Wondering how you can keep your tummy toned and lose weight?
Do you feel your mid-section getting in the way of your slim-down? Maybe you struggle with stubborn belly fat.
If yes, you are not the only one!
Even though most of us have a vested interest in losing weight, it can be a difficult task. However, with the right strategies and balanced diet, achieving your weight-loss goals should be easier.
The question is, what can you do to lose weight? Supplements and diet are some of the most popular methods employed by people who want to lose weight.
This article explores the impact of eating and drinking gourd on weight loss. Let’s take a look at the science behind this plant, its health benefits and how it can help you shed belly fat.
What is Ash Gourd?
Ash gourd is a green-colored vegetable. It belongs to the gourd family and is also known as “Karela” in India, “bottle gourd” in the US, and “Indian bottle gourd” in Australia.
Ash gourd is a vegetable that’s native to southern Asia, and it has been cultivated in China for thousands of years. The fruit is consumed in many different forms, including pickles, stir-fry dishes and soups.
In addition to its culinary uses, ash gourd has also been used as a diuretic and laxative by traditional Chinese herbalists.
History of Ash Gourd
Ash gourd was first cultivated in China, and it has been consumed by people in Asia for thousands of years. The fruit’s name is thought to have originated from the fact that the fruit’s shell is a powdery white color when it ripens.
The Chinese word for ash gourd is “Bian Dou,” which translates to “ash head,” and the name is thought to have stuck because its shell resembles ash.
Ash gourd was introduced to India by Buddhist monks in the 5th century B.C., where it became a staple of Indian cuisine. The vegetable has also spread throughout Africa, South America and Australia since then.
Health Benefits of Ash Gourd
It is an excellent source of energy. It is rich in minerals like iron, magnesium, and manganese. This contributes towards the maintenance of metabolism and normal blood pressure levels.
It is a great anti-oxidant. This helps in the prevention of various diseases like diabetes and heart diseases. It is also good for your liver health. It is a great anti-inflammatory agent.
This helps in the reduction of belly fat and the removal of stretch marks. It also prevents muscle pain.
In addition to being delicious, ash gourd is also a nutrient rich vegetable that offers several health benefits. In fact, there are many different ash gourd recipes, including soups and stir-fries that incorporate the vegetable.
The fruit contains high levels of vitamin C and fiber, as well as a substance called pectin, which is a soluble fiber that can help lower cholesterol.
It also has high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that can help prevent cancer.
Ash gourds are a good source of vitamin C and fiber.
One cup of cooked ash gourd contains:
59 calories (12% from fat)
0.7 grams fat (1.6 grams saturated)
14 milligrams cholesterol
46 grams carbohydrates
4 grams protein
The following are some of the top health benefits of eating ash gourd:
1. Helps Prevent Cancer
One of the most important health benefits of eating ash gourd is its ability to prevent cancer. Studies have shown that the vegetable contains powerful antioxidants called carotenoids, which can help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals in your body.
Additionally, ash gourd contains an antioxidant called pectin, which has been shown to help reduce the risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer.
2. Reduces Cholesterol Levels
The soluble fiber in ash gourd is also beneficial for your heart and can help lower cholesterol levels. Soluble fiber helps to absorb cholesterol and remove it from your body through your digestive system.
This can help prevent high cholesterol levels and the potential for heart disease.
Consuming ash gourd in soups or stir fries is a great way to increase your fiber intake and reap this benefit of the vegetable.
3. Helps Promote Digestion
Pectin, which is found in ash gourd, can also be beneficial for your gut health. Pectin is a soluble fiber that helps promote healthy digestion by improving bowel regularity and reducing constipation.
It may also be able to reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
4. Lowers Risk of Diabetes And Obesity
Ash gourd is also high in pectin, which can help reduce your risk of diabetes and obesity. Pectin helps to control blood sugar levels by slowing down the rate at which your body digests carbs.
This can prevent spikes in blood sugar levels and keep you feeling full for longer.
5. Helps Reduce Menstrual Cramps
Ash gourd is also a good source of magnesium, which can help to alleviate symptoms of PMS and menstrual cramps. Magnesium plays a critical role in keeping your body strong, healthy and energized.
It’s involved in over 300 biochemical reactions that are essential for good health. Magnesium deficiency can lead to muscle spasms, insomnia, constipation, fatigue and more.
Eating ash gourd regularly can help ensure that you’re getting enough magnesium in your diet to stay healthy.
6. Helps Treat Urinary Tract Infections
Ash gourd has anti-microbial properties that make it a great natural remedy for urinary tract infections (UTIs).
The anti-microbial properties of ash gourd can help to fight off the infection causing bacteria and reduce your symptoms.
7. Helps Treat Constipation
Ash gourd is a natural laxative that helps relieve constipation. The fiber in ash gourd can help you to feel full faster, and this can lead to reduced overeating and weight loss.
Ash gourd is also high in pectin, which has been shown to prevent constipation by slowing down the rate at which your body digests carbs.
8. Helps Treat Skin Conditions and Cures Skin Infections
Ash gourd juice contains anti-bacterial properties that make it a great natural cure for skin infections and conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis.
It can also be used topically as a natural treatment for skin rashes, itching and irritation caused by eczema or psoriasis.
9. Helps Treat Kidney Stones
Ash gourd is a natural diuretic, which means it helps to flush out excess water and salts from your system. This can help to reduce the risk of developing kidney stones.
10. Helps Treat Heart Conditions and Hypertension
Ash gourd is a rich source of magnesium, which has been shown to have a positive effect on high blood pressure and heart palpitations. Magnesium is also believed to have a positive effect on heart arrhythmias and cardiac arrest.
11. Helps Treat Liver Disorders and Cures Jaundice
Ash gourd juice has been used as a natural treatment for liver disorders like jaundice. The anti-inflammatory properties of ash gourd may help to reduce the swelling in your liver that causes jaundice, while the anti-microbial properties help to kill off infection causing bacteria that may be causing the jaundice.
12. Helps Fight Aging and Promote Youthful Appearance
The antioxidants found in ash gourd may help to prevent damage caused by free radicals that is responsible for aging skin. The vitamin C and vitamin A in ash gourd may also help to improve skin elasticity, making your skin look younger, healthier and more youthful.
13. Helps Treat Constipation and Diarrhea
The fiber content of ash gourd helps it to work as a natural laxative, helping you have regular bowel movements.
This is particularly beneficial for people suffering from constipation or diarrhea as it helps them to relieve their symptoms.
14. Can Help Treat Dysentery
The anti-microbial properties of ash gourd can help to treat dysentery, a condition caused by a bacterial infection of the intestines.
The anti-microbial properties of ash gourd also help to kill off bacterium that may be causing the dysentery, while the fiber in ash gourd helps to relieve constipation that is often associated with dysentery.
15. Helps Treat Diarrhea and Constipation
Ash gourd has a laxative effect, and drinking it regularly can help you have regular bowel movements and prevent constipation.
Drinking ash gourd juice regularly can also help you have bowel movements quickly, relieving diarrhea.
16. Helps Treat Skin Conditions Such as Psoriasis and Eczema
The antioxidants found in ash gourd may help to reduce inflammation, which is often associated with skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. This makes ash gourd a great choice for treating skin conditions as it does not cause further irritation to the skin.
17. Helps Treat Urinary Tract Infections
Ash gourd can help to prevent urinary tract infections and treat them as well, as it has anti-microbial properties. This is particularly beneficial for women, especially those who are prone to urinary tract infections.
18. Can Help Treat Piles (Hemorrhoids)
The anti-microbial properties of ash gourd can help to reduce inflammation that is often associated with piles (hemorrhoids).
Drinking ash gourd juice regularly can also help you have bowel movements quickly, relieving diarrhea that is often associated with piles.
19. Helps Treat Skin Conditions Such as Rashes and Sunburns
The antioxidants found in ash gourd may help to reduce inflammation, which is often associated with skin conditions such as rashes, sunburns and eczema.
This makes ash gourd a great choice for treating skin conditions as it does not cause further irritation to the skin.
20. Helps Treat Fever and Cough
The anti-inflammatory properties of ash gourd can help you treat fever and cough by reducing inflammation in the respiratory tract.
This is particularly beneficial for those who suffer from respiratory tract infections, such as colds and coughs.
Difference between Ash gourd and Pumpkin
Ash gourd is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes pumpkins, cucumbers, and squash. It’s also known as winter melon or wax gourd because of its waxy skin.
Pumpkin vs Ash Gourd – The Similarities
Both pumpkin and ash gourds are members of the same family: Cucurbitaceae. They’re also both grown in tropical regions around the world and can be used interchangeably in many dishes.
Pumpkin vs Ash Gourd – The Differences
Pumpkin and ash gourd are similar in several ways, but they’re also quite different. Here’s how to tell them apart:
Size: A pumpkin is much larger than a gourd (pumpkins can be up to 20 pounds, while ash gourds max out at around 5 pounds). Both have thick shells, but gourds are generally smaller.
A pumpkin is much larger than a gourd (pumpkins can be up to 20 pounds, while ash gourds max out at around 5 pounds).
Both have thick shells, but gourds are generally smaller.
Shape: The shape of a pumpkin is round, while that of an ash gourd is egg-shaped.
Color: Pumpkins and gourds both have orange or dark brown skin with dark green or yellow flesh inside.
However, the color of their flesh varies depending on the cultivar (variety) you’re using. Some pumpkins have white flesh, for example, and others are completely orange in color.
Ash gourds are commonly white or light green in color and range from pale yellow to bright orange depending on the cultivar (variety) you’re using.
Pumpkins and gourds both have orange or dark brown skin with dark green or yellow flesh inside.
However, the color of their flesh varies depending on the cultivar (variety) you’re using.
Some pumpkins have white flesh, for example, and others are completely orange in color. Ash gourds are commonly white or light green in color and range from pale yellow to bright orange depending on the cultivar (variety) you’re using.
Taste: Pumpkins and gourds both have a sweet, nutty flavor that can range from bland to very sweet (and sometimes even bitter). The flavor of an ash gourd is generally milder than that of a pumpkin.
Pumpkins and gourds both have a sweet, nutty flavor that can range from bland to very sweet (and sometimes even bitter).
The flavor of an ash gourd is generally milder than that of a pumpkin.
Cooking: The skin of a pumpkin or an ash gourd can be easily peeled, but the skin of a squash will usually need to be cut away before it can be eaten.
The skin of a pumpkin or an ash gourd can be easily peeled, but the skin of a squash will usually need to be cut away before it can be eaten.
Storage: Both pumpkins and gourds are prone to spoilage. Make sure you’re using only fresh produce when you plan on storing them for long periods of time.
How Does Ash Gourd Help with Weight Loss?
Ash gourd contains an active ingredient called cucurbitacin E, which inhibits the activity of an enzyme called 3-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.
This enzyme is responsible for converting cholesterol into cortisol, which can in turn lead to weight gain around the midsection.
Cortisol plays an important part in the body’s fight-or-flight response, and it helps to increase blood sugar levels and blood pressure when you’re under stress.
However, an excess of cortisol can interfere with the body’s metabolism by stimulating your body to store fat.
Cortisol also suppresses the immune system, which means your body isn’t able to fight off infections as effectively.
Ash gourd may help reduce cortisol levels and lower blood sugar levels. One study found that ash gourd extract was able to significantly decrease cortisol levels in mice that had been injected with a substance that triggers an immune response.
This same study found that ash gourd was also able to significantly reduce blood sugar in mice with type 2 diabetes. In another study, researchers gave diabetic rats ash gourd extract for 12 weeks and found that it was effective at lowering fasting insulin levels.
These results suggest that ash gourd may be effective at reducing inflammation, which could be a reason why it helps with arthritis.
Another study found that ash gourd was able to reduce the amount of protein that leaked out of the gut and into the blood.
This suggests that ash gourd might be able to prevent food allergies by reducing leaky gut syndrome, which is thought to underlie many food allergies.
Ash gourd may also help protect against cancer. It contains several different compounds with anti-cancer properties, including ellagic acid, polyphenols and organic acids.
In one study, researchers extracted these compounds from ash gourd and tested them for their ability to inhibit cell growth in laboratory tests. They found that all three compounds were able to slow or stop cancer cell growth.
They also found that some of these compounds were able to kill cancer cells in cell cultures by inducing apoptosis. This is one way of killing cancer cells without harming healthy cells.
Should You Include Ash Gourd in Your Diet Plan?
Yes!
This vegetable is excellent for weight loss. It can be consumed as a part of a balanced diet. However, it must be consumed in proper quantities. One must consume three grams of ash gourd per day.
You can consume it as a part of your breakfast. It can be consumed along with any Indian flatbread or roti. You can also consume it as a part of your dinner. It should be consumed along with rice or any other Indian flatbread.
Should You Consume Ash Gourd for Weight Loss?
Yes!
Ash gourd is a great way to reduce your weight. It can be consumed along with any Indian flatbread or roti. It can be consumed as a part of your breakfast. It can be consumed along with any Indian flatbread or roti.
It can be consumed as a part of your dinner. This is the ideal way of consuming it. It should be consumed in proper quantities. Three grams per day are the required quantities.
You can consume it along with any Indian flatbread or roti. It must be consumed as a part of your diet plan. It must be consumed during a month-long phase. It can be consumed along with any Indian flatbread or roti. You can also consume it along with your meal.
Conclusion
Ash gourd is a great way to lose weight. It can be consumed as a part of your breakfast, lunch and dinner. It should be consumed in proper quantities. Three grams per day are the required quantities.
It must be consumed as a part of your diet plan. It must be consumed during a month-long phase. It can be consumed along with any Indian flatbread or roti. It can be consumed along with your meal. This is the ideal way of consuming it.
