Bottle Gourd belongs to the cucumber family and generally grows in warmer parts of the world. It is light, easy to digest, and a great remedy for weight loss. In fact, not simply the bitter gourd curry, that we generally eat, but even the juice prepared with it is also beneficial for losing weight. However, it is significant to be cautious while having bitter gourd juice as excessive bitter gourd juice can cause harm to the body in some specific situation.
A study which was conducted on animals proved that Bitter Gourd helped in reducing the weight gain in rats which were given a diet rich in fats. However, such kind of research has not been conducted on human beings.
This vegetable has a low percentage of saturated fats and cholesterol. It is high in water content and contains all the essential nutrients needed for weight loss. Bitter Gourd consists of important nutrients like Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Iron, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Potassium, and Folate.
As all of us know that it is always better to eat whole vegetables and fruits instead of consuming it in the juice form. The same is applicable for bitter gourd too. When we make bitter gourd juice, the calories and fibre present in it are lost. A cup of boiled bitter gourd contains 19 grams of calories and around 2 grams of fibre. However, it takes several cups of bottle gourd to make 1 cup of juice, which ultimately multiplies the calorie count.
As discussed, bottle gourd is high in fibre and water content, which makes it low in density and calories per each gram. This makes it the right addition to your weight-reduction plan, as meals that are low in energy density may prove helpful in not only reducing weight but also in maintaining it.
Another advantage of having this vegetable is it helps you get better sleep, which is very important in weight loss. A night of proper eight-hour sleep improves metabolism and at the same time helps in activating one’s hormones.
Doctors recommend bottle gourd for weight reduction partially due to its diuretic effect. Diuretics promote loss of weight by making you lose extra water and fat. Though, once you stop the intake of diuretics, the weight which you have lost might return. Consuming diuretics can be dangerous as it can cause electrolyte imbalance and dehydration in the body.
Although bottle gourd juice is beneficial for weight loss, keep in mind drinking too much bottle gourd juice is not good for your health. It can lead to health issues like nausea, bleeding stomach, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, ulcers, kidney problems, vomiting blood, and ulcers. To reduce the risk, it is suggested to drink the juice that has been prepared by cooking the bottle gourd properly. Also, never consume a bitter bottle gourd.
The vegetable sometimes tastes bitter because of the cucurbitacin compounds present in it, which is poisonous for people. However, the best part is that this poisonous compound can be easily destroyed by the right cooking. It is safe to have a tender and sweet bottle gourd.