Ash gourd, also known as winter melon, is a kind of vegetable grown on vines and is consumed when it matures. The vegetable can grow up to 80 cm in size and has a shelf life of a year. It has a mild taste, like cucumber. It is a very popular vegetable during the winters in India as it is mostly grown and consumed in Southeast Asia. You can consume ash gourd by adding them to curries, soups, or stews; and is also consumed as a stir fry, can be cooked as a vegetable, and is also used in making a sweet called petha which is famous in India.
The medicinal properties are in abundance in ash gourd, making it a healthy vegetable to add to the diet. The easiest way of adding it to your diet is by making juice from the vegetable and having it first thing in the morning to achieve the benefits it has.
100 grams of raw ash gourd contains:
Calories: 13
Protein: less than 1 gram
Fat: less than 1 gram
Carbs: 3 grams
Vitamin C: 14% of the Daily Value (DV)
Fat: 0.2 g 0%
Sodium: 4%
Carbohydrate: 1%
Iron: 2%
Magnesium: 2%
Fiber: 11%
Zinc: 6% DV
Here are the five benefits of starting your day with ash gourd juice:
Improves digestion
Adequate water and fiber intake are necessary to get relief from constipation, stimulate bowel movements, and ease digestion. Luckily ash gourd juice contains both of them in it, and you should incorporate the juice into your diet.
Treats ulcer
Ash gourd juice helps in treating and preventing ulcers as it helps in preventing the lining of the stomach from rupturing. It also has cooling properties in it, which helps in treating stomach ulcers.
Provides hydration
The high level of water in the ash gourd and its juice is what keeps the body hydrating and also lets it act as a cooling agent. It is a perfect drink to have first thing in hot summers to feel refreshed and beat the heat right from the beginning of the day.
Helps in weight loss
Ash gourd juice has high fiber and water content, less than a gram of fat, and is low in calories which aid in weight loss. The fiber keeps the body feeling full for a long period of time, and water content helps in flushing out the toxins from the body.
Beneficial for skin and hair
Drinking a glass of juice provides hydration to the skin and gives a soft, supple skin. It also helps in preventing acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
You can make the juice by chopping a cup of ash gourd into small cubes but don’t forget to peel and wash the vegetable before cutting. Then add a glass of water to the juicer or mixer along with an ash gourd and blend it until the juice is made. Add a pinch of black salt, black pepper, or even half a lime to enhance the taste. Add a few ice cubes and drink as soon as possible, as it is advised that you can only drink the juice for the first 15 minutes only.