Table of Contents:
- What is Ash Gourd?
- Ash Gourd Common Names
- Nutritional Content
- Ash Gourd Juice Benefits
- Ash Gourd Recipes
- Ash Gourd Seeds and its Cultivation
What is Ash Gourd?
Ash gourd is a vegetable scientifically known as Benincasa Hispida and commonly known as White Gourd in Asian countries.
Ash Gourd History and Origin:
Since ancient times, this green vegetable has been prized for its therapeutic properties, which are well documented in Ayurvedic writings. It is frequently used in popular Indian cuisine, as well as for treating stomach, liver, and skin ailments, to name a few.
The ash gourd grows wild in South-East Asian countries like India, Sri Lanka, China, Nepal and Indonesia.
Ash Gourd Common Names
Binomial Name: Benincasa Hispida
Ash Gourd in English: White gourd, Winter Melon, Wax gourd, White Pumpkin, Winter Gourd, Tallow Gourd, Ash Pumpkin, Chinese preserving melon.
Ash Gourd in Hindi: Petha, Pethakaddu, कुम्हड़ा फल, भुहरके कोहड़ा, पेठा(सब्जी), कुम्हड़ा, कुष्माण्ड, सफेद पेठा
Ash Gourd in Telugu: Boodida Gummadikaaya (బూడిడా గుమ్మడికాయ)
Ash Gourd in Tamil: Neer Poosanikai (பூசணிக்காய் மோர் கூட்டு)
Ash Gourd in Kannada: Budekumbalakayi, Boodu Gumbala (ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ ಮಜ್ಜಿಗೆ ಹುಳಿ)
Ash Gourd in Malayalam: Kumbalanga (കുംഭലങ്ക)
Ash Gourd in Bengali: Kumra, Chalkumra (চালকুমরা)
Ash Gourd in Gujarati: રાખોડી કોળું Rakhodi Kolun, ભૂરાકોળું Bhura Kolun, નયું Nayun and તુંબડી કે તુંબડું Tumbadi ke Tumbdun
Ash Gourd in Marathi: Kohla (कोहळा)
Ash Gourd Plant and Fruit:
It’s a creeper plant that has large yellow flowers. The leaves are 10 to 20 centimetres long and have a long hairy stalk. The fruits are usually oval in shape and can reach a diameter of 30 cm. Seeds are white in colour and resemble pumpkin seeds.
When this vegetable is young, it has a sweet white thick flesh. When it reaches maturity, it sheds its hairs and develops a waxy coating that gives it long shelf life.
Ash gourd is a vegetable used to make several traditional Indian meals such as kootu, curry, sabzi, dal, and sweets and is a popular sweet known as petha.
Ash Gourd Vegetable Taste
Ash Gourd has a cucumber-like flavour and taste. Immature veggies have a pleasant flavour to their thick flesh. The gourd basically has no taste, which is why it may be readily included in a variety of dishes, salads, drinks, and smoothies.
On warmer days, people sip winter melons as a daily drink. On colder days, black pepper or honey are added to the gourd to lessen its natural cooling effects while preserving its nutritional value. To acquire the most vitality, ash gourd is usually eaten raw.
Ash Gourd Medicinal Benefits:
- The vegetable, as well as ash gourd seeds and leaves, have a wide range of medicinal and restorative properties. The roots and juice of the ash gourd can also be used for skin and hair treatment.
- Ash gourd is high in water content, which provides a cooling impact on the body, has no cholesterol, which improves heart health, and is high in vitamins and minerals, which help with vital metabolic functions in the body.
- This incredible natural wonder belongs to the cucumber and squash family and has great medicinal effects for illnesses like fever, jaundice, and diabetes.
- This is due to the presence of beneficial plant chemicals such flavonoids and carotenoids, which give it notable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Furthermore, the ash gourd juice treats hair and scalp problems such as dandruff and bald spots.
- The vegetable has been naturalised and cultivated in tropical areas all over the world so that people can benefit from its wonderful benefits for total wellness.
Ash Gourd Nutrition
While ash gourd is mostly made up of water (approximately 96%), it also contains a number of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and B-complex vitamins like niacin, thiamine, and riboflavin. Iron, zinc, calcium, potassium, and magnesium are all found in abundance in ash gourd. The gourd also has a high in protein, carbohydrate, and dietary fibre content.
Raw Ash Gourd of weight 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving contains:
| NUTRITION | VALUE / % DV |
|---|---|
| Calories | 86.2 kcal |
| MACRONUTRIENTS | |
| 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 |
| MICRONUTRIENTS | |
| 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% |
6 Known Health Benefits of Eating Ash Gourd
1. Helps You Lose Weight Faster
Because ash gourd is low in calories and high in critical nutrients, it can be consumed on a regular basis by persons who are trying to lose weight, especially those with diabetes. Ash gourd also contains dietary fibres that are quickly digested in the stomach, so it keeps you fuller for longer, reduces cravings, and helps you burn fat faster.
2. Kidney Detoxification
3. Improves Digestion
🔗 Methanolic extract extracted from ash gourd seeds had powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, according to a study published in the International Journal of Pharmacology in 2010.
4. Support Healthy Heart
5. Fights Intestinal Parasites and Ulcers
The ash gourd is thought to prevent ulcers in the stomach and intestine membranes. Peptic ulcers can be treated by drinking ash gourd juice mixed with equal parts water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Take nothing between 2 and 3 hours after drinking ash gourd juice. Ash gourd juice can help to neutralise the acidity caused by spicy foods or long periods of fasting.
Antimicrobial qualities of ash gourd aid in the removal of dangerous germs from the stomach and intestine, preventing gastrointestinal infections and indigestion.
6. Cure Internal Bleeding and Constipation
Ash gourd juice’s anti-inflammatory and cooling properties aid in body cooling. Those who have an excessive amount of heat in their bodies can drink this juice on a daily basis to lessen the heat and health issues associated with it, such as constipation.
Internal bleeding in the kidney produces illnesses like haematuria, or blood in the urine, as well as bleeding from piles, ulcers, and other internal bleeding that ash gourd juice can help to cure.
Haematuria and piles can be relieved quickly by combining fresh ash gourd juice with lemon or amla juice.
Ash Gourd Juice Benefits
Ash gourd can be used to make cosmetics for the face and hair. The combination of ash gourds with lemon or other moisturising ingredients can help to lighten dark spots on the face, and give your skin a healthy glow. To get rid of and prevent dandruff, apply ashgourd juice to your scalp and hair you can use this hair pack as usual.
✅ Used as Natural Skin Moisturizer
Vitamin E and Antioxidant compounds are naturally present in ash gourd juice which makes skin glow and be healthy. The juicy gel derived from the vegetable can be applied to rashes and sunburns to relieve irritation while also moisturising and softening the skin.
✅ Fights Infections
The astringent content in the extract generated from ash gourd leaves helps to neutralise the skin’s highly inflamed and flamed patches. The extract can also be used to treat skin boils, abscesses, and carbuncles caused by the fungus, allergies, pollution, and sun exposure.
✅ Reduce Dandruff and promote Hair Growth
The chemical elements of ash gourd can help to treat dandruff and reduce the development of flakiness on the scalp. On a daily basis, ash gourd juice or gel can be used to cure scalp discomfort and damaged hair. The gel can help dull hair regain its health and shine over time.
Side Effects of Ash Gourd Juice
The ash gourd is high in minerals and nutrients. This is beneficial, however taking large amounts of this vegetable might cause harmful quantities of these chemicals in the body.
People with a high fever or high body temperature swings should avoid eating ash gourd because the cooling impact of the veggies may slow down the body’s healing process.
It’s also not a good idea to take it if you have asthma, a cold, or bronchitis because it’s known to promote kapha.
When used as juice or pulp to treat diseases, ash gourd showed no major negative effects. However, as a cure, it is best to avoid overdosing on any herb.
Before using or adding any herbs, always visit an ayurveda practitioner or a healthcare expert.
