Bottle Gourd

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Also known as:
Calabash Gourd, White flower gourd, Doodhi, Ghiya, Lauki,

Description:
It belongs to the gourd family- Cucurbitaceae and is a running or climbing vine. The fruit is harvested young and used as a vegetable. It has a light green smooth skin and a white inner flesh. Usually the round fruits are called Calabash gourd and the slender long fruits are called Bottle gourds.

Commonly used in:
Curries, raitha, snacks, sweets, etc.

Health benefit:
Among other things,bottle gourd is rich in fiber and essential minerals, iron and protein which help in preventing constipation and other digestive disorders. It is helpful in low calorie diets, acidity, fatigue, diarrhea, jaundice etc.