Bottle gourd, also known as a calabash, lauki, or ghiya is a nutrient-intense vegetable according to Ayurveda which is an excellent source for the treatment of skin conditions, diabetes, hypertension, liver illnesses, swelling, and jaundice. It contains various antioxidants that support healthy body function and illness prevention. Furthermore, it promotes weight loss and is low on cholesterol. It is useful to combat constipation due to its high fibre and water content (panchakarma treatment).
This pale yellow or green vegetable has long been a mainstay in Indian cooking, but if lauki ki sabzi isn't your thing, you can still incorporate it into your diet by drinking the juice. The vegetable's advantages are packed into a single glass of bottle gourd juice. However, the juice should be consumed immediately after preparation because it oxidises quickly.
Just like a coin has two sides, lauki too has positives along with some negatives. In this article, Vaidya Shakuntala Devi explains some of the negative consequences of bottle gourd.
Bitter bottle gourd juice is poisonous
Juice from bottle gourds is excellent for maintaining good health. However, studies have shown that drinking bitter bottle gourd juice can be extremely hazardous to the body and even fatal on occasions. Other possible adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, discomfort, or any other uneasy feelings. Therefore, it is crucial to taste the juice before drinking it. If you experience any of the aforementioned negative effects, seek immediate medical attention.
One should remove a little piece of calabash from its lower part and taste it to see if it is bitter or not. Raw bottle gourd has a sweet flavour, whereas slightly ripped bottle gourd will have an insipid flavour. In addition, one should definitely steer clear of ingesting bitter bottle gourd that tastes harsh or astringent.
Gastrointestinal problems
Drinking excessive or bitter lauki juice can cause a number of issues, including oesophagitis (inflammation of the food pipe), duodenitis, gastric ulcer, and duodenitis (inflammation of the duodenum). Consuming bitter calabash juice may result in upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage results.
Low blood sugar
Juice made from bottle gourds in excess might cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Some people may experience allergic responses after drinking bottle gourd juice. Therefore, lauki shouldn't be consumed by those who have low blood sugar, as its consumption can be even fatal.
The cucurbitacins, also known as tetracyclic triterpenoids, are found in bottle gourds and are poisonous. In light of this, it is advised to taste the bottle gourd before cooking or eating.
Bottle gourd can be very beneficial for overall health. Consuming calabash regularly can aid in weight loss, inflammation reduction, and heart health maintenance. Though, it should be consumed with caution, because juice made from bitter bottle gourds can be dangerous since it contains several substances that the human body might not be able to handle.
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