Why The Detested Bottle Gourd or 'Lauki' Is Edible Gold

It has several names in different places, looks rather simple but detested by many kids and adults. Did you know that bottle guard is actually edible gold which has several benefits no matter in what form?

Here is a list of how this simple vegetable is beneficial for you:

Calorie content

100 g of bottle gourd contains 15 calories.

100 g for edible portion contains 1 g fat.

Its water content is 96%.

It is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, high in dietary fibre, Vitamin C, riboflavin, zinc, thiamine, iron, magnesium and manganese.

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1. Rich in dietary fibre, both, soluble and insoluble, bottle gourd helps in curing constipation, flatulence and even piles. It is also easy to digest.

2. It promotes weight loss. The vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre in lauki keep the body well-nourished and curb unnecessary appetite, especially if you drink its juice in the morning on an empty stomach.

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3. Its fat and cholesterol content is extremely low.

4. It consists of approximately 96% of water and is therefore a great thirst quencher. It also prevents fatigue and keeps the body cool and refreshed during summers.

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5. Apart from the iron content it is also rich in vitamin B and C, and helps in anti-oxidative actions.

6. It also contains sodium, potassium, essential minerals and trace elements, which regulate blood pressure and prevent the risk of heart ailments.

7. High in sodium and potassium, bottle gourd is also an excellent vegetable for people with hypertension.

8. It is a suitable vegetable for light, low-calorie diets as well as for children, people with digestive problems, diabetics and those recovering from an illness or injury.

9. Bottle gourd is recommended by Ayurveda physicians for balancing the liver function, when the liver is inflamed and unable to process food efficiently for nutrition and assimilation.

10. Its juice acts as a natural post workout drink due to the presence of natural sugars in the vegetable which help in restoring the glucose levels and also replace the carbohydrates lost during your training session. It also improves the efficiency of the muscles.

11. Consuming bottle gourd on a regular basis is very beneficial for making our bones stronger and for reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

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Osteoporosis is a condition in which our bones get abnormally weak and fragile. This bone strengthening benefit of bottle gourd is due to the presence of minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese etc. in them.

12. During pregnancy, bottle gourd has been found to be a healthy vegetable to be eaten during the pregnancy stage. This is because of the presence of various nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, folic acid, dietary fibers etc. in them.

The antioxidants protect the mother and the fetus from the oxidative damage caused by the free radicals and thus helps in maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

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