What Is Ridge Gourd?
The ridge gourd is a common vegetable in Indian cuisine. It is available in two versions: one with a smooth surface and the other with ridges. It’s known locally as “Turai” in Hindi, “Jhinge” in Bengali, “Beerakaya” in Telugu, and “Peerkangaai” in Tamil. It’s a green, squishy vegetable with an unmistakably insipid flavor. After being sufficiently seasoned with spices, it is widely used to produce various standard foods like as pakoras, sambhar, dal, chutney, and raita. Ridge gourd provides numerous health benefits, despite the fact that it does not appeal to many people’s taste sensibilities. It is high in nutrients such as dietary fibers, water, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and vitamin B6.
By nature, it has a low calorie, saturated fat, and cholesterol content. It’s also strong in
antioxidants and alkaloid compounds which aid in metabolism and the removal of toxins from the body.
Here are some of the health advantages of Ridge gourd, as well as several simple methods to use it.
13 Health Benefits of Ridge Gourd
Ridge gourd nutrition isn’t the sole source of its health advantages, as the entire plant has been shown to have significant therapeutic potential. The plant’s leaves and blooms are occasionally used in cooking. Ridge gourd seeds, like the ridge gourd vegetable, provide a lot of health advantages. Let’s discuss some of them!
Improves Overall Immunity
To be healthy and free of sicknesses, you must have a strong immune system. Ridge gourd
provides the body with beneficial nutrients because of its high mineral content and availability of vitamin C. Furthermore, this nutrient-dense vegetable helps boost one’s strength and guard against bad bodily conditions. The juice of the ridge gourd is also good to the liver, as it functions as a detoxifier and cleanser of the internal systems.
Reduces Inflammation
When applied topically, the ridge gourd leaves are quite good in reducing inflammation. Internal inflammations, cough, and swelling of the lymph nodes can all be relieved by eating this vegetable. Leprosy treatment is provided by a paste made from the leaves and chopped garlic. It also promotes spleen expansion.
Aids Weight Loss
Ridge gourd, like cucumbers, has a high moisture content. The fruit is also high in dietary fiber and has a low saturated fat content. This implies that eating ridge gourd will make you feel full more sooner and keep you content for a longer period of time. This makes it an excellent snack in between meals, since it prevents you from overindulging in junk food and other unhealthy snacks.
Lowering the Body’s Heat
The mineral-rich ridge gourd has an alkaline impact on the body, which reduces acidity and
provides a cooling sensation. Its alkaline composition also helps to avoid ulcers and excessive heat by minimizing the burning feeling when peeing.
Aid in the Treatment of Anemia
Ridge gourd is high in pyridoxine, which is a form of vitamin B6 which is required for the
production of hemoglobin in the blood, which aids in the mobilization of iron and the delivery of oxygen to all of the body’s cells. Zinc, on the other hand, aids in the proper functioning of the circulatory system. As a result, this vegetable can be used to treat anemia, a condition characterized by a shortage of red blood cells.
Prevents Cancer
Vitamin C, which is abundant in ridge gourd, is an antioxidant-rich vitamin. These antioxidants will assist your body in fending off the harmful effects of free radicals.
Research also shows that it can also stop cancer cells from growing. Cancer cells exist in
everyone, therefore we should eat foods like ridge gourd to prevent them from evolving into cancer diseases that impact the body.
Improves Vision
Ridge gourd has substantial levels of vitamin A in the form of beta carotene, which helps to
improve eyesight, even in elderly people. They can also help prevent macular degeneration, partial blindness, and other vision problems. Beta carotene is a useful antioxidant that removes toxins from the optic neurons and visual blood vessels, protecting the eyes from dangerous free radicals.
Keeps your Brain Healthy
Ridge gourd is high in iron, which is essential for brain function. In the absence of iron, the brain will obtain sufficient oxygen to maintain its production. Furthermore, it facilitates brain activity and prevents senility, anxiety, neglect, and easily offended behavior caused by poor brain function.
Heart Protection
It is critical to monitor your heart’s health from a young age. Many minor and major illnesses and disorders can have a negative impact on the heart. The ridge gourd is a vegetable that may be consumed without negatively impacting heart health. This is well-known to be beneficial to the body’s cholesterol regulation. This vegetable’s low oil content, which results in less fat, is a lifesaver for the heart. It can aid in the prevention of a variety of cardiovascular problems.
Ridge gourd also contains vitamin B5, which may help to protect the heart from certain
disorders. Taking 900 mg of vitamin B5 can help lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides,
lowering the risk of heart disease. It can also aid in the maintenance of heart rate and blood pressure health.
Aids Digestion
This gourd’s high fibre content makes it beneficial to the health of the stomach and digestive tract. The high water content, along with the digestive-friendly dietary fibre, is ideal for encouraging simple digestion. It is claimed to help keep the bowels moving and regular. Proper food absorption and excretion results in a healthy stomach and gastrointestinal system as a whole. As a result, the ridge gourd is also beneficial in preventing stomach, intestinal, and constipation problems.
Furthermore, these nutrients aid in the promotion of healthier metabolism, as well as the
strengthening of the stomach and intestines.
Manages Diabetes
Ridge gourd is an anti-diabetic vegetable that is suitable for diabetics. It is low in carbs and
contains insulin-like peptides, as well as being hypoglycemic, which helps keep blood sugar
levels in check. Ridge gourd, as a result, is a good vegetable for diabetes management.
Beautify your Skin
Ridge gourd is a natural antioxidant since it contains vitamins A, B, and C. It aids in the
treatment of cosmetic issues, particularly skin problems. It can reduce dark circles under the eyes, prevent premature aging, and remove symptoms of skin aging such wrinkles, dead skin, and infection.
Keeps the Liver Healthy
Ridge gourd is thought to have the potential to purge the blood of harmful waste, alcohol
residues, and undigested food particles, keeping the liver healthy. As a result, it has a significant impact on liver health and bile function. Bile is a fluid produced by the liver that aids in the breakdown of lipids or fats. It works well to cure jaundice and other infections of the hepatic tube.
Risks of Ridge Gourd
Diarrhea
The digestive system benefits from ridge gourd, however, if we consume too
much of it, it might cause gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, stomachache, and
diarrhea. It is because of the fiber in it that the stomach cannot function properly, as the stomach cannot function properly if there is too much fiber in it.
Low Blood Sugar Levels
You’re advised not to have ridge gourd along with blood sugar-lowering medications. The combination of these factors can cause blood sugar levels to drop to dangerously low levels; as a result, we must seek medical advice before using ridge gourd with other treatments or medicines.
Now that you Know…
The ridge gourd, a typical Indian gourd, is well-known for its numerous health advantages. It is low-carb and low-calorie, making it suitable for a variety of lifestyles. Taking ridge gourd juice or the cooked vegetable might be an excellent approach to include beneficial nutrients and boost immunity. Daily use of this gourd may be beneficial for disorders such as diabetes, cholesterol difficulties, weight control, and so on.
