Ash gourd also known as winter melon or white pumpkin is a very large fruit. You can eat it as a vegetable when it matures. It has white flesh and tastes very mild. Ash gourd consists of many medicinal and nutritional properties. Ash gourd or winter melon is an easy way to beat the heat and enjoy a powerful energy boost. You can add it to a variety of salads, juices, snacks and even sweets. You can also add it to soups in Asian cooking. The taste of ash gourd is very mild, like a cucumber. It is also a detoxifying agent. It helps in maintaining blood pressure level.
This article deals with its nutritional values, health benefits and recipes of ash gourd.
Nutritional Values
Ash gourd has a plenty of nutrition in it. It contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B3 and Vitamin C. It contains various minerals such as calcium, sodium, zinc. Each mineral is important for our body. Ash gourd helps in improving blood circulation. It contains minerals, which makes the bones stronger. It contains 90% of water and is good for beating heat and fight dehydration. Thereby, helpful in treating kidney weakness and hypertension. The gourd also provides a good amount of protein, carbohydrates and dietary fiber. These were nutritional values of ash gourd.
Health Benefits Of Ash Gourd
1. Antioxidant
Ash gourd contains vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that prevents the damage caused by toxic elements. These free radicals in your body cause lot of damage. Antioxidants present in ash gourd helps cutout these radicals.
2. Maintaining Healthy Weight
Ash gourd helps in losing weight. If you are looking to lose weight, the best alternative to calorie-loaded foods is ash gourd juice. Ash gourd not only helps in losing weight but it actually helps in maintaining your weight. Itusually helps to deal with anorexia. It helps under-weight people in getting back to normal weight. It helps to boost your metabolism.
3. Prevents Flu And Infection
Presence of vitamin C in ash gourd helps to prevent virus attack in your body. It helps to boost your immune system and reduces the chances of lung infection. It boosts your energy for performing daily activities.
4. Digestive Health
Ash Gourd helps to protect your stomach and intestine. It is basic in nature, which helps in proper digestion. It prevents the formation of ulcers on the membranes of stomach and intestine. Thus, prevents acidity caused due to spicy food or fasting. Ash gourd also helps in clearing away all the harmful bacteria in the stomach.
5. Stops Bleeding
Ash gourd is a natural anti-coagulant that helps in controlling bleeding. Ash gourd is good to control internal bleeding. If taken, it helps in stopping nose bleeding that occurs in summer. Ash gourd juice helps in fighting blood in urine because of internal bleeding in kidney.
6. Prevents Headache
Ash gourd contains vitamin B12, which deals with headache. Intake of vitamin b12 reduces pain symptoms, headaches and migraines. Ash gourd juice is best in that case.
7. Eye Health
Ash gourd helps in sharpening your eye sight. Deficiency of riboflavin causes various eye ailments. Vitamin B2 present in ash gourd forbids the eye ailments.
8. Boosts Energy
Ash gourd contains several nutritional values. Vitamin B2 maintains proper functioning of nerve, brain, digestive and hormones. It helps in boosting your energy level by providing healthy amount of calories. It is must for the repair and growth of body.
9. Healthy Heart
Ash gourd helps to maintain healthy heart. It increases the flexibility of heart. Ash gourd contains soluble fibers. It helps in reducing the cholesterol stores in your body.
10. Detoxifies Liver And Kidney
Ash gourd is best for detoxifying liver and kidney. It helps in removing toxic substances from your body. Ash gourd helps in maintaining regularity and flexibility of you liver and kidney.
11. Beauty Tonic
Ash gourd is a beauty tonic that helps in removing black marks, scars and acne. Ash gourd juice helps in reducing acne scars. It even helps in detoxifying your face. It helps to make skin glow.
12. Mental Health
Ash gourd is useful for mental illness, headache, migraines and fatigue. It is a brain food. It helps to restore lost memory and fight depression. Vitamins in ash gourd juice help to prevent headaches.
13. Ash Gourd For Weight Loss
Ash gourd or winter melon are beneficial for people suffering from obesity. You can consume this juice whenever you want. But for best results, have it early morning on empty stomach. Ginger is a good spice that helps in cutting down the weight. Honey added to this drink works wonder for weight loss.
14. Ash Gourd For Hair Growth
Ash gourd contains a lot of minerals and vitamins. You can use the seeds of ash gourd with coconut oil to remove dandruff. It prevents dry scalp that causes hair loss. Apply it before hair wash or a night before hair wash.
15. Ash Gourd For Urinary Problems
Ash gourd helps the people suffering from urinary problems. Urine infection can occur when some bacteria breeds inside the bladder. It helps in detoxifying kidney. It’s juice helps in removing toxic substances from kidney. It prevents growth of bacteria.
Precautions
Winter melon results in indigestion due to the presence of high proteins. Pregnant women should avoid the consumption of Winter melon during their initial months. When selecting an ash gourd, choose a gourd with no marks or cuts. The melon should be heavyinsize and should resemble as that of watermelon. In case of any side effects, mint leaves cloves, cumin, dry ginger can be used as antidote. There are no known side effects of ash gourd. But it is always advised not to over involve it with medicinal herbs.
Different Ways Of Taking Ash Gourd
1. Ash Gourd Juice
Ingredients
- Ash gourd, 4-5 inch sized – 1
- Lemon juice (optional)
- Ginger
- Honey
- Salt or black pepper
Cut ash gourd and peel the skin. Wash and clean it. Remove the seeds and blend it to smooth puree. You can even use these seeds with coconut oil to remove dandruff. Stain to remove the non-liquid part. Add honey. Here is your healthy juice ready.
2. Ash Gourd With Curd
Ash gourd is also a cooling fruit in summers. Mixing it curd makes it more effective. Grate peeled ash gourd and mix with plain yogurt. Add lime juice, salt and black pepper. You can eat it as a dip with any spicy dish. It is quite a stress reliever and fresh dip.
3. Ash Gourd And Watermelon Smoothie
Cut and peel ash gourd and watermelon. Add water or yogurt to it and blend it. You can add honey or any other syrup to it.
You can try these drinks. They are very healthy and easy to make. Apart from this, you can even make spicy curry dishes from ash gourd. The most interesting of all are ash gourd sweets. These sweets are tasty and at the same time a healthy bite.
Many juices, food and diet are beneficial in reducing weight. But, what exactly is right? Weight loss with proper calorie supply is important. Ash gourd juice does the same. It is not only an alternative to lose weight but also a healthy drink as well. It has numerous benefits. Due to the high fiber content, there will be no constipation issue for those who use it. It contains lot of important vitamins that your body requires for healthy functioning. It helps in weight reduction and maintains the weight. Ash Gourd is good for your heart and liver. The juice detoxifies your body. Hope you now know the benefits of ash gourd. You should try adding ash gourd juice to your diet for healthy results.
