The health benefits of bottle gourd juice, also known as lauki juice.
1. The bottle gourd is one of the healthiest fruits and is often used in Asian cuisine. Juice from this fruit has some fantastic health benefits for the human body.
2. This is also known as Lauki or calabash. This is a gourd which is grown on a vine and comes in a variety of different shapes and sizes.
3. It is known as the “bottle” gourd as it is one of the oldest fruits ever cultivated, as the shells were used as water containers.
4. The juice within the bottle gourd contains some fantastic nutrients including vitamin C, B, A, K, E, Iron, Folate, Manganese and Potassium.
5. It contains around 92 per cent water and is an excellent way of keeping the body hydrated.
6. Drinking this often can help to maintain a healthy heart by bringing down bad cholesterol levels.
7. Like many other fruits and vegetables, it helps to stabilise blood glucose levels and can be beneficial for those with diabetes.
8. It is very important that bottle gourd juice drinks quickly after opening the fruit, as the nutrients can decay quickly.
9. The natural sugars within the drink can be used to re-energise the body after a workout. The protein and other nutrients help muscles to grow and restore the body to full energy levels.
10. The juice has a cooling effect, helping to reduce body heat in the summer. In Ayurvedic medicine, this is used as a remedy to treat nose bleeding, pimples and ulcers.
11. The bottle gourd or calabash is perhaps best known for its ability to aid weight loss. The fruit is packed with fibre which is the number one key to losing weight. The extra vitamins and minerals also help the body to flush our fat.
12. Many use a mixture of lime and bottle gourd juice to treat urinary tract infections.
13. Choline has been found within bottle gourd juice. This is a neurotransmitter that boosts brain function, helping to prevent stress, depression and other mental disorders.
14. The soluble and insoluble fibre found within help to cure constipation and trapped wind.
15. The juice can be made by blending the fruit of the gourd and then sieving to remove the pulp. Be sure to add a little mint and black pepper to improve the bitter taste.
16. The juice can be mixed with a little sesame oil and massaged into the scalp. This has helped many people to treat insomnia and have a better night’s sleep.
Did you know the shells of bottle gourds are sometimes used to make utenseakhabaar, containers and musical instruments?