Bottle gourd (lauki/ghiya) is one of those vegetables that youngsters run away from. Some of us find it very bland in taste. Bottle gourd has been a part of Indian cuisine for a long time. The benefits of bottle gourd are just too many to ignore.
Bottle gour’s scientific name is Lageneria vulgaris . It has several other names in India and around the world -ghiya, doodhi, lauki, white gourd, bottle squash, calabash gourd etc.
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Nutrition in Bottle gourd / Lauki
| Amount per 100 gms of Raw Bottle gourd | ||
| Nutrient | Amount | % daily value |
| Calories | 15 cals | – |
| Carbs | 3.69 gms | – |
| Fiber | 1.2 gms | – |
| Protein | 0.6 gms | – |
| Calcium | 24 mg | 2 % |
| Iron | 0.25 mg | 2 % |
| Folate | 4 µg | 1 % |
| Vitamin C | 8.5 mg | 10 % |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.03 mg | 3 % |
| Zinc | 0.7 mg | 7 % |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.114 mg | 3 % |
| Magnesium | 11 mg | 3 % |
*Per cent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Health Benefits of Bottle gourd
Benefits of bottle gourd have been discovered long long time back by Ayurveda. But bottle gourd started trending and became famous after Ramdev baba started promoting bottle gourd juice benefits in his yoga camps during his initial camping day. A lot of people started consuming bottle gourd juice on a daily basis every morning. They started noticing the benefits on their health and bottle gourd became a part of every Indian house hold. Let us study some of the health benefits of bottle gourd.
Provides more nutrients and very few calories and fat :
If you are on a low calorie diet, Bottle gourd is the best choice to go for. 96 % of this gourd is comprised of water. Bottle gourd is high in dietary fibre and provides only 15 calories per 100 gm and only 0.1 gm fat in 100 gm. It provides vitamin C and some B vitamins, trace elements and minerals like iron, sodium and potassium
Aids in Digestion:
Bottle gourd provides good amount of both soluble and insoluble fibre and water. It helps in digestion and related problems like constipation, flatulence and acidity. The insoluble fibre also helps in conditions like piles.
Cooling effect:
Bottle gourd has cooling and calming ability due to its good water content. It is very helpful during summers and specially those who work under the hot sun as it has the ability to prevent heat strokes and recovers the water lost due to perspiration.It can be consumed in a juice form or cooked as a veggie.
Urinary disorders:
Bottle gourd has a diuretic effect on body. Hence it helps in flushing out the excess water stored in the body as swelling and bloating. Prepare a glass of fresh bottle gourd juice and add a teaspoon of lime juice and consume . This alkaline mixture helps in dilution of acidic urine and in relieving the burning sensation in the urinary tract because of high acid content in urine.
Helps in weight loss:
Bottle gourd provides excellent nutrition with minimum calories and fat, Hence it is best for weight loss. It also helps in lowering the cholesterol in the blood. It is high in fiber and water content . Consume fresh bottle gourd juice , the first thing in morning on an empty stomach,this will help you keep away hunger pangs.
Prevents Premature graying hair:
Ancient Ayurveda says drinking fresh bottle gourd juice in the morning on a regular basis can be very useful for prevention and treatment of prematurely graying hair.
Beneficial for skin:
Bottle gourd in its natural form can be used in internal cleansing of your skin.It helps in balancing the oil secretion on face and helps keep acne and pimple problems at bay. It helps protect against various types of skin infections.
Aids in sleeping better and insomnia:
Sesame oil when mixed with bottle gourd juice helps to cure problems of insomnia. The leaves of the gourd when consumed in cooked forms cools the brains and helps in curing sleep related problems and aids in sleeping better.
Revitalization and replacement of lost fluids:
Those suffering from diarrhea, high grade fever or other health issues which are related with profound sweating and water losses should consume a glass of bottle gourd juice. It helps in replacing the lost body water and curbs excessive thirst in diabetics. Treats fatigue and revitalizes.
Other ailments:
Bottle gourd is also beneficial in conditions like jaundice and inflammation of kidneys.
How to Use Bottle gourd to avail health benefits ?
Bottle gourd can be used in various ways in day to day life. Some Ayurveda experts advice on taking it early in the morning in juice form on empty stomach , while some believe that it is beneficial when eaten in any form and at any time of the day . Following are mentioned some ways in which you can consume bottle gourd.
Bottle gourd juice
You can consume bottle gourd in juice form. it works well when consumed early in the morning on empty stomach.
Recipe of preparing Bottle gourd juice –
- Take a bottle gourd , wash it thoroughly and peel the outer cover.
- Scoop out the seeds parts from the center of the gourd.
- Cut the remaining pulpy part of Bottle gourd in to pieces.
- Note – It is important to taste a small piece of bottle gourd and check if it is bitter. In case it is bitter, discard the bottle gourd immediately . Bitter tasting bottle gourds can be toxic for health and may lead to disastrous results. Hence it is crucial to always check the taste of bottle gourd before you juice it.
- After you are sure about the taste of bottle gourd , put the cut pieces in a juicer , add 10 tulsi leaves and 10 mint leaves . remove the juice and strain it in a strainer.
- You can consume it as it is. Or add a little rock salt (if you do not have hypertension ).
Bottle gourd Pancake / Chilla / Dosa
Lets face it . Bottle gourd is not really a very tasteful food to consume , and many people detest its tastes. Making this bottle gourd pancake is not only simple and quick , but also a very tasty recipe.
Recipe of preparing Bottle gourd chilla –
- Take 1 bowl Besan and 1 bowl rawa. Mix them together.
- Add grated bottle gourd, chopped corriender leaves , grated ginger and chopped green chilly.
- Add salt to taste. ass a little water to make dosa like batter.
- Spread the batter on a non- stick pan (just like dosa). and roast it from both the sides.
- Optional – You can add grated carrots and chopped spinach leaves to enhance the nutrition and taste of these yummy pancakes.
Bottle gourd is an excellent food with loads of nutritional value. Avoid crash diets and choose to eat healthy veggies like bottle gourd for weight loss.
In February 5 2019 meri cesarean hui ek beti hui….3 month hogayi hai…meri kamar mein pain ho rahi hai…meri knee mein vi pain ho rahi hai……mujhe bahat jyada weak lag rahi hai…..mein kya karu meri madat kijiye.please
Hi Anita ,
Please take dashmolarisht kada of baidnath comapany . i have personally tried it for back ache after pregnancy and it really helped . Also intake 3-4 tspoons of Haliv seeds in kheer form for bone strength and weakness. within 10- 15 days you will notice difference.
I AM SUFFERING FROM BLOOD SUGAR,HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE,URIC ACID,KIDNEY PROBLEM,PROSTATE & URINE PROBLEM & KNEE PAIN,PLEASE LET ME KNOW CAN I EAT BOTTLE GOURD IN CURRY.
yes you can have it .
Can i have lauki juice with amla ginger garlic turmerc & lemon in empty stomach in the morning
Pl also let me know the min gap i should gibe after habing the kiice for tea or bteakfast ?
Hi ,
Yes you can have the juice .. make sure you buy the bottle gourd from local farmers or organically grownand not from malls. you can have tea after 30 mins .
Hello mam
I am 25 year old. I am a girl. Recently I have started bottle gourd juice in my diet. could you please tell me at what time i can drink this juice except morning time.i used this juice for weight loss.
mornings are best .. if not , you can have anytime when you are 2 hours away from food …
I have anal fissure and bloating issue with stomach pain. Can drinkijg lauki juice in the night help?
Hi Ravi ,
Yes it will help . Also try taking barley water and eat Jau ke atte ki roti instead of wheat , this will help a long way in reducing the bloating and stomach ache … Also if this is severe , you can try to skip wheat completely from your diet , this will also help in reducing bloating permanently . try this for atleast 15 days.
If not possible to take lauki juice in the morning at what time should I take lauki juice?? I have problem of bad knees and my age is 50. Female
Hi Anju ,
check this – https://www.dietburrp.com/indian-diet-for-arthritis/
you can have lauki juice in the mid meal time as well.. that is 2 hours away from your main meals.
Can I take bottle guard juice early morning and night everyday
Hi Sampath,
Thank you for reading at dietburrp . Yes you can take fresh bottle gourd juice early in the morning and at night as well.
i have severe problem of Constipation for last 4 years …. can you give me any link of online doctor
Hi Amitava,
sorry i dnt have any such contact. But you should read this , and try these remedies .. https://www.dietburrp.com/how-to-get-rid-of-constipation/
Can I take Loki juice with lime in d evening by 5 pm?
Yes you can .
Is it right to eat bottle guard at night?
Yes Ragini , you can have bottle gourd at any time during the day or for your dinner at night.
Hi Mam I am sanjay Singh and i am suffring from gastritis ,Can bottle gouard is good for my stomach .I take raw papaya sabji in the breakfast and lunch even too at dinner but i want to add some more in my diet ..Mam will bottle gouard sabji in the dinner or lunch will help decrease my acid in stomach ?Plsss Plssss reply
Hi Sanjay ,
Yes this will help . also you can check this – https://www.dietburrp.com/home-remedies-for-acidity-and-gerd/
Hi mam I’m navya Vysyaraju. 28years old. I’m drinking lauki juice for weight every day morning after yoga. Like post workout drink. I’m giving half n hour gap to drink lauki juice After yoga. But after dink dis drink, should i drink green tea after half an hour? And how much gap I have to give for breakfast. Plzzz suggest me….
Hi Navya ,
You can have green tea immediately after working out / yoga . do not add any sugar to your green tea . then you can have lauki juice after 30 mins of yoga . and breakfast should be atleast 1 hour after workout .
Dear sir/madam,
I am suffering from prostate,using urimax 0.4 mg capsule daily, but not well,if not daily take it capsule,gas stache and dieseas , Could I take bottle guard juice or soup
yes you may take it .
Can bottle guard juice be stored overnight. Kindly confirm. Thanks
Hi Anand ,
i will not advice you to do so . it is best tohave these juices freshly made .
HI MAM ithnks for useful article…
I am 38 yrs old and i have high uric acid n cholestor…for last one month i am havng lime juice with honey and also aluvera and amla juice of patanjali. Can i mix all this juices in lauki juice and have them togeather??
Hi , no dont mix in bottle gourd juice . rest you can mix
I am 51 years suffering from piles . Shall i take half tea spoon lauki powder with hot water empty stomach to remove consumption
yes you can .