Dudhi or lauki (the Hindi name for bottle gourd) has been part of the regular Indian diet since time immemorial. Research says that 96.1 per cent of bottle gourd is water, so it is easy to digest and also aids digestive problems. It’s zero in fat, so of course it is always a hot favourite with weight watchers. If you have dysentery, then dudhi is soothing on the stomach lining and does not create any flatulence.
Bottle gourd contains higher concentrations of dietary fibre, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, folate, potassium, manganese, protein, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and selenium.
Dudhi juice plays an important role in curing urinary disorders and also stops the premature greying of hair. The consumption of bottle gourd gives you relief from skin infections as it acts as an internal cleanser for the skin. The leaf of this vegetable is an effective remedy for insomnia.
The writer is a Mumbai-based nutritionist