Have you heard about ash gourd, also known as winter melons? Have you ever tried them? If yes, do you know about the magical health benefits that they have for you? Well, read on as you might want to eat them more often after getting to know about the benefits.
Let’s get started!
What is Ash Gourd?
Winter melon, also known as ash gourd, is a distinctive melon vegetable that is mostly consumed in India and China. This vegetable may be used in stews, broth, and chips in Asian cuisine.
The fruits may grow to be up to 30 centimeters in diameter. Fresh and young ash gourds contain fine hairs on the outside that will vanish as the vegetable grows. Thus revealing a waxy outer layer that will extend the vegetable’s shelf life. Cucumber is the flavor of ash gourd. Immature veggies have a sweet flavor due to their thick flesh. Because the gourd has no taste, it may be simply added to a variety of dishes, including salads, drinks, and smoothies.
Nutrition Contents of Ash Gourd
- Total Fat: 3.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Total Carbohydrate: 12.5 g
- Dietary Fibre: 0.6 g
- Protein: 2.0 g
- Vitamin A: 9.8%
- Iodine: 5.9%
- Vitamin C: 30.5%
- Iron: 5.7%
- Vitamin E: 1.1%
- Calcium: 5.1%
- Vitamin B6: 11.3%
- Magnesium: 6.7%
- Phosphorus: 5.0%
- Zinc: 7.2%
- Manganese: 12.5%
7 Benefits of Ash Gourd (Winter Melon)
Improves Digestion
Because winter melon has a high water content, low fiber content, and low-calorie content, it may aid digestion and actually boost body weight in a healthy way.
Many studies have found that water-dense, low-calorie fruits, and vegetables can aid in weight loss.
The winter melon’s laxative effects aid in the regulation of bowel motions and reducing pain in the gut. Furthermore, the vegetable is high in fiber. It may form a gel-like material in our stomach that slowly digests meals and keeps you feeling full for a long period. By processing heavy meals, also helps to reduce gastrointestinal issues such as bloating, constipation, and stomach pains.
Ulcers & Intestinal Parasites
Winter melon is thought to inhibit ulcer development in the stomach and intestinal membranes. Peptic ulcers can be treated naturally using winter melon. For gastric ulcers, drink winter melon juice with equal parts water first thing in the morning on an empty belly. The acidity caused by consuming spicy meals or fasting for an extended period of time can be alleviated by drinking winter melon juice.
Ash gourd contains antibacterial qualities that aid in the removal of harmful germs from the stomach and small intestine, hence preventing gastroenteritis and indigestion.
Aids in Weight Loss
The finest natural therapies for healthy weight reduction include all the water-dense veggies, low calorie, and low carb fruits and vegetables. If you’re trying to lose weight, include winter melon in your low-calorie meal as a drink or stew packed with minerals and low in carbohydrates.
Winter melon has been believed to help with weight management rather than weight loss. It treats anorexia nervosa in underweight persons, assisting them in achieving a healthy weight and increasing metabolism.
Helps Stop Internal Bleeding
Because winter melon is generally anticoagulant, it aids in the management of bleeding. Though it is commonly used to halt external hemorrhage, the gourd may also efficiently halt internal bleeding. The ash gourd, when consumed on a daily basis, helps halt the nasal bleeding that happens throughout the summer.
Blood loss in the kidney produces illnesses such as haematuria, piles, ulcers, and other inner bleedings that can be managed using ash gourd juice.
Fresh ash gourd juice combined with lemon or amla juice relieves haematuria and piles quickly.
Helps Fight Mental Illnesses
Because ash gourd is a powerful sedative, it may calm and calm the mind, as well as treat mental disorders. It has a soothing impact on the brain and neurological system, therefore it can help with nerve problems including anxiety, sleeplessness, epilepsy, psychosis, and neuroticism.
Sharpness of Mind
Usually, an ash gourd has a calming effect. You may feel the freshness in your body and the attentiveness in your thoughts when you sip a glass of ash gourd juice every day. According to certain ayurvedic writings, eating ash gourd on a daily basis might boost one’s cognitive abilities.
Within a week of using it, you will see a difference. It sharpens the intellect and is pranic in nature. It provides vitality to the body and mind while causing little irritation.
Increased Energy
Ash gourd juice may provide our bodies with a lot of energy while also keeping our nervous system relaxed. You may receive the same amount of energy from coffee, but with more agitation. A cup of ash gourd juice may supply a lot of energy without causing any stress.
The vegetable pulp is diced, cooked, and immersed in sugar syrup to create an edible concoction that tastes like sweets. This delicious pulp promotes weight gain, enhances heart health, reduces TB and anemia, and boosts weakness.
How to eat ash gourd?
Winter melon should never be eaten raw. The skin and seeds should first be peeled off. The fruit pulp can then be cut or diced and softly fried.
For around 5 minutes, the fruit can be cooked, steamed, roasted, grilled, or parboiled. Cooking softens the pulp, but don’t cook it for too long or it may become gooey.
Cooked winter melon can be added to the following dishes:
- Soups
- Stir-fries
- Casseroles
- Stews
- Curries
- Cakes
- Candies
- Beverages
Winter melon tea, created by boiling the pulp of the gourd with brown sugar, is another common method to enjoy the fruit. This is a 2-hour procedure that entails boiling the fruit with sugar until it reaches a syrup consistency. After straining the syrup, it is mixed with hot or cold water to form a sweet tea.
Can Pregnant Women Consume Ash Gourd?
Yes, pregnant women can consume winter melons. The high water content of winter melons may assist pregnant women to fulfil their excess fluid requirements, lowering their risk of diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and pregnancy problems.
Conclusion
Because of its diuretics, digestive, and aphrodisiac characteristics, ash gourd is frequently suggested in traditional Ayurveda and Chinese treatments. It is also supposed to boost general health by improving energy levels, sharpening the intellect, healing mental sickness, aiding digestion, and reducing disease causes.
Now that you have learned about its numerous benefits, why don’t you try it out?
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5634755/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6342787/
