Bottle gourd, often overlooked in people’s preferences, stands out not just for its versatility — it can be cooked, roasted, and juiced — but also for its exceptional health benefits. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, shedding light on the virtues of this humble vegetable, emphasizes its numerous advantages.
Kapoor notes that the water content in bottle gourd has a cooling effect on the body. Mansi Chaudhary, Chief Clinical Nutritionist at Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh, concurs, highlighting that bottle gourds, rich in water and minerals, contribute to maintaining the body’s coolness.
Moreover, the vegetable supports liver and kidney health due to its low sodium and potassium content. According to Mansi, these attributes make bottle gourds beneficial for individuals with kidney disorders, and their antioxidant richness may aid in treating liver inflammation.
Addressing weight management, Kapoor suggests that the potassium, vitamin, and iron content in bottle gourd may assist in weight loss. Mansi confirms this, emphasizing its low levels of saturated fats and cholesterol, along with its high water content, making it conducive to weight loss.
Both experts underscore additional benefits such as the regulation of blood pressure, maintenance of heart health, stress reduction, and potential positive effects on sleep disorders and digestion. Mansi even suggests that bottle gourd may play a role in preventing premature greying of hair.
However, it’s essential to note a cautionary point from Mansi: Bottle gourd juice, owing to its bitter taste, may lead to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain in some individuals. Therefore, moderation is key when incorporating bottle gourd into your diet.
