Incredible Health benefits of Ash Gourd

Benefits, Uses and Side Effects of Ash gourd

It is very important to eat green vegetables to keep the body healthy. Regular consumption of these green vegetables rich in different nutrients protects our body from different diseases or helps in curing many diseases. One such green vegetable rich in different nutrients is Ash Gourd.

Ash Gourd is a nutritious vegetable which is full of many health benefits. Ash Gourd is native to South and Southeast Asia. Ash Gourd is widely cultivated across Asia, including Java and Japan, places where it is believed to have originated. This green vegetable has been suggested to consume for its important medicinal values since ancient times and is widely documented in the Ayurvedic books.

Benefits and Uses of Ash Gourd

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Ash Gourd plant is an annual creeper with deeply absorbed leaves in long stems. Large leaves are circular or kidney-shaped, 5 to 7-lobed and heart-shaped at the base. The flowers are of large yellow color. The unripe fruit contains a thick white fleshy part inside its skin which is sweet in taste. When ripe the green egg shaped fruit develops a wax-like cover around itself. The length of the Ash Gourd can be up to 80 cm. The entirely grown crop is not sweet. The seeds are abundant, rectangular and flat.

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Benefits and Uses of Ash Gourd

This article describes balanced information about the health benefits of Ash Gourd.

Nutritional value of per 100g Ash gourd

Calories 86.2 kcal
Total Fat 3.9 g
Saturated Fat 0.5 g
Total Carbohydrate 12.5 g
Dietary Fiber 0.6 g
Protein 2.0 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 33.0 mg
Potassium 359.1 mg
Vitamins
- Vitamin A 9.8 %
- Vitamin B6 11.3 %
- Vitamin C 30.5 %
- Vitamin E 1.1 %
Minerals:
- Calcium 5.1 %
- Magnesium 6.7 %
- Phosphorus 5.0 %
- Zinc 7.2 %
- Iron 5.7 %
- Manganese 12.5 %
- Iodine 5.9 %

Different Regional names of Ash gourd

Assamese : Kumura
Tamil : neer poosanikai
Malayalam : Kumbalanga
Telugu : Boodida gummadikaya
Kannada : Boodu Kumbala
Hindi : petha kaddu
Assamese : Ash Gourd
Bengali : Chal Kumro
Gujarati : Petha
Punjabi : Petha

Scientific classification of Ash gourd

Kingdom : Plantae
Clade : Tracheophytes
Clade : Angiosperms
Clade : Eudicots
Clade : Rosids
Order : Cucurbitales
Family : Cucurbitaceae
Subfamily : Cucurbitaceae
Tribe : Benincasae
Genus : Benincasa
Species : B. Hispida
Scientific name: Benincasa hispida

Benefits of Ash Gourd

1. Helps in better digestion:

Since the Ash Gourd is mostly rich in water, it is easily digestible. High fiber content only slows down the process. It does not make it difficult to digest. This type of food is known to reduce constipation and bloating problems. Low calorie content is simple to digest.

2. Improves lung health:

Ash Gourd helps loosen the mucus formation in the lungs and nose. This is due to an expected property of vegetables. It improves breathing and prevents any excess mucus discharge.

3. Increases energy levels:

Vitamin B3 present in Ash Gourd increases energy levels. Those suffering from anemia and body weakness can consume Ash Gourd regularly.

4. Treats ulcers naturally:

Ash Gourd is believed to cure peptic ulcers. They have antimicrobial properties. It helps in removing harmful germs and bacteria in the stomach and intestines.

5. Anti-coagulants:

This means that the Ash Gourd can stop bleeding too much by thickening the blood. It is useful for those who have thinner blood. It can stop internal bleeding quickly. Regular intake of Ash Gourd can stop nasal bleeding.

6. Provides cool effects:

Like cucumber, Ash Gourd also gives cooling effects that make it ideal for use in summer. Cooling of the body is also associated with increased sharpness of the mind.

7. Relaxes the body:

Ash Gourd has mild healing properties. Health problems like anxiety and insomnia are solved by the constant use of Ash Gourds.

8. Controls the extraction system:

The amount of fiber controls the bowel movement. Ash Gourd helps in detoxifying the kidneys. It oversees regular functioning of the bladder.

9. Accelerates weight loss:

With low calorie intake and high in essential nutrients in Ash Gourd, people who are following a diet to lose weight are particularly good for people with diabetes. Ash Gourd provides dietary fiber that can be easily processed in the stomach, while feeling for a long time, reduces cravings and helps in faster fat burning.

10. Increases heart function:

Cooking Ash Gourds on a regular diet can be consumed safely to increase the health of the heart, having negligible cholesterol. Boiling vegetables can be easily added to many standard homemade Indian dishes, as they improve blood circulation to the heart and from the heart, ensuring the optimum effectiveness of the heart muscle.

11. Detoxifies the Kidneys:

Ash Gourd stimulates the normal disposal of body waste through the body’s excreta system. It increases fluid secretion within the kidneys, immediately gets rid of accumulated toxins and, at the same time, ensures proper hydration of internal organs of the body. Ash Gourd juice supports regular functioning of the kidney and bladder.

12. Fights skin infections:

The remains derived from the leaves of the Ash Gourd have a significant feature. It helps in neutralizing the excessive skin irritating spots. It efficiently reduces any blisters, pus or carbuncle in skin areas affected by allergies, fungal infections, environmental pollutants and sunlight.

13. Promotes Hair Growth:

Ash Gourd contains many vitamins and minerals that nourishes and energizes the hair. Moreover, when applied as a gel, it penetrates deep into the scalp level and protects the follicles, thereby maintaining the thickness and stability of the hair. Ash Gourd is an ideal option if you want to get long and strong hair.

Uses of Ash Gourd

In medicinal fields, Ash Gourd leaves, roots, flowers etc. are used. Ash Gourd as a food item is often used by making dishes. This vegetable is added to the curry and fried. It can be baked, fried, canned, or simply peeled and added to the salad. It is also used by making juices. It is used by preparing murabba, halwa etc. from Ash Gourd. Different food items made from Ash Gourds are used for curing diseases and home remedies made from Ash Gourds as well as cosmetics made from it are used for skin and hair care.

Side Effects of Ash Gourd

In addition to having many benefits, excessive Ash Gourd intake can cause some side effects. Ash Gourd contains too many minerals so excessive use is harmful, as this can lead to accumulation of toxic levels of these metallic elements in the system. Patients with high fever and high body temperature variations must avoid consumption of Ash Gourd, due to its more cooling effect on the body, which can slow down healing processes. People suffering from obesity should take Ash Gourd at a minimum dose. It is not safe to consume it if someone is suffering from asthma, cold or bronchitis as it is known to increase cough.

It should be used regularly in the right quantity keeping in view the benefits and disadvantages of Ash Gourd as excessive use of any product can harm our health. Doctors should be consulted before using Ash Gourd in medicinal fields in curing the disease.

Conclusion

By the above article, you must have come across the benefits of Ash Gourd and other related information. We hope the information mentioned in the article will benefit you in different ways. Thank you.

FAQ

1/ Can Ash Gourd juice be consumed?

Ans: Ash Gourd juice is an excellent detoxifying juice and is best consumed in the morning. This juice can absorb all toxins, germs and contamination accumulated in the body.

2/ What does Ash Gourd do for the body?

Ans: Low calories of Ash Gourd, high fiber, and high water products can help improve your digestion and increase your healthy body weight. Moreover, Ash Gourd is a good source of soluble fiber.

3/ Are Ash Gourd good for kidney stones?

Ans: There are certain preparations with coconut flowers, Ash Gourd juice and banana tree roots – these are classical Ayurvedic preparations that are said to cure kidney stones.

4/ Is Ash Gourd good for urethra?

Ans: Ash Gourd has been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines to treat various diseases for centuries. This vegetable is often appreciated for its laxative, imperative and aphrodisiac properties.

5/ Is Ash Gourd good for solving stomach problems?

Ans: Ash Gourd contains an important fiber, which helps prevent constipation, swelling and some stomach problems.