Ivy gourd or Coccinia grandis is a common vegetable in India. It is so common in our daily platter that we often miss to notice the health benefits this green vegetable offers. Ivy gourd is a storehouse of a range of vitamins and minerals. Apart from that it also offers a decent amount of protein and fibers.
This vegetable is also known for its antioxidant content and it has been used in ayurveda for centuries as an anti-bacterial and anti-triglyceride agent. This article will provide you with the best 10 health benefits that you can enjoy by including this vegetable in your daily diet.
Treats fatigue
Fatigue is one of the most common types of side effects that occur to people who are suffering from a real iron deficiency. Dealing with this is pretty easy and can be done by consuming food that is rich in the content of minerals and iron. Tindora or ivy gourd is amazing at providing a good content of iron that can help promote the production of the RBCs to prevent issues associated with fatigue and anaemia.
Boosting the rate of metabolism in the body
Thiamine or Vitamin B1 helps in optimizing the rate of metabolism for your body and ivy gourd is incredibly rich in the levels of Vitamin B1. Thiamine can ensure that the nutrients are absorbed easily in the body and is turned into a store of energy instead of storing it in fat cells.
Moreover, the quantity of iron in ivy gourd ensures that the distribution of nutrients and oxygen is optimized by optimizing the production of RBCs.
Allergy protection
Ivy gourd is also used in the treatment of a number of respiratory conditions like bronchitis and asthma. The claim is supported by a number of studies that has proven a very significant level of presence of glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, saponin and the nutrients in Ivy Gourd that can provide antihistaminic and anaphylactic potential that can have interesting applications in the treatment of issues like asthma and allergies.
Treating infections
Ivy gourd is also associated with a whole range of health benefits and most parts of the plant like the fruits, roots and leaves have been used extensively to treat conditions associated with scabies and leprosy.
Ivy gourd extracts can also be an excellent antibiotic agent and can fight a lot of bacterial infections like E. coli and other urinary tract infections making it an excellent veggie to incorporate in your diet.
Obesity
Ivy gourd increases the metabolism and acts as an immunity defender. Hence, it also helps to reduce the fat in the body, in result it prevents obesity. Ivy gourd is really efficient and effective to melt down fat from the body.
Heals disease
Ivy gourd acts as a medicine to cure bronchitis, asthma, jaundice, and leprosy. The leaf of this plant is also used to reduce high fever and bowel problems. It also helps to cure specific blood-related issues.
Protects the nervous system
One of the most important benefits of eating ivy gourd that should come at the beginning of this list is its ability to protect the nervous system. This vegetable is rich in B vitamins which are essential for smooth working of the brain and the nervous system.
The nutrients and antioxidants present in Ivy gourd have been found to be effective in strengthening the nervous system.
It can also help in treating different neural conditions like epilepsy and anxiety. Most astonishingly, this common vegetable is also known to deter Alzheimer’s.
Promotes metabolism in the body
Ivy gourd is a rich source of thiamine which plays a vital role in the conversion of carbohydrate into glucose, which works as the major product to be converted into energy in the body.
Thiamine also helps in metabolism of fats and protein. The B vitamins of this vegetable boosts metabolism and helps in keeping you more energetic.
Might prevent cancer
Ivy gourd has antioxidants including high amount of vitamin C and beta –carotene that can be really helpful to prevent cancer. These elements are known for their effectiveness in suppressing the growth of tumor cells and they might even be effective to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Including ivy gourd in your regular diet does not confirm that you will not get cancer, but it certainly reduces your risk of getting this deadly condition.
Helps in normalizing blood sugar levels
Ivy gourd has some active ingredients that directly work on the liver cells and helps in detoxification.
These compounds can also be effective in boosting the insulin production which can be most useful for reducing blood sugar levels. However, as ivy gourd reduces blood sugar level, consuming this vegetable along with medications for blood sugar or artificial insulin might result into steep drop of blood sugar which can be deadly. So, while including this vegetable in their regular diet can be ideal for pre-diabetic to not to cross the limit, if you are on medication for controlling blood sugar, maintain caution before taking ivy gourd.
Prevents kidney stone
Ivy gourd has a good amount of calcium and the latest researches have proved that dietary calcium can reduce the risk of kidney stone formation to a significant level. So, by including ivy gourd in your diet you can reduce the risk of getting kidney stones considerably. Moreover, consumption of this vegetable extract regularly might even be helpful to dissolve and expel the kidney stone that might have already formed in your kidneys.
Promotes heart health
Ivy gourd is also a great food for heart health because of its high potassium content which makes a good percentage of the total potassium you need daily. Potassium helps in functioning of the heart and prevents conditions like heart attack and ischemic heart. It also helps in better heart pumping and blood flow which keeps one energetic.
Strengthens bones
Ivy gourd has a good amount of calcium which can be effective in strengthening the bones. Bone density loss is a common problem in women over 40 years of age. As ivy gourd is rich in calcium hence it helps in preventing bone density loss. Along with calcium it also contains iron which makes it an ideal food for consumption during pregnancy.
Promotes better immunity
Vitamin C, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B3 all are present in decent amounts in Ivy gourd. Vitamin C and B vitamins are known for their ability to boost the immunity system which is the key to maintain a healthy life. Strong immunity system can help you stay away from many common illnesses and infections.
Promotes digestive health
The ability of ivy gourd to promote better digestive health primarily comes from its Vitamin B complex and dietary fiber content. While the vitamins help in proper secretion of the digestive enzymes, the high amount of dietary fibers promotes bowel formation and bowel movement. Consumption of ivy gourd can be effective to treat conditions like constipation.
Might help in treating depression
Ivy gourd has a decent Riboflavin and niacin content. These vitamins have been related to the functioning and secretion of different hormones from the brain, which is directly related to mood. It is generally believed that consuming foods rich with Riboflavin can alleviate the mood and treat depression naturally.
Apart from the above, ivy gourd can also be helpful in treating iron deficiency related anemia due to its iron content. It is also useful for weight management, as it provide nourishment and satiation without adding much to the total calorie intake. It has antihistamine qualities which support the use of this vegetable as topical treatment to cure skin irritations and allergies. In ayurveda, ivy gourd is also used in preparing medications for anorexia and coughing.
