularly 2-3 days a week.

In fact, ash gourd contains a lot of water, it also contains a lot of minerals, which keep the body cool as well as remove the harmful toxic elements present inside the body.

As a result, the risk of contracting various diseases is reduced. Similarly, there is no possibility of an increase in temperature or inflammation inside the body.

Warning:

Whatever you eat, eat in moderation by understanding the condition of your body. As we all know that too much everything is bad.

If you suffer from a complex disease or go through a regular medical course, you must eat according to your doctor’s advice.

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