Ash Gourd: Health Benefits, Uses, Side Effects and More!

21 Dec, 2023

Ash gourd or safed petha is named 'Kushmanda' in Sanskrit. It has great medical value and can help people to treat many health concerns. It’s a common food item in Indian and Chinese cuisine and is also known as winter melon, wax gourd, and white pumpkin.

Ash gourd grows on a vine and matures like a watermelon. A ripe ash gourd will have a powdery ash-like texture. This is how it gets its name, ash gourd.

Ash gourd juice tastes very similar to cucumber and its flesh is soft. This vegetable has been used in ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines because of its great medical properties.

Ash gourd price in India varies according to the variety and quality. The average ash gourd price is between  Rs. 25*- Rs 45*/ kg. 

Nutritional Value of Ash Gourd 

Ash gourd is a water-rich vegetable and like cucumber, it has 96% of water. It’s rich in fiber and low in fat, protein, carbs, and calories. The ash gourd nutrition value  per 100 grams is mentioned in the table.

Ash Gourd Benefits 

Ash gourd benefits are many. It can help people to improve their digestion and even lose weight effectively. Next, we mentioned some common ash gourd benefits for you. 

• Ash gourd juice or vegetables are low in calories and high in water. This is why its regular consumption can help people to lose weight. 

• According to recent studies, ash gourds can control the sugar levels in Type 2 diabetes patients. The vegetable pulp also has some anti-diabetic properties. 

• Ash gourds can treat peptic ulcers (related to the digestive tract and stomach). People can drink ash gourd juice on an empty stomach to treat peptic ulcers. 

• The pulp, peel, and seeds of ash gourd vegetables have great antioxidant properties. They are useful to fight free radicals and keep the skin young and beautiful.  

• It can reduce oxidative stress and control skin cell degradation. 

• Ash gourds can reduce the symptoms of the common cold. fever, and cough. 

• Because of its high fibre content, this vegetable can reduce constipation and improve the functioning of the digestive system. 

How to Use an Ash Gourd? 

In Ayurveda, ash gourd is known as a powerful medicine and its regular consumption helps people to maintain good health. Indians already have a very famous ash gourd sweet, Agra ka Peetha, made from ash gourd.

But if you want to include this vegetable into your diet in more ways, this is how you can do it. 

• You can eat raw ash gourd-like cucumber or with salad. 

• You can boil it and add it to soups and stews. 

• Some very common ash gourd recipes to try are ash gourd jam, ketchup, cakes, and ice cream. 

• Ash gourd juice and smoothies are also very easy and healthy ash gourd recipes to try. 

• The soft pulp of this vegetable is useful for preparing dips and chutney. 

• If you’re fond of chips and fried food, you can slice ash gourd thin and make chips from it. This ash gourd recipe is everyone’s favorite. 

Ash Gourd Properties 

The scientific name of ash gourd is Benincasa hispida, and it is a popular vegetable in many Asian countries. It is a large vegetable mostly found in oblong or cylindrical shape. The outer skin of this vegetable has a very waxy, smooth, and greenish-white texture. But, the pulp is very soft with seeds in it.

It is low in calories vegetable and is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Ash gourd is famous for its amazing diuretic properties and is helpful in treating urinary issues. According to Ayurveda, ash gourd has great cooling properties. Drinking ash gourd juice during hot and humid weather will help us to stay cool and hydrated. 

Potential Uses of Ash Gourd

Ash gourds are useful in many ways. For instance: 

• You can use it to reduce stomach inflammation and strengthen the digestive system. 

• People suffering from brain-related diseases like seizures and insanity can consume ash gourd juice regularly to reduce the symptoms. 

• The antacid properties of ash gourds are helpful to maintain the pH of the body. 

• If you have constipation and diuretic issues then you can use ash gourd as a laxative. 

• You can reduce iron deficiency by mixing the ash gourd pulp with sugar. 

• It’s believed that the regular consumption of ash gourd juice with ghee can improve the speed, voice, and intelligence of a person. 

Ash Gourd Side Effects

Ash gourd is indeed a vegetable with many medicinal values. But, it also has certain side effects like: 

• It can cause itching, swelling, and rashes in people who are allergic to fruits and vegetables. 

• Some people can experience digestive issues like diarrhoea and bloating with ash gourd. 

• The outer rim of an ash gourd may contone a toxic compound, cucurbitacin. Its excessive consumption can lead to vomiting and nausea. It's important to peel and deseed the ash gourd properly. 

• This vegetable contains many anti-nutritional factors like phytates and oxalate. These factors stop the body from absorbing nutrients from other diets. 

• Regular and excessive consumption of ash gourd juice can increase the risk of calcium deposition. Because of this, there is a possibility of developing kidney stones. 

• If you have any illness or are taking medicines of any kind, it’s important to consult with your doctor before consuming ash gourd juice or vegetables. 

Ash Gourd Precautions 

Ash gourd consumption is safe if you consume it in moderate quality and according to the advice of your physicians. If you want to reduce the side effects of this vegetable, we request you to follow the below-mentioned precautions. 

1. If you have any type of allergies to foods like melons and cucumbers, it’s important to introduce ash gourds into your diet slowly. Look for any allergic signs like swelling or itching after consumption of ash gourd juice. 

2. If you’re pregnant and breastfeeding a child, consult with your doctor before consuming ash gourd.  

3. Consume ash gourd in moderate quantities and always introduce the vegetable slowly. 

4. Diabetes patients should monitor their blood sugar levels while incorporating ash gourd into their diet. They should stop the consumption if blood sugar levels drop.  

5. Always clean and peel it properly. Make sure that you don’t consume the outer rind and seeds of the vegetable because it may contain cucurbitacin. 

6. Avoid consuming ash gourd that appears spoiled. 

Ash Gourd Farming Tips

With so many ash gourd benefits and medical values, this vegetable has become a highly profitable vegetable to grow. Farmers can enjoy a great profit margin by cultivating ash gourds. If you’re interested in growing ash gourds, keep these ash gourd farming tips in mind. 

1. Ash gourds require warm and tropical climates to grow. The ideal temperature for ash gourd farming is 15-35°C. You need to ensure that the temperature remains consistently warm throughout the growing season.

2. It requires well-drained loamy soil with neutral to slightly acidic pH. 

3. The ideal rainfall for ash gourd farming is 100-150cm. 

4. The ideal ash gourd season for sowing is February- March and June -July.

5. Always choose high-quality ash gourd seeds from a reliable source. Healthy seeds are essential for a successful ash gourd crop.

6. One important ash gourd farming tip is to start germination indoors over well-prepared seedbeds. 

7. You should transplant seedlings when they are around 3-4 weeks old and have developed 2-3 true leaves.

8. Keep space of about 6 to 8 feet between plants to allow for proper growth. 

9. Ash gourd seeds should be free from any kind of fungus for proper germination. For this, farmers need to treat the seeds with chemicals like Carbendazim, Trichoderma viride, or Pseudomonas fluroscens. 

10. Fertilization is important for a healthy crop. For an ash gourd crop, fertilizer should be rich in potassium.  Also, farmers should use a fertilizer that has an ideal amount of SSP, potash, and nitrogen. 

11. Ash gourd plants produce large and heavy fruits. So, it’s important to provide support for the vines. 

12. You should use mulching techniques to keep the weeds away. 

13. The harvesting time for ash gourds is around 70-90 days after planting. You should check the signs of maturity. Harvest the crop when the skin becomes hard and develops a waxy coating. The fruit should sound hollow when tapped.

14. Store harvested ash gourd in a cool and dry place.

These ash gourd farming tips can help you grow a healthy crop that will have better market value. 

Start Ash Gourd Farming Today 

Ash gourd benefits have led to increased demand for this vegetable. This is a high-potential crop for Indian farmers. Follow the ash gourd farming tips that we shared with you and start the cultivation.

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