Description

🥒 Bottle gourd, also known as lauki, sorakaya, or calabash, is a versatile vegetable with a long history in culinary and traditional medicine. Let’s explore its highlights:

🌿 Nutritional Value

• Water content: Over 90%, making it super hydrating
• Low in calories: ~15 kcal per 100g
• Rich in vitamins: Especially Vitamin C, B-complex, and small amounts of Vitamin A
• Minerals: Potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron
• Dietary fiber: Supports digestion and satiety

💪 Health Benefits

• Weight loss: Low-calorie and high-fiber combo helps manage appetite
• Liver support: May aid liver function and detoxification
• Diabetes management: Shown to help regulate blood sugar in animal studies
• Skin health: Vitamin C and zinc promote collagen and protect against UV damage
• Cooling effect: Traditionally used to reduce body heat and soothe acidity

🍽️ Culinary Uses

• Cooked in curries, soups, and stir-fries
• Grated for lauki halwa (a sweet dish)
• Juiced for a refreshing drink (but never consume bitter juice, as it can be toxic)