Bottle gourd or Lauki is one of the healthiest vegetables out there but also seems to be disliked by several for its bland taste and pale appearance Yet, it happens to be a consistently in your meals. You perhaps all have an experience of how your mother would sheepishly try to feed you with this food in one form or another – be it in a form of mixed vegetables, soup, etc. What is it about bottle gourd which makes it so much preferred that it somehow manages to make its way into your regular diet?
Lauki has a special place in Indian cuisine as several health experts, nutritionists promote it as a should-have food. Lauki is a member of the cucumber family and grows in warm and humid parts of the world. It makes for a light meal, which is truly helpful in the hot weather of summers.
Delhi’s top dietician and weight loss expert Avni Kaul shares why bottle gourd is vital during Indian summers.
Gives essential nutrients
This specific vegetable has several vitamins such as Vitamin A, B, C, K, and E. It also packs a complete lot of other minerals such as manganese, potassium, and iron. All these come together to make lauki a wholesome vegetable that counters off common infections and serious diseases.
Safeguard from the summer heat
Fill with electrolytes, bitter gourd restores the energy lost while sweating. This juice from lauki is extremely hydrating and is a good summer drink to fill up on.
Promotes weight loss
With nearly no calories and sans saturated fats, lauki is more than 90% of water. This is why it is considered a light-weight food, and having a considerable amount of fibre, it helps in the digestion process and supports in burning excessive calories. To know about Dietician Avni Kaul’s weight loss programs please visit – Check Out the Weight Loss Programs
Allays anxiety
Bottle gourd has an anti-depressant component called choline, which pushes up blood circulation in the brain and gives relieves from stress and depression.
Treat UTIs
Having fresh lauki juice along with some lime juice helps in treating urinary tract infections.
Aids in digestion
Filled with fibre and alkali properties, this vegetable helps in digestion and counter acidity as well.
It is advised to eat lauki or any other food for availing any specific health benefits post consulting with a qualified dietician.
Avni Kaul is Founder of Nutriactivania with Masters Degree in Food and Nutrition from University of Delhi and is also a Certified Diabetes Educator from Project Hope and International Diabetes Federation. She is a Leicester Mammas Ambassador trained in Lactation Counselling with NHS United Kingdom. Mammas support pregnant and new mothers and their families. Specializations of Avni Kaul Include Infant and Young Child Feeding Practises, Pre and Post natal diets, Fat loss, Muscle Gain and Holistic Health and Nutrition